Access Martin County Death Records

Martin County death records are filed with the County Clerk in Stanton and go back to 1903, when Texas first required statewide death registration. The clerk's office in Stanton is the local source for certified copies of death certificates covering deaths that occurred in Martin County. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or through the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin.

Martin County Clerk Office

The Martin County Clerk's office is at 301 N. St. Peter in Stanton, which sits in the Permian Basin region of West Texas. The county is relatively small and rural, bordered by Midland County to the east and Howard County to the north. Deaths that occurred in Martin County are filed locally, while deaths in nearby Midland or Big Spring go through their own county clerks.

The clerk's office handles a modest volume of death record filings. Staff can look up the county's index and tell you whether a specific record exists before you complete a formal request. This is useful if you are not sure exactly when and where a death was registered.

Martin County does not operate a public online records portal for death certificates. Use the DSHS system or the Texas.gov vital records portal for digital requests. For in-person or mail service, contact the clerk's office directly at (432) 756-3412.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

The Martin County Clerk charges $21 for a certified death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record is $4 when ordered at the same time. These fees are set by the Texas Legislature and apply uniformly to all Texas county clerks.

For in-person requests, go to 301 N. St. Peter during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and give the clerk the name and date of death of the person you are looking up. Same-day service is usually possible if the record is on file. Older or less common records may need a bit more time to locate.

Mail requests should include the full name of the deceased, the date of death, your relationship to the person, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the correct fee. Make the check payable to the Martin County Clerk and mail to 301 N. St. Peter, Stanton, TX 79782. Expect two to four weeks for mail processing and return delivery.

You can also order through DSHS at the state level. DSHS can pull records for any Texas county, which is useful if you are not certain Martin County is the right place to look. VitalChek provides an online ordering option with home delivery for an added convenience fee.

Who Can Request Death Records

Texas restricts access to death records during the first 25 years after death. Only certain relatives or their legal representatives may request a certified copy during that time. Qualified requestors include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased.

People outside those categories may still qualify if they can show a direct and tangible legal need. Settling an estate, claiming a life insurance benefit, or other legal proceedings connected to the death are examples of acceptable reasons. The clerk will ask you to explain your purpose and may require supporting documentation.

Once a death is more than 25 years old, the record becomes public. Anyone can request it without explaining why. These older records are widely used by genealogists and family researchers. The 25-year restriction runs from the date of death itself.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for any request. The DSHS list of acceptable IDs covers all forms recognized by Texas for vital records requests.

Fees and Payment

Martin County Clerk: $21 for the first certified copy, $4 for each additional copy. Pay in person by cash, check, or money order. For mail-in requests, use a check or money order made out to the Martin County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail.

DSHS charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Expedited 24-hour service costs an additional $25. Reach DSHS at (888) 963-7111. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. In-person service is available at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756.

VitalChek adds a convenience fee on top of the state fee for online orders. The amount varies depending on the delivery option you choose. Standard mail delivery is the cheapest choice.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191 governs the registration of deaths in Texas. Under this law, deaths must be filed within 10 days. The funeral director or person in charge of the body files the certificate with the local registrar. In Martin County, the registrar is the county clerk or a designated deputy.

The certificate must include the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, the cause of death as certified by a physician or medical examiner, and identifying details such as date of birth and Social Security number. For unexpected or unattended deaths, a justice of the peace may open an inquest under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49. The JP or a medical examiner certifies the cause before the certificate is finalized.

All Texas death certificates are processed through TxEVER, the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar. This is the state's centralized system used by county offices, funeral homes, and hospitals to file and track vital records. DSHS maintains access to the full statewide index through this system.

Relevant statutes: Health and Safety Code Chapter 191 and Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49. Access rules are in Title 25, Chapter 181 of the Texas Administrative Code.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

Martin County death records in the official system start with 1903. Before that date, informal records such as church registers or early probate filings may be the only sources. These are not part of the county clerk's official index and would need to be sought through local historical societies or the Texas State Library.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds vital records microfilm and indexes from the early years of statewide registration. They cover all Texas counties including Martin and can help researchers locate records that predate digital systems.

FamilySearch has free digitized Texas death records searchable by name, year, and county. Their Texas collection is extensive and often includes indexes for years when the paper records no longer exist in complete form.

Ancestry.com holds Texas death indexes and some certificate images. Many public libraries in Texas provide free access to Ancestry, so check with your local library before purchasing a subscription.

Permian Basin area resources, including materials at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Library in Midland and the Midland County Public Library, may hold local death notices and obituaries that complement the official record system for Martin County and its neighbors.

State-Level Death Record Requests

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section handles death certificate requests for all Texas counties. If you are not sure Martin County is the right place to search, DSHS can look across the entire state index and locate the record regardless of where in Texas the death was registered.

Contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111 or visit dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. Mail to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. In-person visits go to 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756.

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.

More details are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death.

Cities in Martin County

Stanton is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Martin County. No communities in Martin County meet the population threshold for a separate records page. Death records for all parts of the county are handled through the Martin County Clerk at 301 N. St. Peter in Stanton.

Nearby Counties

Deaths near the Martin County border may be filed in a neighboring county. Check these offices if needed: Midland County, Howard County, Dawson County, Andrews County, Glasscock County.