Hood County Death Records

Death records for Hood County are maintained by the County Clerk in Granbury and at the state level by the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit. This page covers how to request certified death certificates, who can access restricted records, the fee schedule, relevant statutes, and where to find historical records for genealogy research in North Central Texas.

Hood County Clerk Office

The Hood County Clerk is at 100 E. Pearl Street in Granbury, the county seat. Granbury is a mid-size city on Lake Granbury, southwest of Fort Worth. The clerk office receives death certificate filings for all events in Hood County and issues certified copies to qualified requestors. Hood County has grown steadily in recent years, and the clerk office handles an increasing volume of vital records requests.

In-person requests are processed the same day when possible. For mail requests, include a completed form, a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order made out to Hood County Clerk, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Do not mail cash. Mail processing takes one to two weeks.

The county clerk also maintains estate and probate records, which sometimes hold information about a deceased individual when the death certificate is not available or sufficient on its own. Probate records are public documents.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

A certified death certificate from Hood County costs $21 for the first copy and $4 per additional copy ordered at the same time. Requests can be made in person, by mail, through DSHS, or online via Texas.gov or VitalChek.

The application form asks for the deceased's full name, date and county of death, and your name and address. For records within the 25-year restricted period, you also need to document your relationship and include a copy of your valid ID. The form is available at the clerk's office or on the DSHS website.

Mail requests go to: Hood County Clerk, 100 E. Pearl Street, Granbury, TX 76048. Make payment by check or money order only. Include a return envelope to receive the certificate back by mail. Processing by mail takes approximately one to two weeks.

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 restricts access to death records for 25 years after the date of death. During this period, only eligible individuals can receive a certified copy. Eligible requestors include the deceased's spouse, former spouse, parent, child, sibling, or a legal representative with written authorization from the family or the estate.

After 25 years, the record is public. Anyone can request a copy without proving eligibility. The fee and form are still required.

Informational copies are available to a broader group during the restricted period. These cannot be used for legal purposes. If you need the certificate for estate work, insurance, survivor benefits, or any official purpose, get the certified version and make sure you meet the eligibility requirement first.

The DSHS acceptable ID page lists valid identification options. A current Texas driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify. Expired IDs are not accepted under any circumstances.

Fees and Payment

The Hood County Clerk charges $21 for the first certified copy and $4 per additional copy ordered at the same time. These fees are fixed by state law and apply across all Texas counties.

DSHS charges $20 for the first copy and $3 per additional copy. A $25 non-refundable search fee applies when the state searches but cannot find the record. This fee covers the cost of the search regardless of outcome.

The county clerk accepts cash, check, and money order. Call (817) 579-3222 to confirm credit card options before visiting. Mail requests require check or money order only. Online orders through Texas.gov and VitalChek accept credit and debit cards with a convenience fee added to each order.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Texas death records are governed by Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. This law requires that all deaths in Texas be registered with the local registrar within a set period. The Hood County Clerk is the local registrar and forwards each death record to DSHS after filing.

After a death occurs, the physician or medical examiner certifies the cause. The funeral director completes and files the certificate through TxEVER, the state's electronic vital events registration system. Most funeral homes and hospitals in Texas now file electronically, which means records reach the state database faster than they once did.

Violent or unexplained deaths are governed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49. A justice of the peace or medical examiner investigates and certifies cause of death in those cases. Records from these situations may take longer to complete and may be restricted if an investigation is ongoing.

The Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Chapter 181 covers the regulatory requirements for vital statistics including the duties of county registrars and the required contents of death certificates.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

Texas required statewide death registration starting in 1903. Records before that year are not in the state system. Hood County was established in the 1860s, so deaths from the late 1800s would appear only in local sources such as church records, cemetery registers, and probate files at the county courthouse.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin holds historical vital records for all Texas counties. Their collections include microfilmed death registers and indexes going back to 1903. Their online catalog helps identify what is available before visiting in person.

FamilySearch offers free access to Texas death records from 1903 through the 1970s. Their digitized Texas Death Certificates collection is searchable online and includes certificate images. No subscription is required to use FamilySearch.

Ancestry.com has Texas death records from 1903 to 1982. Viewing full images requires a paid subscription. Ancestry also links death records to census data and family trees, which can help build out a broader family history for Hood County families.

Granbury and surrounding Hood County communities have cemeteries with burial records available on Find A Grave and BillionGraves. The Hood County Genealogical Society may also hold local materials not found in state archives.

State-Level Death Record Requests

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit in Austin holds all Texas death records since 1903. If the county clerk cannot locate a record, or if you prefer to order remotely, DSHS is the right place to go. They handle mail, walk-in, and online requests.

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

Order online through Texas.gov or VitalChek. Both add a convenience fee. Standard processing takes 7 to 14 business days. Rush options through VitalChek cost more but arrive faster.

Check the DSHS death records page for the most current forms and fee information before you submit. Using an outdated form can cause your request to be returned without processing.

Cities in Hood County

Granbury is the county seat and the largest city in Hood County. Other communities in the county include Acton, Cresson, and Tolar. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All death records for events in Hood County go through the county clerk in Granbury.

Nearby Counties

Parker County, Somervell County, Erath County, Johnson County, Tarrant County