Hale County Death Records

Death records in Hale County are filed with the County Clerk in Plainview and with the Texas Department of State Health Services. This page covers how to get certified death certificates, what fees apply, who can request records, and where to find historical data going back to 1903.

Hale County Clerk Office

The Hale County Clerk sits on the second floor of the county courthouse in Plainview. The office keeps local death record filings and issues certified copies for events that occurred within the county. Staff can also direct you to the state office when county records are not available for an older event.

Walk-in requests are handled the same day if you have the required documents. Mail requests typically take one to two weeks. The clerk does not accept online orders directly. For online ordering, you must go through the state vital records system or an approved vendor.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. If someone else is picking up a certificate on your behalf, they need a signed authorization letter and their own ID. The clerk will not release a restricted record without proper documentation.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

A certified death certificate from Hale County costs $21 for the first copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4. You can get copies in person at the county clerk or by mail. You can also order from the state through DSHS Vital Statistics or through VitalChek, which is the state's authorized online vendor.

To request a copy, you need to submit a completed application form along with a copy of your valid photo ID. The application asks for the full name of the deceased, the date of death, the county where the death occurred, and the name and address of the person making the request. If you are related to the deceased, state that relationship on the form.

The state requires that you provide as much information as possible. If key details are missing, the search may come back with no record found, and the fee is not refunded in those cases. Double-check the spelling of the name and the exact date before submitting.

Mail requests to Hale County Clerk, 500 Broadway, Suite 140, Plainview, TX 79072. Include a check or money order made out to Hale County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to ensure your certificate is returned to the right place.

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.

Who Can Request Death Records

Texas law restricts access to death records less than 25 years old. During this restricted period, only certain people can get a certified copy. These include the spouse or former spouse of the deceased, a parent or child of the deceased, a sibling, or a legal representative with written authorization. Funeral directors acting on behalf of a family can also request records.

After 25 years, death records become public. Anyone can request a copy without stating a reason. You still need to pay the fee and fill out the form, but you do not have to prove a relationship to the deceased.

Informational copies are available to a broader group during the restricted period. An informational copy shows the same data as a certified copy but cannot be used for legal purposes like settling an estate or collecting life insurance benefits. Know which type you need before you request.

The DSHS list of acceptable IDs explains what identification documents the state will accept with a records request. A valid Texas driver's license, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify. Expired IDs are not accepted.

Fees and Payment

The county clerk charges $21 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. These fees are set by state law and apply across all Texas counties.

The state DSHS office charges $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each extra copy ordered together. If DSHS cannot find the record, a $25 search fee still applies and is not refunded. Keep this in mind if you are searching for an older record that may not be indexed.

Payment at the county clerk can be made by cash, check, or money order. Credit card acceptance varies. Call ahead at (806) 291-5261 to confirm current payment options. Mail requests must include a check or money order. The state and VitalChek accept credit cards for online orders.

There is no fee waiver program for death certificate requests in most circumstances. Indigent individuals may sometimes get one free copy through a funeral home or county assistance program. Ask the clerk directly if you need help with fees.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Death records in Texas are governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, which sets out the rules for vital records registration, maintenance, and access. The law requires that all deaths occurring in Texas be registered with the state within a set time frame.

When a death occurs, the attending physician or medical examiner certifies the cause of death on the death certificate. The funeral director or person handling disposition of the body then files the certificate with the local registrar, which is typically the county clerk's office. The local office forwards the record to the state.

In cases of violent or unexplained death, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49 governs the role of the justice of the peace and medical examiner in certifying cause of death. These records may take longer to finalize and may have additional restrictions if criminal proceedings are pending.

Texas uses the TxEVER system (Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar) for electronic filing of vital records. Funeral homes and medical facilities file directly into TxEVER. This speeds up the process of making records available through DSHS. The Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Chapter 181 provides the regulatory framework for vital statistics registration.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

Death records in Texas date back to 1903, when the state first required registration of vital events. Earlier records exist in some counties through church registers, cemetery records, and probate filings, but statewide registration did not begin until that year. Compliance was uneven in the early decades, so some deaths before 1940 may not appear in the state index.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds historical vital records and related documents. Their genealogy collections include microfilm copies of early death registers and indexes. These are available on-site in Austin and through some interlibrary loan programs.

FamilySearch has free digitized Texas death records going back to the early 1900s. Their Texas collections include death certificates, delayed registrations, and index records. FamilySearch is maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is a reliable source for genealogical research.

Ancestry.com also carries Texas death records as part of its subscription database. Ancestry includes the Texas Death Certificates collection covering 1903 through 1982, with images of the original certificates. A paid subscription is needed to view the images, though basic index searches are sometimes free.

Local libraries and county historical societies often hold cemetery records, obituary files, and funeral home registers that can fill in gaps where state records are missing. The Hale County area has been settled since the late 1800s, and local archives may have informal records predating state registration.

State-Level Death Record Requests

If you cannot get the record you need from the county, contact the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit directly. The state office holds records for all deaths occurring in Texas since 1903. They process mail and online requests.

Mail requests to: Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. For walk-in service, the office is located at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756. Call (888) 963-7111 for general information.

Online orders go through Texas.gov or VitalChek. Both services charge a convenience fee on top of the state fee. Processing times for online orders are typically 7 to 14 business days. Rush processing is available through VitalChek for an additional charge.

The DSHS death records page has current forms, fee schedules, and instructions. Check that page before submitting to make sure you have the latest version of the application form. Forms change occasionally and outdated versions may delay your request.

Cities in Hale County

Plainview is the county seat and the largest city in Hale County. Other communities in the county include Petersburg, Cotton Center, and Abernathy near the county line. None of the smaller communities in Hale County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All death record filings for events in Hale County go through the county clerk in Plainview.

Nearby Counties

Floyd County, Swisher County, Lamb County, Lubbock County, Castro County