Alternative Ways To Do Death Records Search

By Claire Dowell


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.

Getting the death certificate of an individual can be difficult. If the person who died was born 75 years ago the record considered a protected document. The same is true for a record of a death that occurred in the past 25 years. To get the protected papers there are certain conditions that need to be met. You can only get obtain the record if it belongs to an immediate family members. Also, if you live outside Texas, you have to be the surviving spouse or parent of the deceased. There are exemptions though. The funeral director of the funeral home found on the document may request said document.

To make a request, proper identification is needed. Identification such as a government issued ID or state-issued driver's license will suffice. Just log on the website of the vital records department of Texas and fill out the application form. You will need to input the names of the parents of the deceased person. The maiden name of the mother may also be needed. You will also have to state the reason why you need the document and how you are related to the deceased person. One request will cost about $20 and you can pay via check or money order along with the application form to the bureau of vital statistics. The mail order service will take some time, approximately three 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.




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