Anderson County Death Index

The Anderson County Death Index is on file at the County Clerk's office in Palestine, Texas. You can request certified copies in person, by mail, or through an online e-form system. Records go back to 1903, and the clerk can help you find what you need whether you are a family member or a researcher working on genealogy.

Anderson County Clerk and Death Records

The Anderson County Clerk serves as the local registrar for vital records, including death certificates. The clerk's office is at 500 North Church Street, Room 10, in Palestine. County Clerk Mary Ann Maddox and her staff handle all requests for certified copies of death records. You can reach the office by phone at (903) 723-7465. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Anderson County death records cover deaths that took place in the county from 1903 to the present. The clerk maintains these records and can issue certified copies to qualified applicants. When you go in person, bring a valid photo ID. The office only issues certified copies. No plain or uncertified copies are available. Cash is the only payment accepted for in-person and mail orders. No personal checks are accepted.

The Anderson County Clerk's vital records page has current instructions and forms for requesting death certificates. The process changed as of early 2026, so check the page before you send a request.

The Anderson County website also has contact information and links to clerk services.

The Anderson County official website provides access to county clerk services, vital records information, and contact details for the Palestine office.

The county website is the starting point for any death record request in Anderson County.

How to Search Anderson County Death Records

There are three ways to get death records in Anderson County: in person, by mail, or through the e-form system. The e-form option is online but still requires a visit to the office. You fill out the application online, then go to the clerk's office within three days to complete the process. If you don't show up in three days, the application is removed and you have to start over.

For mail requests, you need to fill out the Death Certificate Application and Affidavit form, have it notarized, and send it with a clear copy of your ID and a money order or cashier's check. No checks will be accepted. The completed packet goes to Anderson County Clerk, 500 N. Church Street, Room 10, Palestine, TX 75801. Processing takes a few business days once they receive your request.

You can also search the statewide Texas Vital Records online ordering system for records held by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin holds statewide death records. If the death occurred in Anderson County, you can order through either the county or the state office. State fees differ slightly from county fees.

Note: The Anderson County Clerk does not accept debit or credit cards without a $2 processing fee added to the total. This fee goes to the card processor, not the county.

The Anderson County Clerk's vital records page shows the current process for requesting death and birth certificates, including the e-form instructions and required identification.

This page lists updated procedures effective February 2026, including the new e-form process and ID requirements.

Death Certificate Fees in Anderson County

Anderson County charges $21.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4.00. These fees are set by the Texas Local Government Code and the Health and Safety Code. The breakdown includes a death record search fee, a certification fee, and a vital statistics preservation fee.

Payment must be made by money order or cashier's check for mail requests. Cash is accepted in person. No personal checks. If you pay by debit or credit card in person, a $2.00 convenience fee is added. That fee goes to the card processing company and is not a county charge.

If a search is done and no record is found, the search fee is still charged. It is not refundable. You can find the full fee schedule on the Anderson County Clerk's website.

Who Can Access Anderson County Death Records

Death records less than 25 years old are restricted in Texas. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that window. A qualified applicant is the person named on the record (if alive), or an immediate family member. That includes a parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or spouse. A legal guardian or legal representative can also request records with proper documentation.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes open to the public. Anyone can then request a copy. This is part of Texas Government Code Section 552.115, which sets the rules for restricted vital records.

All applicants must show a valid government-issued photo ID. The clerk records the ID type and number before issuing the certificate. The clerk does not accept requests without ID. See the full list of acceptable identification types on the DSHS website.

Making a false statement to get a death certificate is a felony. The penalty is 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195.

Anderson County Death Records and Genealogy

Anderson County has well-preserved records going back to 1903. No major courthouse disasters have damaged the vital records. This makes it a good county for genealogy research. The county is in east Texas and was created in 1846. Palestine has been the county seat throughout its history.

For older records, FamilySearch's Texas Death Index is a free resource with records from 1903 to 2000. You can search by name and find index entries that point you to the original record. Ancestry's Texas Death Index is another option with similar coverage. Both can help narrow down which county office holds the record you want.

The Library of Congress guide to Texas vital records is a useful starting point for researchers who are new to Texas genealogy. It explains how the state's system works and where records are held at various levels.

Cities in Anderson County

Palestine is the county seat and largest city in Anderson County. All death record requests for Anderson County go through the County Clerk's office in Palestine. Other communities in the county include Elkhart, Frankston, and Neches. None of these cities currently meet the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Anderson County. If you are unsure which county a death occurred in, check the death certificate address or ask the clerk's office for help.

Cherokee County • Henderson County • Houston County • Leon County • Nacogdoches County