Wichita Falls Death Index
Wichita Falls death index records are maintained by the Wichita Falls Health Department Vital Records Office and the Wichita County Clerk. The city's health department acts as a local registrar for deaths that occurred within Wichita Falls city limits. The county handles records for surrounding towns and unincorporated areas. Together, these two offices cover the death index for the Wichita Falls area from 1903 to present. You can also access records through the Texas DSHS statewide system. Records less than 25 years old are restricted to qualified family members.
Wichita Falls Overview
Where to Get Wichita Falls Death Index Records
The Wichita Falls Vital Records Office is responsible for filing and issuing certificates for births and deaths that occurred within Wichita Falls city limits. The city office can also issue certified birth certificates for anyone born anywhere in Texas, since it participates in the state's TxEVER system. For deaths that occurred in surrounding towns outside the city limits, those records should be filed with the Wichita County Clerk instead. Call the city office at (940) 761-7800 to verify before you send a request, since jurisdiction depends on where the event took place.
All certificates issued by the Wichita Falls Health Department are certified copies on security paper. They carry both the Health Department Seal and the Texas State Health Department Seal. The office does not use an embossed seal, per Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 181. Both city-issued and county-issued certificates are legally valid. The fee schedule follows state guidelines: $21 for the first copy of a death certificate, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
| City Vital Records | Wichita Falls Health Department |
|---|---|
| City Phone | (940) 761-7800 |
| Application Page | wichitafallstx.gov |
| County Clerk | Wichita County Clerk's Office |
| State Portal | dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics |
The Wichita Falls Health Department Vital Records Office serves as the local registrar for deaths in the city and can issue certified copies for any Texas birth or death.
Call (940) 761-7800 to verify jurisdiction before submitting a request, particularly for events outside Wichita Falls city limits.
Wichita County Death Records
Wichita County is the primary county for the Wichita Falls area. The county clerk serves as the local registrar for vital records in communities outside the Wichita Falls city limits, including towns like Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and other smaller communities in the county. If a death occurred in one of those towns, the Wichita County Clerk holds that record. The county and city work alongside each other but each covers a distinct geographic jurisdiction. When in doubt, contact both offices or use the DSHS statewide portal to identify where the record is held.
For historical death index research, FamilySearch offers a free Texas Death Index from 1903 to 2000. Ancestry holds the same database with images for some years. Both show the name, county, death date, and certificate number. These databases are a good first step before paying for a certified copy. The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin also holds microfilm indexes for 1903 through 1973.
How to Access Wichita Falls Death Records
For deaths in Wichita Falls city limits, contact the Wichita Falls Health Department Vital Records Office directly. You can call to ask about requirements and confirm what ID and forms to bring. In-person service is available during city business hours. For deaths outside city limits, contact the Wichita County Clerk. Both offices accept mail-in requests with the completed application, a copy of your ID, and payment by check or money order. For statewide ordering, go through Texas.gov for online orders that take 20 to 25 business days to process.
If you need to order by mail through DSHS, use the VS-142 application form available at dshs.texas.gov. Mail it to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Processing takes 25 to 30 business days for mail-in orders. Expedited orders go to 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756, via overnight mail. DSHS does not use an embossed seal on certified copies either, consistent with state rules that apply to all local vital records offices including Wichita Falls.
Note: Under Texas Government Code ยง 552.115, death records from the past 25 years are restricted to qualified applicants only.
Who Can Request Wichita Falls Death Records
Death records for events within the past 25 years are restricted. Qualified applicants include the decedent's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal guardians and attorneys with court documents may also submit requests. ID is required. Records older than 25 years are open to the public with no family relationship required.
Verification letters confirm a death is on file. They show the name, death date, and county. They are not certified copies and cannot be used in place of one for legal matters. But they are a useful tool for research. If a record search fails to find a match, a search fee equal to the certificate fee applies. That fee is not refunded. Use the free FamilySearch or Ancestry indexes first to verify the record exists before ordering a certified copy.
Acceptable ID for vital records requests is listed at dshs.texas.gov. One Group A primary document is preferred. That includes a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or license to carry a handgun.
Wichita County Death Index
Wichita Falls is the county seat of Wichita County. Death records for events outside city limits are held by the Wichita County Clerk. For the full county death index, office addresses, and additional resources, see the Wichita County death index page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities near Wichita Falls with death index pages: