Are Autopsy Reports Public in Alabama? (2026 Guide)

Yes. In Alabama, autopsy and toxicology reports produced by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) are public records, open to inspection under state law. A certified copy of a case report costs a flat $20 for every requester, including family, and a report tied to an open investigation could be withheld under Alabama's general public-records exception rather than any rule specific to autopsy files.

Are Autopsy Reports Public in Alabama?

Yes. Autopsy and toxicology reports created by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences are public records. Under Ala. Code Section 36-18-2, reproductions of the agency's investigation reports are public records and are open to public inspection at all reasonable times.

That makes Alabama more open than many states, where autopsy files are restricted to family. Any person may request a copy, and the same certified-copy fee applies to everyone.

Openness is not absolute, but Section 36-18-2 contains no carve-out for active investigations. A decision to withhold would rest on Alabama's general public-records statute, Ala. Code Section 36-12-40, which exempts records whose disclosure "would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public." ADFS publishes no policy describing when it applies that exception to a death investigation, so treat an open-case delay as something to ask about rather than a settled rule.

For the broader national picture, see our overview of whether autopsies are public records.

Who Performs Autopsies in Alabama?

Alabama uses a county-based coroner system, not a single statewide medical examiner. Most counties elect a coroner, while a small number, including Bibb, Escambia, and Jefferson, have abolished the coroner office and created a medical examiner instead, per the CDC Public Health Law Program.

The coroner or medical examiner investigates sudden, violent, unexpected, or unexplained deaths. This includes deaths from trauma, suspected criminal violence or neglect, or any death where there is no physician and no adequate medical history to explain it.

Not every death investigation leads to an autopsy. Under Ala. Code Section 15-4-2, when an external examination is inconclusive and there is reason to believe the death was unlawful, an autopsy may be ordered.

The actual forensic autopsy is usually performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, the state agency that produces the autopsy and toxicology reports families later request.

Who Can Request an Alabama Autopsy Report?

Because these are public records, any member of the public may request an ADFS autopsy or toxicology report. Family, attorneys, insurers, researchers, and journalists can all ask for a copy.

Alabama law does not give the family a free copy. Section 36-18-2 directs the director to furnish a certified copy of a report at no charge only to "the person or persons who ordered the investigation conducted," which the same statute identifies as the Governor, the Attorney General, a circuit judge, or a district attorney. It then provides that "any person desiring reproductions of original reports shall be furnished same upon payment of the fee now prescribed by law."

So next of kin pay the same $20 certified-copy fee as anyone else, and ADFS lists no exemption. Identifying your relationship to the decedent on the request still helps the agency route the records and answer follow-up questions.

How to Get an Autopsy or Toxicology Report in Alabama

Requests go to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, headquartered at 1051 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36832, whose general line is (334) 821-6254. ADFS handles statewide forensic autopsy and toxicology reporting.

ADFS publishes a single channel. Its FAQ states that requests for final case reports "shall be made via the ADFS Report Request," and the department's family resources page routes families to the same online Request for Certified Copy form. The general phone line is for questions, not for submitting a request.

When you request, include your relationship to the decedent, a return mailing address if you want hard copies, and a phone number in case the office has questions. Providing the decedent's full name and date of death speeds matching.

A certified copy of a case report costs $20 per report. The autopsy itself is a free service provided to Alabama citizens.

Expect a wait. A report is generated only after the autopsy, toxicology testing, and final review are complete, which can take weeks to several months. ADFS publishes no policy on withholding reports during an open criminal case, so ask its Certified Request Section where a specific report stands.

Autopsy Report vs Death Certificate in Alabama

These are two different documents from two different agencies. The death certificate is a vital record issued by the Alabama Center for Health Statistics within the Alabama Department of Public Health, and it lists a brief, summary cause-of-death line.

The autopsy report is a detailed forensic document from ADFS describing the postmortem examination, internal findings, and the pathologist's conclusions. The toxicology report covers drug and alcohol testing.

If you only need to settle an estate, claim insurance, or prove the death, the death certificate is usually enough. If you need the full medical detail behind the cause of death, you need the autopsy report. For the certificate process, see our Alabama Death Records guide.

Alabama Autopsy Report Facts

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Public-records fees, processing times, and release policies change. Always confirm current requirements with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences before relying on them.

Sources

This guide is based on the Alabama Code, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the CDC Public Health Law Program, all linked above. For the death certificate process, see Alabama Death Records or browse Death Records by State.