Search Alabama Birth Records
Alabama birth records are kept by the Center for Health Statistics. This office is part of the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state started requiring birth registration in January 1908. All records sit in one central database. Any of the 67 county health departments can pull them up through a shared computer system. You can get a certified copy if you show valid ID and prove your link to the person on the record. Birth records stay private for 125 years from the birth date. After that, they become public.
Quick Facts
Primary Sources for Alabama Birth Certificates
The Center for Health Statistics is the official keeper of all vital records in Alabama. They run under the Alabama Department of Public Health. The office holds the statewide database with birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. You can find the office in the RSA Tower at 201 Monroe Street, Suite 246, Montgomery.
County health departments work as local spots where you can get birth certificates. All 67 counties have one. Each can print certified copies from the statewide system. Two counties run their own health departments: Jefferson County in Birmingham and Mobile County in Mobile. They use the same steps but have their own staff and rules.
How to Request a Birth Certificate
The fastest way to get a birth certificate is to walk into any county health department. Bring your photo ID and fill out the form there. Most times you walk out with it in 15 to 30 minutes. One thing to note: the state office in Montgomery no longer takes walk-ins for regular copies. If you live in Montgomery, go to the Montgomery County Health Department instead.
You can mail requests to the Center for Health Statistics. First, get Form HS-14 from the ADPH site. Fill it all out. Add a copy of your ID. Pay with a check or money order. Mail takes 7 to 10 business days. You can also order online through VitalChek. They are the state's approved vendor. Just know they charge extra fees on top of the normal cost.
Fees and Costs
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search (includes one certified copy) | $15.00 |
| Additional copies (same order) | $6.00 each |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 additional |
| Delayed registration or amendment | $20.00 |
| New certificate after adoption | $25.00 |
| Keepsake birth certificate | $45.00 |
| Pre-adoption certificate from sealed file | $25.00 |
Fees are the same at all county health departments. How you can pay differs by location. Most take cash, checks, and money orders. Jefferson County and Mobile County also take credit and debit cards. Mobile County adds a $1.95 fee for card payments. Make checks payable to your county health department. For mail requests, write checks to "Center for Health Statistics."
Secondary Sources Containing Birth Information
Hospital records from where the birth took place have medical notes that can back up a birth certificate. Each hospital keeps its own files. These might have delivery notes, newborn info, and parent names. To get these records, you have to ask the hospital's medical records office directly. They have their own forms and fees.
Probate court records matter when legal cases have changed a birth certificate. County probate courts deal with adoptions, legitimations, and paternity cases. All of these can lead to changes on a birth certificate. When someone is adopted, the state seals the old certificate and issues a new one.
Church records can fill in the gaps. This is true for births before 1908 when the state started keeping track. Baptism and christening records usually list the child's name, birth date, and parents' names. Some show godparents too. These help with family tree research. They also work when state records are lost or were never made.
Historical Records and Genealogy Research
The Alabama Department of Archives and History has old records from before the state system. Some counties kept birth logs starting in the mid-1880s. They did this through the 1930s, though not all counties did it well. Many records are missing or partial. The Archives holds microfilm copies of these local files. You can use them for research.
Census records from the National Archives have birth facts like name, age, birthplace, and where parents were born. You can view federal census records at the Archives. Genealogy sites like FamilySearch and Ancestry have them too. FamilySearch runs an Alabama Births and Christenings Index. It covers 1881 to 1930 and is free to use.
Legal Framework
Birth registration in Alabama follows Alabama Code § 22-9A-7. This law says a birth certificate must be filed within five days of a live birth. When the birth happens at a hospital or birth center, that place handles the paperwork. They get the right signatures and send it to the state.
Late birth registration falls under Alabama Code § 22-9A-9. If you file within one year, the form looks normal. File between one and five years late, and it gets marked "Delayed Registration." More than five years late? You need proof from outside sources. You also need a sworn statement from someone at least ten years older than you.
Alabama Code § 22-9A-22 covers who can get certified copies. A certified copy counts as proof of the facts on it. Copies can be printed, digital, or on microfilm. Alabama Administrative Code 420-7-1-.22 lists who can request copies and what ID they must show.
Who May Obtain Certified Copies
Birth certificates less than 125 years old are not open to just anyone. Only certain people can get them. The person named on the certificate can if they are at least 14 or a legal adult through emancipation. Parents on the certificate can get copies. So can the spouse, kids, siblings, and grandparents. Legal guardians and lawyers acting for the person may also request copies. Courts can order access. Government agencies get in for official reasons too.
Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates
Alabama lets adult adoptees see their original birth records. This makes it an "unrestricted state." If you are 19 or older, were born in Alabama, and your birth certificate was sealed due to adoption, you can ask for a non-certified copy of the original. The fee is $25.00. You cannot submit this request online. It needs your real signature on paper. When you make this request, you get copies of everything in the sealed file. That often includes court papers from the adoption case.
Birth parents can add a Contact Preference and Medical History Form to the sealed file. This form shows if the parent wants contact, prefers a go-between, or does not want contact at all. The form is just a note. It does not block the adoptee from seeing the records.
Amendments and Corrections
Only the Center for Health Statistics handles birth certificate changes. County offices cannot do it. Under Alabama Code § 22-9A-19, small fixes made in the first year do not mark the certificate as changed. If you fix something after one year, the certificate gets marked "AMENDED." It will show the date and a note about why the change was made.
Common changes include adding a father's name, fixing a name after legitimation, fixing spelling, and updates ordered by a court. Gender marker changes need a court order. When that happens, the state issues a new certificate and seals the old one. The fee for amendments is $20.00. Call the Center for Health Statistics at (334) 206-2637 if you have questions about making changes.
Contact Information
| Center for Health Statistics (State Office) | RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 246, Montgomery, AL 36104 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625 |
| General Inquiries | (334) 206-5418 |
| Amendments/Adoptions | (334) 206-2637 |
| Fax | (334) 206-2659 |
| Hours | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM CT, Monday-Friday |
Browse by Location
Counties
You can get a birth certificate at any county health department in Alabama. All 67 counties tap into the same statewide database. Here are the largest counties by population:
View All 67 Alabama Counties →
Cities
If you live in a big Alabama city, go to your county health department for birth certificates. These five cities all have more than 100,000 people: