Texas Death Certificates

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit has copies of death certificates that occurred after mandatory recording began, which was in 1903.

The Texas State Library has also created statewide vital record indexes. Many genealogical libraries across the state have copies of those records on file. The death index is also arranged in alphabetical order, but in sections of time spanning multiple years. Those sections are:

  • 1903 to 1940
  • 1940 to 1945
  • 1946 to 1955

Records from 1956 to 1973 are alphabetized according to each individual year. The Texas State Library can search records for a specific name. However, the researcher will have to pay a fee, and may have to request records in writing.

County or municipal offices may hold records that cannot be found within state files.

Researchers can also make use of online indexes of Texas death records at ancestry.com, which cover the years of 1903 through 2000.

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 currently contains over 94 million records. The database is created from Social Security Administration records of deceased persons possessing social security numbers and whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration.

Texas Death Certificate Online Collections

You may find the following resources helpful in your research of Texas death certificates data and records.

Ancestry.com has a few collections of death records available including:

  • Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982 This database contains death certificates from the Texas Department of State Health Services, for the years 1903–1982. Some related documents—such as reports of death, amendments to certificate of death, disinterment permits, and notices of removal—are included as well.
  • Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000

FamilySearch.org has a few collections available online for free to the public (Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed) including:

Fold3.com has a few collections available online for free to the public including:

  • Texas Death Certificates, 1890-1976 – Official death certificates from the Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, for the years 1903-10 and 1926-29.  These records are searchable by first and last name of the deceased, year, county, and city.

Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit

Whether you lost your death certificate or you simply want another copy. If you were born in Texas you can easily get a copy. You can do so in person, through the mail, or even online.

Follow these instructions and get your death certificate in no time. Always verify current fees and ordering information, the telephone number is (512) 776-7111. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit maintains death certificates for the state of Texas.

Requests for certified copies of Death Certificates are also available from the Local Registration Office of the county in which the event occurred.

Since all deat records are sent to the Local Registrar first and then sent to State Vital Statistics, you are encouraged to go to the Local Registrar for records especially if you need the death certificate immediately.

Ordering Restrictions

Copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred within the past 25 years can be requested only by the immediate family of the person whose name is on the death certificate.

Who qualifies as an immediate family member? An immediate family member is the child, their guardian, their children, spouses, parents, siblings, or grandparents.

Applicants who are not immediate family members must provide legal documentation that shows interest in the death certificate.

How much does a copy of a Certified Death Certificate cost?

The cost of a death certificates is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record.

3 Ways to order Texas Death Certificatesw

Steps to ordering a Texas Death Certificates In Person

Same day service in most cases. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. DSHS - Vital Statistics Section, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756

Checklist

  • Complete steps 1, 2, and 3 of the application. Please type or print clearly.
  • Sign and date the application
  • Have current driver's license, passport or state identification ready
  • Have appropriate fees ready. Make checks or money orders payable to DSHS - Vital Statistics.

Steps to ordering a Texas Death Certificates by Online

You can order death certificates through Texas.gov, the official eGovernment site for the State of Texas, for fast, affordable service.

You will receive a state certified copy of the Death Certificate if it was filed with Texas Vital Statistics. Online orders are mailed 20-25 business days after receipt of the request.

Steps to ordering a Texas Death Certificates by Mail

You may order a certified death certificate by mailing in a completed Death Certificate Application.

 Please allow 6 - 8 weeks after receipt of the request. Mail to: DSHS - VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040

Checklist

  • Complete steps 1, 2, and 3 of the application. Please type or print clearly.
  • Complete step 4 of the application: Sign and date the application in the presence of a notary public.
  • Enclose a copy of a current driver's license, passport or state identification.
  • Enclose appropriate fees. Make checks or money orders payable to DSHS - Vital Statistics. Do not send cash.