How to order a Texas death certificate
Who holds it: DSHS Vital Statistics Section; local registrars/county clerks where the death occurred.1
On this page
Fee
$20.00 first certified copy; $3.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; verification $20.00 (DSHS).2
Who may order
Same qualified-applicant rule as birth (immediate family, guardian, legal representative, or documented direct and tangible interest).3
Processing time
Texas.gov 20-25 business days; mail 25-30 business days.4
Who may order and what is restricted
- Restrictions
- Restricted for 25 years from date of death.3
Older records and indexes
- Index
- Digital death indexes 1965 and later, $10 per year.5
Related records in Texas
- Birth certificates: who holds it
- DSHS Vital Statistics Section (state); also local registrars/county clerks in the county or city of the event (some offices issue statewide).6
- Birth certificates: fee
- $22.00 certified copy (long or short form) at DSHS; verification $22.00; heirloom $60.00; expedited processing $25.00 plus overnight return shipping.2
- Probate: who holds it
- County Clerk (clerk of the county court/statutory probate court) in the county where the decedent resided.7
- Older records: vital record indexes
- TSLAC holds indexes to statewide births, deaths, marriages and divorces, not certificates.8
How Texas handles it
- Local registrars of births and deaths are justices of the peace (by precinct) or municipal clerks in cities of 2,500+9
- Voter registrar is the tax assessor-collector by default (or elections administrator / county clerk)10
Death certificates in Texas counties with a full guide
The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.
| County | Office | Search online | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | Anderson County Clerk11 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time12 |
| Angelina County | Angelina County Clerk13 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; Angelina County deaths only14 |
| Atascosa County | County Clerk15 | — | $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional copy purchased at the same time16 |
| Bastrop County | Bastrop County Clerk17 | — | $21.00; $4.00 each additional copy of the same record bought at the same time18 |
| Bell County | Bell County Clerk - Vital Statistics19 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional at the same time20 |
| Bexar County | Bexar County Clerk - Vital Statistics Department21 | — | — |
| Bowie County | DSHS or local registrar where the event occurred22 | — | — |
| Brazoria County | County Clerk - Recording and Vitals Department23 | — | — |
| Brazos County | Brazos County Clerk24 | — | $21 first certified copy; $4 each additional copy bought at the same time25 |
| Burnet County | Burnet County Clerk26 | — | — |
| Caldwell County | Caldwell County Clerk27 | — | $21.00 first copy ($20.00 clerk fee + $1.00 preservation fee)28 |
| Cameron County | Cameron County Clerk – Vital Statistics Department29 | — | $21.00 first death certificate; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time30 |
| Chambers County | Chambers County Clerk, Vital Records31 | — | $21 first copy, $4 each additional32 |
| Cherokee County | Cherokee County Clerk33 | — | — |
| Collin County | Collin County Clerk34 | — | $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time (Collin County Clerk)35 |
| Comal County | Comal County Clerk36 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional copy37 |
| Coryell County | Coryell County Clerk - Vital Statistics Registrar38 | — | $21.00; $4.00 each additional copy requested at the same time39 |
| Dallas County | Dallas County Clerk – Vital Records Division40 | — | $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional41 |
| Denton County | Denton County Clerk - Vital Statistics42 | — | $21 search and first copy; $4 each additional copy ordered at the same time43 |
| Ector County | County Clerk Birth & Death Records44 | — | County fee: $21.00 per certified death certificate ordered online through the County Clerk's request portal; additional certified copies $4.00 each; plus non-refundable $5 online service and card fee45 |
| El Paso County | El Paso County Clerk - Vitals Division46 | — | $21 first death certificate; additional death certificate $447 |
| Ellis County | Ellis County Clerk – Vitals Division48 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time49 |
| Fort Bend County | County Clerk, Vital Records50 | — | — |
| Galveston County | Galveston County Health District51 | — | $21 first certificate; $4 each additional copy ordered at the same time (Health District)52 |
| Grayson County | County Clerk: death certificates $21.00, $4.00 each additional copy at same time53 | — | — |
| Gregg County | Gregg County Clerk - Birth and Death54 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time55 |
| Guadalupe County | Guadalupe County Clerk, Vital Statistics Division56 | — | $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; verification of death $20.0057 |
| Hardin County | Hardin County Clerk58 | — | $21 first certified copy, $4 each additional copy bought the same day; in-county deaths only; immediate family members eligible59 |
| Harris County | Harris County Clerk – Personal Records Department60 | — | $21.00 first copy, $4.00 each additional copy60 |
| Harrison County | Harrison County Clerk, Vital Statistics61 | — | $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional copy in the same transaction62 |
| Hays County | Hays County Clerk, Records Division63 | — | — |
| Hidalgo County | Hidalgo County Clerk - Vitals Department64 | — | — |
| Hood County | Hood County Clerk - Birth, Death and Marriage Records65 | — | $21 first copy; $4 each additional copy purchased at the same time66 |
| Hunt County | County Clerk: death certificate $21.00 first copy, $4.00 each additional copy at the same time67 | — | — |
| Jefferson County | Jefferson County Clerk68 | — | — |
| Johnson County | County Clerk: qualified applicants only, walk-in or mail-in; confidential for 25 years69 | — | — |
| Kaufman County | Kaufman County Clerk – Vital Statistics70 | — | — |
| Kendall County | Kendall County Clerk71 | — | — |
| Kerr County | Kerr County Clerk72 | — | $21 first copy; $4 each additional copy in the same transaction72 |
| Lamar County | County Clerk73 | — | — |
| Liberty County | Liberty County Clerk - Vital Records74 | — | Death Certificate $21.00; each additional copy ordered at the same time $4.0075 |
| Lubbock County | City of Lubbock Vital Records76 | — | County Clerk: $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time77 |
| Maverick County | Maverick County Vital Records Office78 | — | — |
| McLennan County | McLennan County Clerk79 | — | $20.00 first certified copy; $3.00 each additional copy of the same record ordered the same day80 |
| Medina County | Medina County Clerk81 | — | $21.00 walk-in (deaths in Medina County only); each additional copy ordered at the same time $4.0082 |
| Midland County | County Clerk issues Midland County death certificates83 | — | — |
| Montgomery County | Montgomery County Clerk84 | — | — |
| Nacogdoches County | Nacogdoches County Clerk85 | — | — |
| Navarro County | Navarro County Clerk - Birth and Death Records86 | — | $21.00 first copy; $3.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time (Navarro County deaths only)87 |
| Nueces County | County Clerk: death certificates $21.00 first copy, $4.00 each additional88 | — | — |
| Orange County | Orange County Clerk89 | — | $21.00 first copy, $4.00 each additional copy90 |
| Parker County | Parker County Clerk, Vital Statistics91 | — | $21 first certified copy; $4 each additional copy ordered at the same time92 |
| Polk County | Polk County Clerk93 | — | State fee: $20.00 first certified copy; $3.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; verification $20.00 (DSHS).94 |
| Potter County | City of Amarillo Vital Statistics95 | — | $21.00 first certified copy/search; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time96 |
| Randall County | — | — | — |
| Rockwall County | Rockwall County Clerk - Vitals Department97 | — | $21.00 first certified copy, $4.00 each additional (includes search fee)98 |
| Rusk County | Rusk County Clerk — Vital Records99 | — | — |
| San Patricio County | San Patricio County Clerk, Vital Statistics100 | — | Shared birth/death form: certified (1 copy) $21; additional copies $4101 |
| Smith County | Smith County Clerk102 | — | $21 first certified copy; $4 each additional copy ordered at the same time103 |
| Starr County | Starr County Clerk104 | — | — |
| Tarrant County | Tarrant County Clerk105 | — | $21 first copy; $4 each additional purchased at same time106 |
| Taylor County | Taylor County Clerk107 | — | — |
| Tom Green County | Tom Green County Clerk, Vital Statistics Department108 | — | $21.00; $4.00 each additional certificate108 |
| Travis County | Travis County Clerk - Recording Division109 | — | $20.00 certified death (County Clerk, 1903-1956)110 |
| Val Verde County | — | — | — |
| Van Zandt County | Van Zandt County Clerk - Birth/Death Records111 | — | $21.00 first death certificate; $4.00 each additional112 |
| Victoria County | City of Victoria, City Secretary113 | — | — |
| Walker County | Walker County Clerk - Birth & Death Records / Marriage Licenses114 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional; verification $16.00; search $6.00115 |
| Waller County | Waller County Clerk - Vital Records116 | — | $21.00 first copy, $4.00 each additional117 |
| Webb County | Webb County Clerk118 | — | State fee: $20.00 first certified copy; $3.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; verification $20.00 (DSHS).119 |
| Williamson County | Williamson County Clerk as Local Registrar120 | — | $21 first certified copy; $4 each additional ordered at the same time121 |
| Wilson County | County Clerk122 | — | Certified copy fee: $21.00 first copy; $4.00 each additional123 |
| Wise County | Wise County Clerk / Local Registrar124 | — | $21 first copy; $4 each additional at the same time124 |
| Wood County | Wood County Clerk125 | — | $21.00 first certified copy; $4.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time126 |
For any other county, see the county list on the Texas guide.
Official copies vs look-alike sites
A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Texas office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.
Rules in other states: death certificates in every state. Everything else in Texas: Texas public records guide.
Sources
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.
- Death RecordsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Death Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Processing TimesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth and Death IndexesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Order Records LocallyTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Estates Code Chapter 33, VenueTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Genealogy research at TSLACTexas State Library and Archives Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, Administration of Vital Statistics RecordsTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Texas Election Code Chapter 12, Voter RegistrarTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
- Anderson County ClerkAnderson County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- Vitals Fee Schedule (County Clerk)Anderson County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- County ClerkAngelina Countychecked November 7, 2026
- Angelina County Clerk Fee Schedule: Recordings / Marriage / Vitals (PDF)Angelina County Clerkchecked November 7, 2026
- Atascosa County homepageAtascosa Countychecked November 7, 2026
- Application for Death Certificate (PDF)Atascosa County Clerkchecked November 7, 2026
- County ClerkBastrop Countychecked November 5, 2026
- County Clerk FeesBastrop Countychecked November 5, 2026
- Bell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Bell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk ServicesBexar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Order Records LocallyTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth RecordsBrazoria County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk – Brazos County, TXBrazos County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Documents & Filing Fees (County Clerk; fees effective January 1, 2024)Brazos County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Site Map | Burnet County, TXBurnet Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Birth & Death CertificatesCaldwell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF, scanned)Caldwell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth and Death CertificatesCameron County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Fee Schedule 2026Cameron County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkChambers County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Vital RecordsChambers County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkCherokee Countychecked November 7, 2026
- County ClerkCollin County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Vitals Fee Schedule (PDF)Collin Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Offices | Comal County, TXComal Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Comal County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)Comal County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Coryell County Clerk homeCoryell County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- County Clerk's Office Fee Schedule (PDF)Coryell County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- Dallas County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Dallas County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkDenton County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Vital Records Fee ScheduleDenton County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk | Ector County, TXwww.ectorcountytx.govchecked November 4, 2026
- Ector County Clerk Online Birth/Death Certificate Requestsectortxvitals.permitium.comchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkEl Paso County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth & Death CertificatesSecond-pass checkchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth CertificatesEllis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Vitals Fee Schedule (PDF)Ellis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth/Death Certificates | Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County Clerkarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
- Galveston County Health District homeGalveston County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth & Death Records feesGalveston County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Birth/Death CertificatesGrayson Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Gregg County home pageGregg Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Application for Certified Copy of Birth or Death CertificateGregg County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Vital - Birth and Death RecordsGuadalupe County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Guadalupe County Clerk Fee Schedules (PDF)Guadalupe County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Home | Hardin County, TexasHardin County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkHardin County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Personal RecordsHarris County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkHarrison County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Vital records fees, forms and exceptionsHarrison County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkHays County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Site MapCounty of Hidalgochecked November 4, 2026
- Birth CertificatesHood County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk - Filing FeesHood County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth and Death RecordsHunt Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Jefferson Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Death RecordsJohnson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth CertificatesKaufman Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Remote Birth AccessKendall County Clerkchecked November 7, 2026
- Kerr County ClerkKerr Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk Forms | Lamar County, TexasLamar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Liberty County, Texas home pageLiberty Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Liberty County Clerk Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2026)Liberty County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth Certificate (service)Lubbock Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)Lubbock County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Vital RecordsMaverick County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- McLennan County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- McLennan County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk | Medina County TXMedina County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Medina County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)Medina County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth or Death CertificateMidland Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Montgomery County, Texas (home)Montgomery County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Nacogdoches County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- Navarro County, Texas - HomeNavarro Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Navarro County Clerk Notice of Fees Effective 01/01/2024 (Probate and Civil Fees)Navarro County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk - Filing DepartmentNueces County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Birth CertificatesOrange Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Death CertificatesOrange Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Birth, Death & Marriage RecordsParker County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
- Birth/Death Certificate ApplicationParker County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Elected OfficialsPolk County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
- Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 7, 2026
- Open RecordsPotter Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Vital Stats - City of AmarilloCity of Amarillochecked November 4, 2026
- County OfficesRockwall Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Birth/Death CertificatesRockwall Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkRusk Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkSan Patricio County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth or death record applicationSan Patricio County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Smith Countychecked November 4, 2026
- Smith County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Starr County, Texas homeStarr County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Tarrant County - HomeTarrant County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth and Death RecordsTarrant County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Site MapTaylor Countychecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Vital StatisticsTom Green Countychecked November 4, 2026
- DepartmentsTravis County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth and Death Records (Vital Stats)Travis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Van Zandt County, Texas - HomeVan Zandt County, Texaschecked November 6, 2026
- County Clerk Real Property & Vital Records Fee ScheduleVan Zandt County, Texaschecked November 6, 2026
- Local Vital Record Offices - VTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 7, 2026
- Birth & Death RecordsWalker County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- Vital Records Fee Schedule (PDF, document center id=3601)Walker County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- County ClerkWaller County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Vital RecordsWaller County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Elected GovernmentWebb Countyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
- Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
- Williamson County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Williamson County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
- Wilson County homeWilson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- County ClerkWilson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
- Birth & Death CertificatesWise County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
- Local Vital Record Offices - WTexas DSHSchecked November 4, 2026
- County Clerk: Death RecordsWood County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026