Find El Paso Death Records

El Paso death records are held by the El Paso County Clerk, which serves as the local registrar for all deaths in the city and county going back to 1873. There is no separate city vital records office in El Paso, so the county clerk is the place to go for certified copies, searches, and historical records.

Where to Get El Paso Death Records

El Paso does not have a city vital records office. The El Paso County Clerk is the sole local source for certified death certificates. They handle deaths registered in the city and the surrounding county, and their records go back to 1873.

If the county clerk does not have a record, the next step is the Texas Department of State Health Services, which maintains statewide records from 1903 onward in TxEVER.

The Texas.gov vital records portal lets you order certified death certificates online from anywhere in Texas.

Online orders are processed statewide and arrive within 7 to 14 business days.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

The El Paso County Clerk provides certified death certificates in person, by mail, and through state online channels.

In person at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105. Bring a valid photo ID, a completed application form, and your payment. Most in-person requests are filled the same day during regular business hours.

By mail, send a completed application, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order payable to the El Paso County Clerk. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for processing and delivery. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to help speed up the return.

Online, use VitalChek or the Texas.gov vital records portal. Both carry an extra service fee on top of the base certificate cost. Delivery typically takes 7 to 14 business days.

For records not found locally, contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111 or visit dshs.texas.gov/vs/death.

Who Can Request Death Records

Texas death records under 25 years old are restricted. They are not open to the public. Only specific people can request a certified copy of a recent record.

Authorized requesters include the spouse, parent, adult child, or sibling of the deceased. Legal representatives, attorneys for the estate, and people with a valid court order also qualify. If you fall outside those groups, you may still request a restricted record by showing a direct and tangible interest.

Records 25 or more years old are public. Anyone can request them. You still pay the fee, but proof of relationship is not required.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID in person or include a copy with your mail application. Acceptable ID types are listed at the DSHS acceptable ID page. If an agent is picking up on your behalf, they need written authorization from you and their own ID at the counter.

Fees and Payment

El Paso County charges $21 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Call (915) 546-2071 to confirm current fees before visiting.

State DSHS fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 per additional copy ordered together. Expedited processing at DSHS adds $25.

Online ordering through VitalChek or the Texas.gov portal adds a service fee and shipping charge. Credit and debit cards are accepted online. The county clerk accepts cash, check, money order, and most cards in person. Mail requests require check or money order.

All fees are non-refundable. A search fee is charged even when no record is found. Provide the correct full name, date of death, and city or county to avoid failed searches and unnecessary costs.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Texas death registration requirements are set by the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 191. That chapter covers who must file, the 10-day deadline, and what the certificate must include.

The attending physician certifies the cause and manner of death. The funeral director files the certificate with the local registrar. For El Paso, the El Paso County Clerk is the local registrar.

Deaths that are investigated by a medical examiner or justice of the peace fall under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 49. The El Paso County Medical Examiner handles those cases for the city and county.

Texas uses TxEVER, an electronic vital events registration system, to record all deaths statewide. Funeral homes submit directly into TxEVER. Once the record is accepted, the county clerk can issue certified copies. This system has replaced older paper-based filing and speeds up availability.

Restricted record access rules are in 25 Texas Administrative Code Section 181.31.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

El Paso County death records go back to 1873, giving researchers a long historical window. Pre-1903 records are primarily at the county clerk and in church and cemetery registers. After 1903, records are also indexed at DSHS.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds statewide death indexes and historical records. Their genealogy research guide is the right starting point for older searches.

FamilySearch has digitized Texas death records and makes them free to search. Their Texas collection covers many early 20th century death certificates and some older records from county sources like El Paso.

Ancestry.com carries Texas death indexes and images. A subscription is needed for full records. Some El Paso Public Library branches offer free in-library Ancestry access.

El Paso sits on the US-Mexico border, which means some older records may have been recorded on the Mexican side of the river. For deaths that occurred prior to 1903 in the border region, checking records in Ciudad Juarez or through Mexican civil registration archives may help.

State-Level Death Record Requests

If the El Paso County Clerk cannot locate a record, the Texas Department of State Health Services handles statewide vital records requests and can issue certified copies for any death registered in TxEVER.

DSHS Vital Statistics Unit
1100 W. 49th St., Austin TX 78756
Mailing: P.O. Box 12040, Austin TX 78711-2040
Phone: (888) 963-7111

Visit dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics for general info or dshs.texas.gov/vs/death for death certificate details.

DSHS mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. Online orders through the Texas.gov vital records portal arrive in about 7 to 14 business days.

Nearby Cities

El Paso is a border city with no other qualifying Texas cities in immediate proximity. For statewide records, see the El Paso County page or contact DSHS directly.

County Resources

All El Paso death records are held by the El Paso County Clerk.