Texas death records can be requested for various reasons. Some need the documents if they want to strengthen their legal claim to an inheritance. They can add the papers to prove their relation to the deceased. Others request certificates to prove their new status as widow or widower. However, some reasons are as simple as requiring the records to help recreate their genealogy tree.
The document contains information on a specific person who died. If you’re looking for the record of an infant, you’ll find that the notation “Inf of” will appear as the first name in the document. “Inf of” means infant of. Some of the records may list women under the husband’s first name.
Currently, the Texas department of state health services keeps the certificates of deaths in Texas. However, if you’re looking for information prior to 1956, you will find that the index are grouped in certain years. For deaths from 1904 to 1940 there is only one index. The same goes for 1941 to 1945 and 1946 to 1955. Documents after 1956 now had one index per year. For deaths before 1903, you will have more luck finding the record in the county clerk’s office. Just be sure to look for the record on the county where the death occurred. Not the birthplace of the dead person.
Not just anyone can get information of the deceased individual. There are specific guidelines that need to be followed. Records of persons that died in the past 25 years or those born 75 years ago are considered as protected documents. Only the immediate family members can make the request as the documents can’t be released to the public unless if there are court orders or special reasons why they need to be divulged. For requests outside of the state of Texas, only the living spouse or parent of the disease can obtain the documents. One of the exemptions to the rule is the funeral director that took care of the corpse. The funeral director may request for the record only for record keeping purposes.
Requesting for the record will require a government issued ID card or a state-issued driver’s license. Fill out the request form found in the website of the vital records department. You’ll need to provide the full names of the parents of the deceased (mother’s maiden name is also important), the reason why you’re getting the document and your relationship to the deceased. The cost for one request is $20 and you can pay by check or money order addressed to the bureau of vital statistics. The mail order service will take almost three to four weeks at most.
For faster service you can use the online request form of the Texas vital records department website. Just fill out the online form and pay via credit card and you will get your death notices within 10 to 15 days. There are other websites that offer rush service and certified records for a small fee. You’ll get your documents in just days instead of weeks.
Read more about Death Records and its associated searches at Death Notices online.