Find Death Index Records in Austin
Austin death index records are available through the City of Austin Office of Vital Records and the Travis County Clerk. The Austin office handles deaths within city limits from 1940 to 1956 and 1961 to present. The Travis County Clerk holds records for Travis County deaths from 1903 to 1956. For deaths outside Austin city limits but within Travis County, contact the Justice of the Peace Court where the death occurred. Austin is the state capital and the fourth most populous city in Texas. You can get death records by walk-in, online, by phone, or by mail depending on how quickly you need them.
Austin Overview
Austin Office of Vital Records
The primary office for Austin death index records is the City of Austin Office of Vital Records at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C, Austin, TX 78702. This is the Betty Dunkerley Campus near the Animal Center. Phone is (512) 972-4784. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-in applications are accepted until 4:15 p.m. Most walk-in requests are ready within 30 minutes when the record is on file.
The Austin office handles four types of service. Walk-in requests are the fastest. Online orders through VitalChek take 3 to 10 business days. Phone orders through VitalChek at 1-800-457-7586 take the same amount of time. Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks. Death certificates from the Austin office cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Additional processing and shipping fees apply to online and phone orders.
| Office | City of Austin Office of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 7201 Levander Loop, Building C, Austin, TX 78702 |
| Phone | (512) 972-4784 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Orders | austintexas.gov/services/get-birth-or-death-certificate |
| VitalChek Phone | 1-800-457-7586 |
The City of Austin vital records page explains the four ways to order death certificates and lists who qualifies to request restricted records.
Walk-in requests at the Levander Loop office are typically filled within 30 minutes. Bring a valid photo ID and completed application form.
Travis County Clerk Records
The Travis County Clerk holds death records for Travis County from 1903 to 1956. After 1956, Austin city deaths are held by the Austin Office of Vital Records, and deaths outside city limits are registered at the relevant Justice of the Peace Court. The Travis County Clerk's Recording Division is reachable by mail at P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714. They accept requests by mail only, not in person for older records. Fees are $20 for a certified death certificate.
Payment must be by cashier's check, money order, or personal check. Do not send cash. The Travis County Clerk website has the correct forms for death certificate requests. Historical records from 1903 to 1956 are on microfilm at the county clerk's office. These are a key resource for genealogical research on Austin-area deaths predating the modern registration system.
Note: If a death occurred outside Austin city limits but within Travis County, you need to contact the Justice of the Peace Court for the precinct where the death took place. That office registers the event and can direct you to the right copy source.
Searching the Austin Death Index
For older records, start with FamilySearch or Ancestry. Both carry the Texas Death Index from 1903 to 2000. These databases list the name, death county, date, and certificate number. Travis County deaths will appear in those results. From there, use the certificate number to order a certified copy through the Austin office or the state DSHS portal.
Death records for deaths in the past 25 years are restricted. Only the person's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent may request them. Legal guardians and attorneys with proper documentation can also make requests. Deaths older than 25 years are public under Texas Government Code ยง 552.115. Any person may request those records.
Travis County Death Index
Austin is the county seat of Travis County and the state capital of Texas. The Travis County Clerk and the Austin Office of Vital Records jointly cover death index records for the area. For full county resources and additional office details, visit the Travis County death index page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities near Austin with death index pages:
- Round Rock - Williamson County
- Leander - Williamson County
- Georgetown - Williamson County
- New Braunfels - Comal County
- San Antonio - Bexar County
- Temple - Bell County
- Waco - McLennan County