Beaumont Death Index
Beaumont death index records go through the Jefferson County Clerk, which maintains vital records for Beaumont and all of Jefferson County from 1903 to the present. If you need to find a death record or get a certified copy of a death certificate for someone who died in Beaumont, the Jefferson County Clerk at 1085 Pearl Street in downtown Beaumont is your local source. The statewide Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin also has the same records in its central database.
Beaumont Overview
Jefferson County Death Index Records
The Jefferson County Clerk's office is located at 1085 Pearl Street, PO Box 1151, Beaumont, TX 77704. Phone is (409) 835-8475. The county clerk's office handles birth and death record applications, court records, elections, and commissioners court minutes. Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg serves as county clerk. The office provides forms and assistance for death certificate requests and vital records access.
Beaumont is the county seat and the largest city in Jefferson County. Most death records for the greater Beaumont area flow through the Jefferson County Clerk. The clerk maintains the death index going back to 1903, which is when statewide registration began in Texas. Certified copies are available to qualified applicants in person or by mail. For online ordering, use the statewide Texas.gov portal.
How to Get a Beaumont Death Certificate
To request a Beaumont death certificate, go in person to the Jefferson County Clerk at 1085 Pearl Street, call (409) 835-8475 to ask about mail requests, or order online through Texas.gov. Online orders take 20 to 25 business days. Mail requests using Form VS-142 sent to the DSHS in Austin take 25 to 30 business days. In-person visits to the county clerk are often the fastest way to get a certified copy.
State fees for death certificates are $20 for the first copy and $3 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Jefferson County fees match the standard county rate of $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional. You must provide valid ID. Driver's license, state ID, passport, and military ID are all accepted as primary identification. The full list is at DSHS Acceptable Identification.
The City of Beaumont's website at beaumonttexas.gov can point you to local government services and resources for records requests.
The City of Beaumont website provides local government information and links to county and state vital records resources for residents seeking death index records.
Note: If you request a record and it is not found, you still pay the search fee. It is non-refundable under Texas Administrative Code. Always verify the spelling of the name and the death date before submitting.
Beaumont Death Index Access and Privacy
Texas death records are confidential for 25 years from the date of death under Government Code Section 552.115. During this period, only immediate family members may obtain certified copies. After 25 years, the record is public and anyone may request it. The general death index entries, which include name, date, county, and certificate number, are publicly accessible as long as they do not disclose adoption or paternity information.
Older Beaumont death records from 1903 through 2000 are part of the Ancestry Texas Death Index, which covers Jefferson County records along with the rest of Texas. FamilySearch also has free access to Texas death records including Jefferson County entries. The Clayton Library at the Houston Public Library holds Texas death index records on microfilm. It is about 80 miles from Beaumont and worth visiting for in-depth historical research.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near Beaumont include Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, and Tyler.