Wichita Falls Death Records

Wichita Falls death records are available through two offices: the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District handles city-level vital records, while the Wichita County Clerk maintains county-level certified copies. This page covers both offices, fees, who can request records, and what Texas law requires.

Where to Get Wichita Falls Death Records

Wichita Falls has a joint city-county public health operation. The Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District at 1700 Third Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301, phone 940-761-7800, handles vital records for city residents. City vital records in Wichita Falls go back specifically to 1917 for locally registered events.

Wichita Falls is also the county seat of Wichita County, so the Wichita County Clerk is located in the same city. The county clerk holds records for all deaths in the county and is the better source for records before 1917 or for deaths outside the city limits.

More information on city vital records is available at wichitafallstx.gov/311/VitalRecords. That page explains how to request copies from the city health office and what identification is needed.

Texas DSHS Vital Statistics at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death also holds statewide copies for all Texas deaths registered after 1903. You can order online or by mail from DSHS regardless of which local office you prefer.

How to Get a Certified Death Certificate in Wichita Falls

To get a certified copy from the Public Health District, visit 1700 Third Street during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and the completed request form. If the death occurred within the last 25 years, bring proof of your relationship to the deceased. Staff can issue certified copies the same day.

Mail requests go to the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District at the same address. Include a completed form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail.

For deaths that occurred outside the city limits, or for older records, contact the Wichita County Clerk. The county clerk office is in the Wichita County Courthouse, also in Wichita Falls since it is the county seat. Call ahead to get the current phone number and hours.

Online ordering is available through the Texas.gov portal at texas.gov/texas-vital-records and through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Both options process DSHS copies and mail them to you.

The Texas.gov vital records page allows online ordering of certified death certificates for all Texas counties including Wichita County.

Texas.gov and DSHS online ordering cover all Texas counties, so Wichita County records are accessible even if you cannot visit in person.

Who Can Request Wichita Falls Death Records

Texas law sets a 25-year restriction on death records. Deaths from the past 25 years are not open to the public. Only immediate family can get a certified copy. Immediate family means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the person who died.

You must prove the family relationship. Bring a birth certificate, marriage license, or other legal document that shows how you are related. The staff at the Public Health District or the county clerk will review what you bring.

Legal representatives, estate attorneys, and licensed funeral directors can also request records when acting in an official capacity. Bring your authorization letter or court documents if that applies to you.

Deaths 25 years old or older are public records. Anyone can request them with a valid ID and payment of the fee. No explanation is needed for older records.

All requesters need a valid photo ID under Texas SB 16. Accepted ID types are listed at dshs.texas.gov. A Texas driver's license, state ID card, or U.S. passport all work.

Fees and Payment

The standard fee for a certified death certificate in Texas is $21 for the first copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4. These fees apply at the county clerk level.

The Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District may have slightly different local fees for city-issued copies. Call 940-761-7800 to confirm the current fee schedule before visiting or mailing a request.

DSHS charges $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy. Their expedited option is $25 and speeds processing at the state level.

Payment at the health district typically accepts cash, check, and money order. For mail requests, use a check or money order only. Do not send cash.

Texas Law Governing Death Records

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191 sets the rules for vital records registration and access across the state. The full text is at statutes.capitol.texas.gov. It covers who must file a death certificate, how records are stored, and who can get a copy.

When a death occurs in Wichita Falls, the attending physician or medical examiner certifies the cause. The funeral home then files the death certificate with the local registrar. The city's vital records office and the county clerk both function as registrars in Wichita Falls, which is unusual compared to many Texas cities.

For inquests and deaths that require investigation, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49 applies. That statute is at statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Wichita County has a justice of the peace who handles local inquests.

State fee rules for vital records come from 25 TAC 181.31 at texreg.sos.state.tx.us. This sets the baseline fees that counties and cities follow.

The TxEVER system (Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar) is the state database that receives death records from all local registrars including Wichita County. DSHS manages this system.

Historical Records and Genealogy in Wichita County

Wichita County was formed in 1882, and statewide death registration began in 1903. The city of Wichita Falls has its own local records going back to 1917. For deaths before 1903, you will need to rely on church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper archives.

FamilySearch has a free Texas death records collection at familysearch.org. Search by name to find index entries, then request the official copy from the county clerk or DSHS.

Ancestry.com holds Texas vital records digitally at ancestry.com. A paid subscription is needed for most records, though local library computers sometimes offer free access.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has a genealogy resource center described at tsl.texas.gov. TSLAC holds microfilm and digital indexes for many early Texas vital records including Wichita County filings.

The Kemp Public Library in Wichita Falls has local history materials and may hold newspaper archives that supplement official death records. Cemetery records from local funeral homes are another useful source for pre-registration era research.

Nearby Cities

Other Texas cities with death records pages include Abilene and Fort Worth.

County Resources

For county-level records, see the Wichita County records page.