Records Destruction

  • Records Disposition Authority or RDAs provide the legal authority for agencies to destroy temporary records
  • Reporting destruction to the Local Government Records Commission is required by law (Section 41-13-23 of the Code of Alabama 1975)
  • Agencies should submit a Local Government Records Destruction Notice to the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) each time that records, electronic or paper, are destroyed
  • ADAH maintains destruction notices permanently, in case there is ever a question (e.g., during audit or litigation) as to whether records were legally destroyed
  • Health Care Authorities can locate a separate annual reporting form for destruction

Key Items Needed to Successfully Process and Expedite Your Destruction Notice

Contact Information
  1. Contact name (please type or print)
  2. Contact phone number
  3. Contact address
  4. Contact email address
Record Information
  1. Number of cubic feet (boxes)
  2. RDA number listed on the Functional Analysis and Records Disposition Authority
  3. Record title or description of records being destroyed
Superintendent's Signature (for school systems and boards of education)
  1. Signature
  2. Identify that the signature belongs to the superintendent as not every signature is legible
Email destruction notice
  1. Becky Hebert ( becky.hebert@archives.alabama.gov)
  2. Devon Henschel ( devon.henschel@archives.alabama.gov)
  3. Rebecca Jackson ( rebecca.jackson@archives.alabama.gov)