Tyler Death Index Lookup
Tyler death index records are handled through Smith County and the Northeast Texas Public Health District. Deaths in Tyler have been recorded since 1903, and both county-level and state-level sources are available. To find a death record or get a certified copy for a Tyler resident, you can use the Smith County Clerk, the Northeast Texas Public Health District at 815 N. Broadway Avenue in Tyler, or the statewide Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office.
Tyler Overview
Smith County Death Index Records
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, and the Smith County Clerk is the local registrar for vital records. Death records for Tyler and all of Smith County go back to 1903. You can contact the Smith County Clerk's office at (903) 877-7565. The county maintains certified death records for qualified applicants and keeps the local death index going back well over a century.
The Northeast Texas Public Health District at 815 N. Broadway Avenue in Tyler also handles vital records for events in the Tyler city area. This office works with the Texas DSHS and the county clerk to ensure deaths in the city are properly registered. If you are not sure which office holds a specific Tyler death record, contact the DSHS at (888) 963-7111 for guidance.
The Smith County website shown below provides access information for Tyler area death records.
Smith County's official site provides links to vital records resources for Tyler residents seeking death index information and certified copies.
How to Request Tyler Death Certificates
You can order Tyler death certificates through three channels. The online system at Texas.gov is the fastest, taking 20 to 25 business days. Mail-in requests using DSHS Form VS-142 take 25 to 30 days. In-person visits to the Smith County Clerk may allow same-day service. The Smith County Clerk's phone is (903) 877-7565 if you want to confirm hours or requirements before visiting.
State fees are $20 for the first certified copy and $3 per additional copy ordered at the same time. County fees are $21 for the first and $4 for each extra copy. If a search is done and no record is found, you still pay the search fee. It is non-refundable. Payment for mail requests must be by check or money order payable to DSHS Vital Statistics.
All requestors must show valid ID. Primary ID includes a driver's license, U.S. passport, military ID, or state-issued ID card. If you do not have primary ID, you can present a combination of secondary and supporting documents. The full list is at DSHS Acceptable Identification.
Tyler Death Index Access and History
Texas restricts access to recent death records under Government Code Section 552.115. Death certificates are confidential for 25 years from the death date. During this time, only immediate family members can get a certified copy. After 25 years, the record becomes public. Anyone can then request it without showing a family relationship. The death index itself, which includes basic facts like name, date, and county, has fewer restrictions and is generally available to the public.
Texas death records from 1903 through 2000 are in the Ancestry.com collection at Texas Death Index 1903-2000. This database covers over 7 million individuals and includes Smith County deaths. FamilySearch also provides free access to older Texas death records at FamilySearch Texas Vital Records. These sources are valuable for anyone researching Tyler family history going back to the early 1900s.
The Clayton Library in Houston holds Texas death index records on microfilm and is open for public research. For Tyler-specific historical records, the Tyler Public Library may also have local newspaper death notices and obituary files that supplement the official death index.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near Tyler include Longview, Beaumont, and Waco.