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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationAlabama

What to do when someone dies in Alabama

The first things Alabama’s own law asks for after a death, quoted word for word, then the pages for everything that follows, in the order it usually comes. Nothing here decides what a particular family must do. That belongs to the office named, the court, or an attorney in Alabama.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Filing the death certificate: who files it, and how soon

Registering the death comes first. These are Alabama’s own words on who files the record, and how soon.

(a) A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the Office of Vital Statistics, or as otherwise directed by the State Registrar, within five days of the death and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section.

(b) The funeral director or person acting as the funeral director who first assumes custody of the dead body shall file the certificate of death.

within 48 hours after receipt of the certificate

Alabama · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Code of Ala. §22-9A-14(a)–(c)

What the person holding the will must do, and the liability for not doing it

The will has its own rules. These are Alabama’s own words on who brings it to the court after a death, and what the court does with it.

After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, any person having custody of a will of the testator shall deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate and if none is known, to an appropriate court. Any person who wilfully fails to deliver a will is liable to any person aggrieved for the damages which may be sustained by the failure.

Alabama · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Code of Ala. §43-8-270

Depositing a will with the Baldwin County Probate Court, and the fee

(a) Any testator who resides in Baldwin County may deposit his or her will with the Baldwin County Probate Court.

(f) The Judge of Probate of Baldwin County may collect a filing fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) for each will filed for safekeeping.

Alabama · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Code of Ala. §45-2-83.40(a), (f)

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

(a) A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the Office of Vital Statistics, or as otherwise directed by the State Registrar, within five days of the death and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section.

(b) The funeral director or person acting as the funeral director who first assumes custody of the dead body shall file the certificate of death.

within 48 hours after receipt of the certificate

Alabama · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Code of Ala. §22-9A-14(a)–(c)

After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, any person having custody of a will of the testator shall deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate and if none is known, to an appropriate court. Any person who wilfully fails to deliver a will is liable to any person aggrieved for the damages which may be sustained by the failure.

Alabama · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Code of Ala. §43-8-270

(a) Any testator who resides in Baldwin County may deposit his or her will with the Baldwin County Probate Court.

(f) The Judge of Probate of Baldwin County may collect a filing fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) for each will filed for safekeeping.

Alabama · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · Code of Ala. §45-2-83.40(a), (f)

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