King County Death Records

King County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Guthrie, one of the least populous counties in Texas. Death certificates for the county have been registered with the state since 1903. Due to the county's very small population, the volume of records on file locally is limited, and many researchers find it practical to order directly from Texas DSHS in Austin, which holds all Texas death records in a centralized system accessible statewide.

King County Clerk Office

The King County Clerk's office in Guthrie is one of the smallest in Texas. King County's population is among the lowest of any county in the United States, so the clerk's office handles very few vital record requests each year. Still, the office maintains the official death records for the county and can process requests for certified copies of death certificates.

Before making the drive to Guthrie, which is located off US-83 in the Rolling Plains region, call (806) 596-4412 to confirm the office is staffed and that the record you need is available. Hours may vary in very small county offices. Mail requests to P.O. Box 135, Guthrie, TX 79236 with a copy of your photo ID, the deceased's name and year of death, your relationship, and a check or money order payable to the King County Clerk.

For most requesters, ordering from Texas DSHS in Austin will be more practical than visiting Guthrie. The state holds the same records and can process requests by mail or online without requiring a trip to a remote location.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

Certified death certificates from King County cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These official documents are required for estate administration, insurance claims, government benefits, and legal proceedings. The county clerk can issue certified copies for deaths registered in King County.

Provide the deceased's full legal name, the year or date of death, and your relationship to the deceased. A valid government-issued photo ID is required. If the death occurred within the past 25 years, you must show that you qualify as an eligible requester under Texas law.

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 limits certified death certificate access for deaths within the last 25 years to qualifying individuals. Eligible people include the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, and siblings of the deceased. Legal representatives of the estate and others with a documented legal or financial connection to the death may also qualify.

Once 25 years have passed, death records are public. No relationship or legal reason is needed to request a copy. For King County, which has a very small population and deep ranching roots, older records are often sought for family history and genealogical purposes.

If you are unsure whether you qualify, call (806) 596-4412 or contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111. The DSHS acceptable ID page explains what forms of identification are accepted for vital record requests in Texas.

Fees and Payment

The King County Clerk charges $21 for the first certified death certificate and $4 for each additional copy of the same record. Payment at the office is accepted by cash, check, or money order. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the King County Clerk. Do not send cash by mail.

Texas DSHS charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy at the state level. Online orders through VitalChek carry an added service fee. State fees are established by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191.

Fees are not refunded if no record is found. Given the county's small number of registered deaths, calling ahead to verify the record exists before paying is worth the effort. A quick phone check at (806) 596-4412 can confirm whether the record is on file locally.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Death registration in Texas falls under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. The law requires a death certificate to be filed within 10 days of death and before the body is buried, cremated, or transported out of state. The attending physician or medical examiner certifies the cause of death. The funeral director files the certificate with the local registrar.

For deaths where the cause is unclear, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49 requires an inquest by a justice of the peace or medical examiner. In a county as small as King County, the justice of the peace handles this role, and a regional medical examiner may be called in for complex cases.

Texas processes all death registrations through TxEVER, the statewide electronic system used by funeral homes and hospitals. The Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Chapter 181 sets out the administrative rules for vital statistics registration and access across the state.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

King County was organized in 1891, and the area was largely undeveloped ranch land before that. Families with roots in this part of Texas will find that deaths before 1903 have no official state record. You'll need to look at church records, family Bibles, cemetery records, and probate filings from the county courthouse or the state archives to trace pre-registration deaths.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds regional records including early probate files and county registers that may include references to families in the Rolling Plains area. Some materials are available online and others require a visit to Austin.

FamilySearch and Ancestry.com have digitized Texas death records from the early twentieth century. Given King County's tiny population, individual records may be few, but neighboring counties like Stonewall, Dickens, and Knox often have related family records that can provide context for King County research.

State-Level Death Record Requests

Because King County is one of the most remote and least populated counties in Texas, many people find it simpler to request death records directly from Texas DSHS in Austin. DSHS maintains all Texas death records from 1903 forward. Contact the office at (888) 963-7111. The Austin address is 1100 W. 49th St., Austin TX 78756, and mail requests go to P.O. Box 12040, Austin TX 78711-2040.

Forms, instructions, and the current fee schedule are on the DSHS death records page. Online ordering is available through the Texas.gov portal using VitalChek. Processing takes about 7 to 14 business days for standard orders.

DSHS is also the right contact if you need to amend or correct a King County death certificate. Amendments must go through the state office and require supporting documentation. The county clerk cannot make amendments directly.

Cities in King County

Guthrie is the county seat and the only community in King County. The county's population is extremely small, and no communities meet the threshold for a dedicated city records page. All death records for King County are handled through the clerk's office in Guthrie.

Nearby Counties

Haskell County, Stonewall County, Cottle County, Dickens County, Knox County, Foard County