Texas Death Records

The mortality rate in Texas stands at 826.1 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average of 793.7 per 100,000 total population. The state records an average of 232,995 deaths annually and has been keeping statewide records of death events since 1903 when the Department of Public Health and Vital Statistics was established.

Texas has two types of death records. These are the death certificate and death verification:

• Death Certificate - This is the most comprehensive form of death record in the state, and it is typically issued as a certified copy of an original death certificate. If any corrections have been made to a death record, a death certificate will show the history of such changes.
• Death Verification - A death verification letter cannot be used as a legal substitute for a certified copy of a death certificate. It typically includes the name of the decedent, place of birth, and date of birth.

Generally, when someone passes away in Texas, the original death certificate is prepared, typically by a certified physician, coroner, or county medical examiner, and filed with the Vital Statics Section of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Anyone may then order certified copies of the original death certificate from Vital Statistics.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Texas?

Texas death records are maintained by the Vital Statics Section of the Department of State Health Statics (DSHS). Anyone looking to get certified copies of the state's death certificate may do so in any of the following ways:

• Ordering a Certified Copy of Texas Death Certificate Online - The easiest way to get a certified copy of Texas death certificate is online using the Ovra App and taking the following steps:

  • Launch the Ovra App and select "Death records".
  • Select the ID-issuing state, select your relationship with the individual named on the death certificate, and provide the date of death on the death certificate. Afterward, click on the "Next" button.
  • Verify your identity by providing your name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, and state ID or driver's license number.
  • Follow the screen prompts to complete the request.

• Ordering a Certified Copy of Texas Death Certificate By Mail- The following steps are required to obtain a certified copy of a Texas death certificate:

  • Determine your eligibility to obtain a certified copy of the record
  • Complete the Mail Application for Death Record Form. Make sure to fill out all the boxes.
  • Sign the completed application form in the presence of a notary and get a notary seal on it

  • Mail the completed application form, a photocopy of an acceptable ID, and a money order or check made payable to DSHS Vital Statistics to the nearest local Vital Statistics location or the HQ at:

    Texas Vital Statistics

    Department of State Health Services

    P.O. Box 12040

    Austin, TX 78711-2020

• Ordering a Certified Copy of Texas Death Certificate In Person - Take the following steps to request a certified copy of a death certificate in Texas:

  • Visit the Vital Statistics central office or a local office during working hours.
  • Obtain an application form, complete it accurately, and sign it.
  • Provide your original ID and make payment. You can pay with a check, money order, or credit card.

  It costs $20 to obtain a certified copy of a Texas death certificate (first copy), while each additional copy requested in the same order costs $3. Although some walk-in requests may take 24 hours or more to process, most walk-in applications are typically processed the same day they are submitted to Vital Statistics. On the other hand, it takes between 25 to 30 working days to process mail-in orders, while online orders are typically processed between 20-25 business days.

Are Texas Death Records Public?

Death records/certificates are not open records in Texas. They are generally confidential and do not become public until after 25 years of the events. Only the immediate family members of the individual named on a death certificate in the state and certain authorized persons or entities with a tangible interest in the record are eligible to get a copy within the first 25 years after the event. Consequently, access to members of the public is restricted to records of deaths that occurred in Texas within the past 25 years.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Texas?

In Texas, original death certificates are typically maintained by Vital Statistics, which is authorized to issue certified copies of the original to eligible persons for records under 25 years. However, all applicants are required to provide valid, acceptable IDs, and in some cases, present other documents.

Per Section 181.1(21) of the Texas Administrative Code, the following persons may generally obtain certified copies of death certificates in the state:

• Any immediate family member of the registrant (decedent), including child, sibling, parent, guardian, spouse, and grandparent.
• Legal agent/representative of the registrant. These include an attorney in fact, a funeral director, or any other individual designated by contract, affidavit, or court order acting for and on behalf of the registrant's immediate family
• Other authorized individuals with tangible interests in the death certificate. However, they must provide legal documentation that shows a direct, tangible interest in the record. These include an insurance policy listing them as the beneficiary and a court order establishing guardianship).

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Texas?

For a regular or natural death, it takes anywhere between 24 hours and 30 business days to get a certified copy of a death certificate in Texas, depending on the method of request. However, there are instances where this may take longer, particularly for deaths that happen under questionable circumstances and require an autopsy.

In Texas, the Medical Examiner's Office investigates the deaths of persons who die suddenly or violently and unexpectedly to identify the cause of death and the manner in which they died. In such cases, an autopsy is performed by a medical examiner, after which the death certificate is prepared. This generally takes a while, as in many cases, it takes at least 12 weeks to finalize an autopsy report in Texas.

Factors that may delay the processing of Texas death certificates for cases requiring an autopsy include the following:

• The volume of cases being handled by the medical examiner.
• The time required for an investigation into the death.
• Time required to wait for test results.
• Unavailability of personnel to sign necessary documents due to vacations, office hours, or some emergencies.

Can I View Texas Death Records online for free?

While interested persons may obtain Texas death records online through the DSHS Ovra App, it typically comes at a cost. Anyone looking to view historic death records (death indexes from 1903 through the most recent year available) in the state online for free may, however, check the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Similarly, you may view the state's death records online through some other third-party websites like Familysearch.org, Ancestry.com, and Texaspublicrecords.us. However, a small fee may be required to access recent death records when using these sites.

Anyone looking to confirm the death of a non-relation in Texas may also consider checking substitute records to find information about such deaths. These include obituaries, cemetery records, newspapers, tax records, church records, city directories, and probate records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Texas?

Death certificates are obtained for several reasons in Texas, including the following:

• To process insurance claims.
• To notify government agencies like the Social Security Administration and process certain benefits.
• To access decedents' financial records, close their bank accounts with financial institutions, or transfer their assets to beneficiaries.
• To manage decedents' assets as administrator in probate proceedings.
• For medical-related research.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Texas?

Generally, a person may order between 8 and 12 death certificates in Texas, as may be required for varying purposes. It is always best to have more copies than is required, considering that ordering additional copies later may be time-consuming.

Various factors will determine the exact number of certified copies of a death certificate that should be requested from the Texas DSHS through Vital Statistics. Generally, the following factors should be considered when determining the number of certified copies of a death certificate to get in the state:

• Probate/Estate purpose
• Funeral purpose
• Notifying certain government agencies
• Decedent's account closure and transfer in financial institutions
• Filing of life insurance claims
• Property transfer