Texas Death Records

If you are working on a genealogy for your family, you may need to get access to Texas death records. If this is new to you, it may seem like an intimidating thought. It doesn't have to be; finding the information you need isn't as difficult as you may think.

One thing to keep in mind when you are searching for Texas death records is that some of the resources available are free. However, it is important to know that many resources will require a fee. Fees may cover costs of copies and research or they may be an actual subscription to a service.

Understand clearly where fees are require and where they are not before you begin your research to avoid unpleasant surprises. Don't assume that you must purchase a subscription to get what you need. You may find all the information you are looking for without ever needing to pay a cent. On the other hand, many free resources still end up requiring a fee for the actual documents you need.

Examples of records requiring a fee include:

• Recent obituaries from Texas newspapers
• Subscription to sites such as Ancestry.com
• Cemetery inscriptions
• Copies of vital records (death certificates, marriage licenses, etc.)

Any vital records must be obtained through the Texas Department of State Health Services. For deaths within the last 25 years, you can only request records if you are the immediate family of the deceased. This includes the parent, sibling, child, spouse or grandparent of the person whose records are being sought.

If you are not an immediate family member, you must obtain a notarized letter from someone who qualifies as immediate family giving you permission to obtain this information. This letter must include your full name and you will be required to show identification in order to obtain the records you want.

There are three ways to order a death certificate. You can request one in person by visiting the Texas Vital Statistics Office at:

1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You must pay $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. They accept cash, check or money order and you may be required to wait for your records. In some cases, it may take several days to process your request so do not go expecting to get the records you need immediately.

You can also order your copy online by visiting TexasOnline. To use this service you must be a Texas resident and have a valid state ID. Payment is by credit card and records will only be sent to a U.S. address.

Expedited service is also also available for those who cannot process their order online. Print out the order form and after you fill out the required information you must send it via overnight mail to the address above. Payment can be made with a check or money order.

You can also send the application via regular U.S. Postal Service with your check or money order. This could take as long as six to eight weeks.

If you need other information, such as obituaries from local newspapers, these can usually be obtained as well. Visit Texas Death Indexes for a list of useful resources including Texas newspapers and their obituary purchase policies, links to Texas county death indexes and Texas county cemetery databases.

Whatever your reason for needing Texas death records, you can find what you need without much trouble. The key is being organized and doing your research.

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