How to Get Alabama Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Alabama — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce records — can be obtained from Judge of Probate (marriage) / ADPH (birth, death). Marriage licenses are issued by the Judge of Probate.

What this page covers: Alabama vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Judge of Probate (marriage) / ADPH (birth, death). For marriage licenses, contact the Judge of Probate in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Vital Records | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
Parent agency
Vital Records | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
Records back to
Alabama Department of Archives and History, vital records at ADAH
Online ordering
Birth Certificates | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
Marriage license issued by
Marriage Certificates | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
Local intake
Vital Records | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
Population
5,157,699
Households
1,997,247
Median Income
$62,212
Median Home Value
$209,900
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Alabama vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.alabamapublichealth.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Alabama Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Alabama — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request an Alabama vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Alabama Vital Records

2026
Alabama vital records portal active
The official Alabama portal at www.alabamapublichealth.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Alabama state records.
2026
Alabama access in 2026
For 2026, Alabama continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.alabamapublichealth.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Alabama's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Alabama Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Alabama, start with the Alabama health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Alabama typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Alabama records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Alabama Vital Records

MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite — most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"Vital records are federal records."
FACTThey're state records. The CDC compiles national statistics but has never issued a birth or death certificate — the state (and in Alabama, its vital records office) does.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Every birth was registered on time."
FACTHome births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this — ask the state archives.
MYTH"Marriage licenses come from the state."
FACTIn most states — Alabama included for most purposes — you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Alabama counties: Autauga · Baldwin · Barbour · Bibb · Blount

Vital Records Databases

9 official Alabama vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Alabama Marriage Records Before 1825 — Alabama Genealogy
Official Free
Marriage license records for Alabama. Marriage records are among the more open vital records — most jurisdictions confirm a license exists to anyone. Older licenses may predate the index; the issuing office can search its books on request.
🌐 alabamagenealogy.org
Recorded Documents | Madison County, AL
Official Free
This is the request channel for Madison County vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. Searching the official side is free.
🌐 madisoncountyal.gov
Records Search
Official Free
Probate Court’s Online Records Search system utilizes advanced search technology with multiple search options called Landmark WEB. Landmark WEB includes access to real property records (1813-present), estate claims filed in Recording through July 1st, 2013, marriage records (indexed 1813-present, viewable September 2019 to present), and election records.
🌐 probate.mobilecountyal.gov
webFormProbateSearch
Official Free
Marriage license records for Alabama. Licenses index by both parties' names, with certified copies from the issuing office. Marriage records are among the more open vital records — most jurisdictions confirm a license exists to anyone.
🌐 pjr.mc-ala.org
Old Queries - Winston County, Alabama
Official Free
The trail is cold, I thank you for any information. Phillip G. Austin **** ****. Looking for info. on Lemuel Alonzo BAILEY,born 1892, marriage Nov 29,1910 to Elsie Cordelia GLENN in Double Springs Al.
🌐 freestateofwinston.org
Delta Computer Systems
Official Free
To view Marriage information: Enter the information into one of the categories below then click on the submit button
🌐 deltacomputersystems.com
butler.alacourt.gov
Official Free
Get FREE BUTLER COUNTY VITAL RECORDS directly from 13 Alabama gov't offices & 7 official vital records databases. Records include Butler County birth & death certificates, adoption records, marriage & divorce records, genealogy research & more!
🌐 butler.alacourt.gov
7 - ROAM - Shelby County
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Shelby County are ordered here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 probaterecords.shelbyal.com
AMENDMENT PACKAGE FOR ALABAMA BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Alabama route through this office. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 adph.org

Alabama Counties

67 Alabama counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Jefferson Mobile Madison Montgomery Tuscaloosa Shelby Baldwin Lee Morgan Autauga Barbour Bibb Blount Bullock

Which Alabama counties publish vital records information online

6 of Alabama's 67 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Alabama are issued by the Official Alabama Vital Records at www.alabamapublichealth.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Alabama death certificates are issued by the Official Alabama Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.alabamapublichealth.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Alabama marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Alabama Vital Records (www.alabamapublichealth.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Alabama vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Alabama Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.alabamapublichealth.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Alabama Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.alabamapublichealth.gov.