Houston Death Index Records
Houston death index records are held by the Houston Health Department and the Harris County Clerk's Office. Both offices issue certified death certificates for events in the Houston area. Houston is the largest city in Texas, with more than 2.3 million residents, and the death index covers records back to 1903. You can order records online through the Texas.gov portal, visit in person at the Health Department on North Stadium Drive, or contact the Harris County Clerk at 201 Caroline Street. Immediate family members and legal representatives can request certified copies. Death records less than 25 years old are restricted under Texas Government Code.
Houston Overview
Where to Get Houston Death Index Records
Houston has two main offices that handle death index records. The Houston Health Department at 8000 North Stadium Drive serves as a regional vital records office for the state. They issue certified death certificates for events anywhere in Texas, not just Houston. The Harris County Clerk at 201 Caroline Street, Suite 330, handles records for events outside Houston city limits but within Harris County. Both offices follow the same state fee schedule. Death certificates cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
The Houston Health Department is part of the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar (TxEVER) system. This means they can pull records from across the state. In-person requests are typically filled the same day when the record is on file. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You must bring valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID card will work.
| Office | Houston Health Department - Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 8000 North Stadium Drive, Houston, TX 77054 |
| Harris County Clerk | 201 Caroline Street, Suite 330, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Harris County Phone | (713) 274-8600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| State Portal | dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics |
The Houston Health Department website has current hours and contact info. For records tied to Harris County outside the city, use the Harris County Clerk. Both offices accept online orders through the state's Texas.gov portal.
The Houston Health Department serves as a regional vital records office and issues certified death certificates for events across Texas.
Walk-in requests are processed the same day in most cases. Bring a valid photo ID and the completed VS-170 form.
Harris County Death Records
Harris County is the most populous county in Texas. It covers Houston and dozens of surrounding communities including Pasadena, Baytown, Humble, Katy, Spring, and Cypress. The Harris County Clerk maintains vital records for events that happen outside the Houston city limits but within the county. If you are not sure which office holds the record you need, start with the state DSHS portal or call either office to confirm.
The Harris County government website has links to the County Clerk's office and other vital records resources. The County Clerk also maintains birth records, marriage licenses, and assumed name certificates. Their online search tool lets you look up certain public records without visiting in person.
Harris County maintains vital records for communities outside Houston city limits, including Pasadena, Baytown, and Spring.
How to Access Houston Death Index Records
There are four ways to get a certified death certificate in Houston. Walk-in service at the Houston Health Department is the fastest option. You fill out the VS-170 application form, show ID, and pay the fee. Most records are ready within 30 minutes. The online ordering system through Texas.gov takes 20 to 25 business days to process. Mail-in requests take 25 to 30 business days on average.
For older death index records and genealogical research, FamilySearch has a free Texas Death Index covering 1903 to 2000. Ancestry holds the same index with records for over 7 million individuals. These online databases show the name, death date, county, and certificate number. They do not replace certified copies but they are a useful starting point when you don't have a case number.
The Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in Houston holds an extensive collection of Texas death records, microfilm indexes, and local history materials. It is a free public resource for people searching historical death index records in the Houston area.
Note: Records from the past 25 years are restricted under Texas Government Code ยง 552.115. Only immediate family members or persons with a documented legal need may request them.
The Harris County Clerk's office issues certified vital records for events outside Houston city limits within Harris County.
The Harris County Clerk accepts in-person, mail, and online requests. Online ordering is available through VitalChek and the state Texas.gov portal.
Who Can Request Houston Death Records
Death certificates for deaths within the past 25 years are restricted to immediate family members. That includes the decedent's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal guardians and attorneys with proper documentation may also request restricted records. A legal representative must provide court documents or a bar card along with proof of their need for the record.
Death records older than 25 years are public information under Texas law. Anyone can request them without showing a family relationship. Verification letters are available for all deaths since 1903. A verification letter confirms the name, death date, and county of death. It is not a legal substitute for a certified copy, but it works for basic research purposes.
To request any death record, you need acceptable identification. The DSHS accepts one primary ID from Group A: a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or license to carry a handgun. If you don't have one of those, you can combine secondary and supporting documents. The full list is at dshs.texas.gov.
Harris County Death Index
Houston sits in Harris County. All local death records are maintained by the Harris County Clerk and the Houston Health Department. For full details on the county system, office locations, and additional resources, see the Harris County death index page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities near Houston with death index pages:
- Pasadena - Harris County
- Sugar Land - Fort Bend County
- Baytown - Harris County
- League City - Galveston County
- Pearland - Brazoria County
- Conroe - Montgomery County
- Missouri City - Fort Bend County