Search Abilene Death Index
The Abilene death index covers death records filed with Taylor County going back to 1903. If you need to find a record for someone who died in Abilene, the Taylor County Clerk is your main local source. The state maintains a parallel set of records through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics in Austin, and you can also order certified death certificates online through that office. Abilene is the county seat of Taylor County, so most records for the Abilene area are filed here.
Abilene Overview
Taylor County Death Index Records
The Taylor County Clerk maintains the death index for Abilene and all of Taylor County. Abilene is the county seat, and most vital events in the city are registered here. The clerk keeps certified copies of death certificates going back to 1903. You can request records in person at the Taylor County Clerk's office or order through the statewide portal.
The city of Abilene spans mainly Taylor County, but some addresses may fall in Jones County. If you're searching for a death record and cannot find it at Taylor County, it is worth checking Jones County as well. In most cases, events in Abilene city limits are filed at Taylor County. The Texas DSHS statewide system is the safest starting point if you are unsure. Their phone number is (888) 963-7111.
The City of Abilene's website at abilenetx.gov links to state and county resources for records requests. The site below shows the Taylor County website where vital records information is listed.
Taylor County provides access to local vital records including death index entries for Abilene and surrounding areas.
How to Request Abilene Death Records
You have three ways to get a death certificate for an Abilene resident. Order online through Texas.gov, mail in Form VS-142 to the DSHS office in Austin, or go in person to the Taylor County Clerk. Online ordering is the fastest. The state says online orders take 20 to 25 business days to process. Mail-in requests take 25 to 30 business days. In-person visits at the county level can sometimes produce same-day copies.
State fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. County clerk fees are $21 for the first copy and $4 per additional copy. The fee is the same whether or not the record is found. Under Texas Administrative Code, if the state conducts a search and the record is not found, you still pay the search fee and it is not refunded.
Acceptable forms of ID include a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. If you do not have primary identification, you can combine secondary and supporting documents. See the full list at DSHS Acceptable Identification. You will need your ID whenever you apply in person or by mail.
Note: For the fastest service, order through Texas.gov using a credit card. Overnight mail with the required expedited fee is the next fastest option.
Who Can Access Abilene Death Index Records
Texas law under Government Code Section 552.115 restricts access to death certificates for 25 years from the date of death. Only immediate family members can get certified copies of recent records. Immediate family is defined in Texas Administrative Code Section 181.1(13) as the deceased's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal guardians and authorized representatives may also request records with the right documentation.
Once 25 years have passed, the death record becomes public information. The death index entries are not restricted in the same way. General index information such as name, death county, date, and certificate number is available to the public. If you want an image of the original death certificate, you may need to qualify as an authorized requestor if the death was recent.
Historical Abilene death index records from 1903 to 2000 are available through Ancestry Texas Death Index and FamilySearch. These databases are useful for genealogy research and do not require proof of relationship for older records.
Abilene City Records Office
The City of Abilene also maintains some local records. The Abilene city website shown below provides links to state and county resources for death certificate requests.
The City of Abilene website connects residents to county and state vital records offices for death index lookups and certificate requests.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near Abilene where death index records are available include Wichita Falls, Odessa, Midland, and San Angelo.