Lubbock Death Records
Lubbock death records for deaths inside city limits are filed with the City Vital Statistics Office, while the Lubbock County Clerk handles deaths in the rest of the county. Both offices can issue certified copies, and this page explains how to use each one, what you need to bring, what it costs, and what Texas law says about access.
Lubbock Overview
Where to Get Lubbock Death Records
Lubbock maintains a city vital statistics office that handles deaths registered within city limits. For deaths that occurred elsewhere in Lubbock County, the Lubbock County Clerk is the right office. If you are not sure which has the record, start with the city office and they can direct you.
| Office | City of Lubbock Vital Statistics Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1625 13th Street, Room 102, Lubbock TX 79457 |
| Phone | (806) 775-2934 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | lubbockcounty.gov |
Lubbock County Clerk is at 904 Broadway, Suite 207, Lubbock TX 79401, phone (806) 775-1047.
Note: Texas Senate Bill 16 requires valid photo ID for all official public record filings submitted at this office.
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
Certified death certificates are available in person at the city vital statistics office, by mail, or online through VitalChek or the state portal.
In person at 1625 13th Street, Room 102. Bring your completed application, a valid photo ID, and payment. In-person requests are typically filled the same day during regular hours.
By mail, send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the City of Lubbock. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for processing and return. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Online through VitalChek or the Texas.gov vital records portal. Both add a service and shipping fee. Delivery runs about 7 to 14 business days.
If neither the city nor county can find the record, contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111 or see dshs.texas.gov/vs/death.
Who Can Request Death Records
Texas restricts death records under 25 years old. Only authorized people can get a certified copy of a recent death certificate.
Eligible requesters include the spouse, parent, adult child, or sibling of the deceased. Legal representatives, estate attorneys, and those with a court order also qualify. If you fall outside those categories, you may still get a restricted record by showing a direct and tangible interest.
Records 25 or more years old are public. Anyone can request them and no relationship is required. The fee still applies.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID in person or include a photocopy with a mail request. If someone else picks up on your behalf, they need written authorization and their own ID. Acceptable ID types are listed at the DSHS acceptable ID page.
Fees and Payment
Lubbock charges $21 for the first certified copy and $4 per additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Call (806) 775-2934 or (806) 775-1047 to confirm current fees before visiting either office.
State DSHS fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 per additional copy. Expedited DSHS processing costs $25 more.
Online orders through VitalChek or the Texas.gov portal include a service fee and a shipping fee. Credit and debit cards are accepted online. In person, the office accepts cash, check, money order, and most cards. Mail requests need check or money order only. Never mail cash.
Fees are not refundable. A failed search still costs the fee. Provide accurate name, date, and location of death to reduce the risk of a failed search.
Texas Law and Death Record Requirements
Texas death registration requirements are set by the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 191. That chapter covers the 10-day filing deadline, who must file, and what the certificate must include.
The attending physician certifies the cause of death. The funeral director files with the local registrar. For Lubbock, that is the city vital statistics office for deaths within city limits.
Deaths investigated by a justice of the peace or the Lubbock County Medical Examiner fall under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 49, which governs inquest procedures for unattended or suspicious deaths.
Texas registers all vital records electronically through TxEVER. Funeral homes file directly into TxEVER. Once a record is accepted, local registrars like the Lubbock city vital statistics office can issue certified copies. This system replaced older paper filing methods.
Access rules for restricted records are in 25 Texas Administrative Code Section 181.31.
Historical Death Records and Genealogy
Lubbock County death records go back to 1903 in the statewide index. Older records may exist in county deed books, church registers, and cemetery records from the South Plains region.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds statewide death indexes and historical certificates. Their genealogy research guide is a good starting point for older searches.
FamilySearch offers free access to digitized Texas death records. Their Texas collection covers many early and mid-20th century certificates. Filter by Lubbock County to narrow results.
Ancestry.com holds Texas death indexes and county images. A subscription is required, though Lubbock Public Library branches may offer free in-library Ancestry access.
The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University holds local historical materials including some older death-related records, cemetery indexes, and community histories that can supplement formal vital records research.
State-Level Death Record Requests
If the Lubbock city or county office cannot find a record, the Texas Department of State Health Services handles statewide vital records and can issue certified copies for any Texas death 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
See dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics and dshs.texas.gov/vs/death for 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
Cities near Lubbock with death records pages include Midland, Odessa, and Abilene.
County Resources
For deaths outside Lubbock city limits in the county, see the Lubbock County records page.