Vital Records are so important in genealogical research. It helps to know when the state began to require record Birth, Marriage, and Death to be recorded. Be aware that a death record does NOT mean that death certificate was required or recorded.
Thanks to an observant reader (see comment below) — there is a difference between vital data being recorded AND when it was REQUIRED to be recorded.
In Alabama, the years are:
| Birth – 1908 | | | Marriage – 1936 | | | Death – 1908 |
~ Source: Vital Records Chart.
Note that the chart lists ALL of the United States.
Although death certificates started in the state of Alabama in 1908, they were not required by law until about 1940.
John — Thank you! I’ll edit the original post.