The paperwork · Texas
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in Texas, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy: $20.00 for 1st copy. Additional copies of the same death record ordered at the same time are $3.00 each.
Mail requests to: Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section P.O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040
State office has recorded death records since 1903. Requests for certified copies of death certificates can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.gov. A Mail Application for Death Record (see Form VS-142.pdf) can also be completed and sent by regular mail to the address on the application. Expedited requests can also be sent using an overnight service or by USPS Express Mail, with a check or money order, to the address on the application if selecting Expedited Processing. Current processing times can be located on the Texas Department of State Health Services website. Mail-in requests must be paid by check or money order made payable to: DSHS – Vital Statistics. To verify current fees or status of a request, contact VSS by telephone at: (888) 963-7111. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the website at Texas Department of State Health Services.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the Texas help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: $20.00 for 1st copy. Additional copies of the same death record ordered at the same time are $3.00 each. Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by Texas. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official Texas vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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