How to get a Texas death certificate

In Texas, order a certified death certificate from the Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section.¹ Local registrars and county clerks in the county/city where the death occurred also issue long-form death certificates.² The first copy costs $20³ and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $3³. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day¹.

Last checked November 6, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Texas death certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Texas death certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online	$20³ first, $3³ each extra copy + 3 possible extra charges	20 to 25 business days on average⁴	Card⁵
By mail	$20⁶ first, $3⁶ each extra copy + 3 possible extra charges	25 to 30 business days on average⁴	Check and money order⁷
In person	$20³ first, $3³ each extra copy + one extra charge	Same day¹	Check, money order and card⁷
At a local office	See the details below	–	–

Not offered: by phone.⁸

Online

Run by: Texas.gov (official State of Texas portal) - DSHS Order Vital Records application⁹
Fees: First copy $20³
Each additional copy in the same order $3³
Approximate costs for Express delivery $16⁹
Shipping to PO Box, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S territories or commonwealths $22.95⁹
Shipping to military address outside the U.S. $4.95⁹
Processing time: 20 to 25 business days on average⁴
Payment: Card⁵

Good to know

All orders are non-refundable¹¹
Texas resident: death certificate of an immediate family member; Out of state resident: only the surviving spouse, surviving parent, or funeral director listed on the record¹⁰
Identity verified online with a state-issued driver's license or ID number, Social Security Number and relationship¹⁰
Online verification letters can be downloaded immediately for an extra $3⁹

Go to the ordering site¹⁰

By mail

Fees: First copy $20⁶
Each additional copy in the same order $3⁶
Expedited Processing (estimated 4 weeks) $25⁶
Overnight Return Mail (for shipping within USA) $16⁶
USPS Express Return Mail (for shipping to PO Box ONLY) $22.95⁶
Processing time: 25 to 30 business days on average⁴
Expedited service: $25. Processed and mailed about 4 weeks after receipt; must be sent by overnight service to DSHS - VSS MC 2096, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756; expedited return shipping is then required⁶
Payment: Check and money order⁷
Make payable to: DSHS Vital Statistics⁷
Mail to: Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040
¹²

Good to know

Original application, no cross-outs or white-out; photocopy of ID; notarized for certified birth/death copies¹³
Fees are non-refundable even if no record is found³
Regular: Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040; Expedited overnight: Texas Vital Statistics, MC 2096, Department of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756¹²

Open the application or mail instructions⁶

In person

Fees: First copy $20³
Each additional copy in the same order $3³
Processing fee $2.25³
Processing time: Same day¹
Payment: Check, money order and card⁷
Make payable to: DSHS Vital Statistics¹³
Office: DSHS - Vital Statistics Section, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756
¹⁴
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm⁶

Good to know

Original acceptable ID must be presented¹³
A qualified applicant may authorize another person to pick up a death certificate with a notarized statement and both IDs⁷

Open the official page¹³

At a local office

Good to know

Local registrars and county clerks must charge the same fees as DSHS for certified birth/death copies, plus they may add up to $1 (and some pre-1995 higher birth fees may continue)¹⁵
Local offices set their own hours, fees and procedures²

Find a local office²

What a Texas death certificate costs

First certified copy: $20³
Each additional copy, same order: $3³
Expedite fee: $25³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Death Certificate¹⁶	Legal proof of death in Texas⁹	$20³
Death Verification³	Not a legal substitute for a certified copy¹⁶	$20³
"Not found" letter⁶	–	$20³

No-fee copies

Group: veterans and dependents settling a claim against the government¹⁵

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They count from the day the office receives your order. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time
Online	20 to 25 business days on average⁴
By mail	25 to 30 business days on average⁴
In person	Same day¹

Who can order a Texas death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

Child, a parent named on the record, brother or sister, grandparent and spouse: The person named on the vital record, his/her immediate family members (either by blood, marriage, or adoption), his/her guardian , or his/her legal agent/representative can request a certified copy of that vital record.¹⁷
Legal guardian¹⁷
Attorney or legal representative¹⁷
Funeral director⁶
Others: only with legal documentation of a direct, tangible interest¹⁷
Anyone once the record is public: 25 years after the event¹⁸

Other kinds of copies

Verification Anyone: Anyone is eligible to order a birth or death verification if able to provide the full name of the individual, date of event, and location of event.¹³

Records open to the public after: 25 years⁷

ID you need

Photo ID: Required¹³
Accepted ID: Driver's license from a U.S. state
Federal or state ID card
Military ID card
U.S. passport
License to Carry a Handgun
Pilot's license
Law enforcement employment ID (federal, state, or city)
Offender ID issued by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or an ID from a federal or U.S. state correctional facility or institution
USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), travel documents (re-entry permit, refugee travel document, advance parole), SENTRI card, U.S. citizen ID card
U.S. Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card (B1/B2) or Visa¹⁹
Without that ID: Option 2: TWO (2) from Group B (secondary IDs, e.g. current student ID, expired Group A ID, signed Social Security card or Numident, DD-214, Medicaid/Medicare card, VA card, medical insurance card, foreign passport with U.S. visa); Option 3: ONE (1) from Group B and TWO (2) from Group C (supporting documents, e.g. recent utility bill, paycheck stub, bank statement, voter registration card, lease, school transcript); No id: An immediate family member with sufficient ID may obtain the record instead¹⁹
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁸

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁶

Full name on record
Date of death
Date of birth
Sex
Social Security number
Place of death (city or town, county; Texas only)
Full names of Parent 1 and Parent 2
Applicant's relationship
Reason for request

Forms

Mail Application for Death Record (VS-142) revision VS–142 (1/26)⁶
Mail Application for Death Record (Spanish) (VS-142)²⁰

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1903 to today⁷
Older records: County clerk of the county of death (deaths recorded before 1903)²¹

Special situations

Use abroad: For use abroad, order a certified copy marked 'Apostille' as the reason, then send it to the Texas Secretary of State; DSHS cannot process apostille fees²² Details
Fetal death: Fetal death certificates can be ordered through Texas.gov; protected for 25 years like death records¹¹ Details
If no record is found: If no record is on file DSHS issues a 'not found' letter; the fee is kept⁶ Details

Warnings from the office

Death certificates are not open records for 25 years⁷

The state office

Office: Vital Statistics Section, Texas Department of State Health Services²³
Phone: 888-963-7111²³
Mailing address: Texas Vital Statistics, Department of State Health Services, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040
¹²
Walk-in address: DSHS - Vital Statistics Section, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756
¹⁴
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST²³
Website: Official website²³

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Texas death certificate?

The first copy costs $20 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $3.³

How long does it take to get a Texas death certificate?

Online: 20 to 25 business days on average. By mail: 25 to 30 business days on average. In person: same day.⁴¹

Can I order a Texas death certificate online?

Yes. Online: Texas.gov (official State of Texas portal) - DSHS Order Vital Records application.⁹

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: DSHS Vital Statistics.⁷

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Driver's license from a U.S. state; Federal or state ID card; Military ID card; U.S. passport; License to Carry a Handgun; Pilot's license; and the other documents listed above.¹⁹

Where are older Texas death certificates kept?

County clerk of the county of death (deaths recorded before 1903).²¹

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Death RecordsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Order Records LocallyTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas DSHS processing timesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas.gov FAQSTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Mail application for death record VS 142 1.2026 (PDF)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Sectiondated January 1, 2026
Death Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Birth Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas Department of State Health Services pageTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Requirements for Online OrdersTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas.gov Order Vital Records (official state portal, ovra.txapps.texas.gov)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Vital Statistics Mailing AddressesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Requirements for Mail/In-Person OrdersTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Mail application for birth record VS 140 1.2026 (PDF)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Sectiondated January 1, 2026
Texas statute, Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov), HS chapter 191Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes)
Record TypesTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Persons Qualified to Request or Change RecordsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas Government Code chapter 552Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes)
Acceptable Identification (ID)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Vital Applications & FormsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Vital Statistics Indexes FAQTexas State Library and Archives Commissiondated August 31, 2026
Records for Foreign Governments (Apostille)Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
Texas Department of State Health Services: Contact usTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section