Accessing Alabama Death Certificates (1881-1974)
This guide will walk you through the process of accessing Alabama death certificates from 1881-1974 using either Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.com. On FamilySearch, the collection is labeled as 1908 – 1974 instead of 1881 – 1974 but it’s the same database. Follow these steps to locate and view the death certificates you need.
Step 1: Locate the Index Record
Example of an index record from the Alabama, Deaths, 1881-1974 database
Begin by locating the index record in the Alabama, Deaths, 1881-1974 record set. You can find this on either Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.com.
Step 2: Find the FHL Film Number
Once you’ve located the index or record, look towards the bottom and find the FHL FILM NUMBER. Highlight and copy this number – you’ll need it for the next steps.
Step 3: Access FamilySearch.com
Go to FamilySearch.com and sign into your account. If you don’t have an account yet, you can sign up for one completely free of charge.
Step 4: Locate the Database
Search for and locate the Alabama, Deaths, 1908 – 1974 database on FamilySearch.com.
Step 5: Access More Options
Once you’ve found the database collection, locate and click the “More Options” tab.
Step 6: Enter Film Number
Under “More Options,” find and click the “Image Group Number (DGS) Or Film Number” tab. Paste in the FHL Film Number you copied earlier from either Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.com.
Step 7: Search for the Record
Input the first and last name exactly as they are spelled on the index or record you located. For better results, you might try using just a surname without a first name. While you can get creative with your search terms, this usually isn’t necessary.
Step 8: Review Search Results
In this example, using the first name, last name, and FHL Film Number brought up the desired record as the first search result.
Step 9: Accessing the Document
If you see a “Check Image Availability” message and a blurred document thumbnail, this means you’ll need to visit a FamilySearch affiliate location to view the document. You can visit a FamilyHistory Library associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or an Affiliate Library. To find the closest location to you, visit: https://locations.familysearch.org/en/search
Final Steps
Once you’ve located your death certificate at an affiliate location, you can download it to a thumb drive for future reference.
Need help? Join the FREE and open to the public, Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society, Inc. Facebook Group where myself or others can assist you with your research.
Need help? Join the FREE and open to the public, Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society, Inc. Facebook Group where myself or others can assist you with your research.
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