Alabama Public Records Information

The Alabama public records that include the vital records are maintained by the state office. The vital records information is submitted to the state repository. The Center for Health Statistics in the state keeps up the vital records and is also responsible for the collection and compilation of the health statistics in the state. 

Alabama public records which include vital records such as birth records, death records, marriage and divorce records are all maintained by this automated system known as the Vital Statistics Image Oriented Network or VISION.  The vital records can be acquired through the local county health department within half and hour. If you send them a mail, the Alabama public records would reach you within a span of 10 days.

Alabama Public Records Contents

The Alabama public records that include the death records and the birth records have been maintained in the city since 1908. The individual conducting a search of the Alabama public records needs to pay a fee of $12. A copy of the birth certificate is issued upon payment. However, the fee is non-refundable and therefore the requester of the search does not receive anything if the search yields a “Certificate of Failure to Find”. In Alabama, birth records become a part of public records from the date they are issued.

Death records on the other hand become public records within a span of 25 years. Any changes in the records can be made after the submission of a certificate amendment fee that amounts to $15.

Alabama birth certificate can be claimed by a legal guardian, a son or daughter, an authorized representative, the person who has been named in the record, the brother or sister of the subject of the search.

 A certified copy of the death record can be obtained by the grandchildren of subject of the record. You can find information on Alabama public records on several websites but it is advisable to go by the data published on the website of state and federal agencies. That way you can be sure of their legitimacy and correctness.

The marriage records in the state are also maintained by the Alabama Center for Health Statistics. It started filing for marriage certificates from 1936 onwards. The records prior to these years are maintained by the county probate office from which the marriage licenses had been originally issued.

The divorce records have been maintained in the state of 1950. The earlier records have been kept with the county circuit court. These vital records can be obtained by filling out the form available on http://adph.org/vitalrecords/assets/hs14eng.pdf and submitting to the concerned authorities along with a payment of $15. For additional copies of the record, one needs to pay a fee of $6. If you want to expedite the process of procuring the document, then you can call 334 206 5418. The fee for the issuance of a certificate post legitimation or adoption is $25 and the charges for amending a record is $20. You can take a print of the form and submit it to Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O Box 5625, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625. You can also access the record on the website www.adph.org.

As per the state statutes, the content of the Alabama public records are to be determined by the State Board of Health. This rule is applicable for all records that are considered to be vital records. The format of the certificate thus issued would be in compliance with the one prescribed by the office of the State Registrar.

Alabama Public Records Accessibility

These vital records have been protected by state statutes and therefore there are certain restrictions imposed upon their accessibility. Inspection of the records by an individual who is not authorized to do so and to reveal the information in it is considered to be illegal. The State Registrar is also bound by law with regard to the disclosure of information contained in vital records to one and all. The copies of these records can only be accessed by an immediate relative upon submission of adequate proof of linkage. A legal representative can also access the records. The State Registrar can share the information with other state and federal agencies for the process of data collection for official duties.