Garland Death Index Records

Garland death index records are filed through the Dallas County Clerk's Office and the Texas Department of State Health Services. If you need to search for a death record tied to Garland, you can request it in person at the Dallas County Clerk, order online through the state portal, or use free genealogy databases for historical records. Garland is one of the largest cities in Dallas County, and death records have been available statewide since 1903. This page covers where to get records, who can request them, and how the process works.

Where to Get Garland Death Index Records

Garland is in Dallas County. Death records for events that occurred in Garland are maintained by the Dallas County Clerk. The main office is at 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202. You can call them at (214) 653-7099. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except court holidays. The office issues certified death certificates for events throughout Dallas County, including all of Garland.

The state-level resource is the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section. DSHS serves as the central repository for all Texas death records going back to 1903. You can order online through the Texas.gov portal, which takes 20 to 25 business days. Mail-in requests take 25 to 30 business days on average. For faster service, use the in-person option at the Dallas County Clerk or any local vital records office.

Note: The Dallas County Clerk provides electronic certified records available online around the clock. These are official documents with a digital signature and encrypted security features.

The City of Garland directs residents to Dallas County and the Texas DSHS for all death certificate and death index requests.

Garland city services handle permits and municipal records. Certified death certificates for Garland events are issued by the Dallas County Clerk or DSHS.

How to Search Garland Death Index Records

There are several ways to search the death index for Garland records. The fastest route is in-person at the Dallas County Clerk. You bring a completed VS-142 application form, show valid ID, and pay the $21 fee for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $4 each. The clerk can print most records the same day if the file is on hand.

For older Garland death index records and genealogical research, two free tools are very useful. FamilySearch has the Texas Death Index from 1903 to 2000 at no cost. You can search by name, year range, and county. Ancestry holds the same index with over 7 million records, including name, death date, county, and certificate number. These tools won't give you a certified copy, but they help confirm that a record exists and give you the certificate number to use when ordering.

The Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in Houston is one of the best free resources for Texas death record research. They hold microfilm indexes and historical materials covering the entire state. For Garland records, this is a strong option when older paper documents are involved. Mail-in requests to DSHS use the VS-142 form available at the DSHS website.

Note: Death records from the last 25 years are restricted under Texas Government Code § 552.115 and can only be released to immediate family members or authorized parties.

Who Can Request Garland Death Records

Texas law restricts death records for deaths within the past 25 years. Only immediate family members can request them. The law defines immediate family as the decedent's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal guardians and attorneys with documented need can also request restricted records. They must provide court documents or a bar card along with proof of their need.

Death records older than 25 years are public under Texas law. Anyone can request them without proving family ties. Verification letters are available for all deaths since 1903 and confirm the name, date of death, and county. They are not certified copies, but they work for basic research or confirming a record's existence before ordering the full certificate.

All applicants must bring acceptable ID. The DSHS accepts one item from Group A, which includes a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or license to carry a handgun. If you don't have a Group A document, you can combine secondary and supporting documents. The full ID list is at dshs.texas.gov.

Dallas County Death Index

Garland is part of Dallas County. The Dallas County Clerk handles death index records for all cities and communities in the county, including Garland. For full office details, search tools, and additional resources, see the Dallas County death index page.

View Dallas County Death Index

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Garland with death index pages:

• Dallas - Dallas County
• Mesquite - Dallas County
• Irving - Dallas County
• Richardson - Dallas County / Collin County
• Grand Prairie - Dallas County
• Plano - Collin County
• Frisco - Collin County