What You Need to Know About Your Baby's Birth Certificate.
The information below is from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to use.
How to Obtain a copy of Death Certificate
Here's how the process generally works.
- Pronouncement and Initial Filing: A medical professional at the hospital will officially pronounce the death and complete a portion of the death certificate, including the date, time, and cause of death.
- Funeral Home Role: Often, the funeral home or cremation organization helps with the filing process by collecting the medical information from the hospital and submitting it to the appropriate authorities.
- Official Registration and Issuance: The death certificate is officially registered and issued by the state or county vital records office, part of the health department.
- Ordering Certified Copies: You can obtain certified copies of the death certificate through several avenues:
- Mobile County Health Department: If the death occurred in Mobile County, you can apply in person at the Main Health Center at 251 North Bayou St., Mobile. They are generally open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with processing stopping at 4:00 p.m. due to the 30-minute processing time. Contact the Health Department directly to confirm operational hours as times are subject to change. Fees for certificates are $15 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional certified copy (of the same record) when ordered at the same time. Contact the Health Department directly as fees are subject to change.
- Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH): You can apply in person at any county health department in Alabama, by mail (P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625), or online. Most death certificates can be issued while you wait. A map showing locations of county health departments where vital records may be obtained is available along with more detailed information on the Alabama Public Health Webpage including how to order a certificate online.