Search Andrews County Death Records

Andrews County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Andrews, Texas, and date back to 1886 for some records and 1903 for statewide death registration. If you need a certified death certificate for an estate, insurance claim, or personal use, you can submit a request in person at the courthouse or by mail. The Andrews County Clerk does not conduct telephone searches, so written or in-person requests are required for all death record inquiries.

Andrews County Clerk Contact Info

The Andrews County Clerk's office, currently led by Vicki Scott, is located in the county courthouse in Andrews. The office handles death certificates, birth records, marriage licenses, land filings, and probate matters. All requests for death records must be submitted in writing or in person. Telephone searches are not available.

Andrews County's official website provides contact information and basic guidance on requesting vital records from the clerk's office.

The county website lists the clerk's office hours and mailing address for anyone who needs to submit a written request for death records by mail.

How to Request a Death Certificate

In-person requests at the Andrews County Clerk's office are processed the same day in most cases, provided the record is on file. Bring your photo ID and the required fee. The clerk will look up the record and issue a certified copy while you wait. The office is open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays, but note that it closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM.

Mail-in requests take about 5 to 7 business days once the office receives your letter. Your written request should include the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, your relationship to the deceased, a legible photocopy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Andrews County Clerk. Do not send cash. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted, so use a money order if you are mailing from out of state.

You can also order through the state's online system. Both Texas.gov and VitalChek offer online ordering for certified Texas death certificates. These orders go through the DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin. Processing typically takes 7 to 14 business days, with expedited options available.

Access Rules and Eligibility

Death records filed within the last 25 years are confidential under Texas law. Access is limited to immediate family members and certain authorized parties. Under 25 TAC Chapter 181, immediate family includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Legal representatives, licensed attorneys, and government entities with a legitimate need may also qualify for access.

Records older than 25 years are open to the public. Researchers and genealogists can request these records without proving a family relationship. For all requests involving records within the 25-year window, you must present an acceptable form of ID and state your relationship to the deceased on the request form.

Fees and Payment Methods

The fee for a certified death certificate in Andrews County is $21 for the first copy. Additional certified copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $4 each. These fees are set by the state and apply to requests made through the county clerk as well as through the DSHS in Austin.

At the Andrews County Clerk's office, payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted. For mail requests from out of state, send a money order. If you order online through Texas.gov or VitalChek, you can pay by credit or debit card. The state DSHS charges $20 for the first copy with a $25 option for expedited processing and same-day walk-in service at the Austin office.

Historical Records and Genealogy Research

Andrews County has records going back further than the 1903 statewide registration date for some record types. Death records are available from 1886, and birth records from 1910. Land records go back to 1884, and probate files start from 1911. For researchers looking at deaths before 1903, county probate and court records may help fill in gaps.

TexasFile provides online access to Andrews County official public records. The platform indexes deed records, court filings, and related documents. You can browse the Andrews County records on TexasFile to see what is indexed and searchable online without visiting the courthouse.

TexasFile's Andrews County directory shows the scope of official records available for remote searching, which is useful when a trip to the courthouse is not practical.

For genealogy, FamilySearch has free Texas death records available online, including early county registers and indexed death certificates. Ancestry also holds a large collection of Texas vital records with digitized death certificates going back to 1903. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is another option for historical records that have been transferred from county offices to the state archives.

Filing Requirements Under Texas Law

Texas requires that death certificates be filed within 10 days of the date of death. This rule comes from the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. The physician or medical examiner certifies the cause of death, and the funeral director files the certificate with the local registrar, which in Andrews County is the county clerk. Once filed, the record enters TxEVER, the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar that links county records to the statewide DSHS database.

Deaths involving questionable or unclear circumstances may trigger an inquest by the local justice of the peace. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49 covers the inquest process. Records from an inquest are typically held by the court rather than the county clerk. If you need those records, contact the justice of the peace court in Andrews County directly.

Cities in Andrews County

Andrews County does not have a qualifying city with its own dedicated page. The city of Andrews is the county seat and the main urban center in the county. All residents of Andrews County use the county clerk's office in Andrews for death records and other vital records services.

Nearby Counties

Andrews County sits in the Permian Basin region of West Texas. If you need records that may have been filed in a bordering county, you can find information for Dawson County, Gaines County, Martin County, and Winkler County. Each county clerk keeps separate records for deaths that occurred within that county's borders.