Find Death Records in Castro County

Castro County death index records are filed with the County Clerk in Dimmitt, Texas, and cover registered deaths from 1903 forward. Castro County is a Panhandle county that organized in 1891, and the combined County and District Clerk office handles both death records and other vital records in one location. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate from this part of west Texas, Dimmitt is where to start.

Castro County Clerk Death Records Office

The Castro County Clerk's office in Dimmitt handles all vital records for the county. Phone: 806-647-3338. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. One practical note about Castro County is that the County and District Clerk functions are combined into a single office. That means you contact one office for death certificates, court filings, and other records rather than two separate departments.

Castro County was created in 1876 from Bexar County land and organized in 1891. It was named for Henri Castro, an empresario who brought settlers to Texas in the 1840s. No courthouse disasters have affected Castro County's records, so the death index is intact from 1903. The county's agricultural economy meant a steady number of deaths registered each year, with records going through the Dimmitt office throughout that period.

The fee for a certified death certificate is $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. This matches the standard Texas fee structure that applies statewide. Payment by check or money order is accepted by mail. Cash is accepted in person. All requesters must present valid government-issued photo ID.

The Castro County government website provides contact details for the combined County and District Clerk office that handles death records in Dimmitt.

The combined Castro County Clerk handles death certificate requests along with other county records at the Dimmitt courthouse.

How to Request a Castro County Death Certificate

In-person requests are the fastest option. Go to the Castro County Courthouse in Dimmitt with your ID and the $21 fee. The clerk can search the index and issue a certified copy while you wait if the record is available. The office is open weekdays until 4:30 PM.

Mail requests are accepted. Include the full name of the deceased, approximate date and place of death, your relationship to the person, your mailing address, and the purpose of the request. Attach a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID. Send a check or money order for $21 payable to the Castro County Clerk, plus $4 for each additional copy you need. The clerk does not accept cash through the mail.

The Texas vital records online portal is available for state-level orders through DSHS in Austin. State fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. State mail orders take 25-30 business days. For records in Castro County, the county clerk is typically faster. You can also call the DSHS toll-free line at 888-963-7111 for questions about state-level ordering.

Access Rules for Castro County Death Records

Castro County follows Texas law on record access. Death records from the last 25 years are restricted under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Only a qualified applicant may request a certified copy during that window. Qualified applicants are immediate family members, legal guardians, or authorized legal representatives with documents showing their authority.

Immediate family includes a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or adult child of the person on the record. After 25 years, the record is public. Anyone can then request it with valid ID and the applicable fee. All requesters, regardless of how old the record is, must present valid government-issued photo ID. Forms of ID accepted are listed on the DSHS acceptable ID page.

Note: Search fees are non-refundable even if the record is not found. This applies whether you go through the Castro County Clerk or the state office in Austin.

Researching Castro County Death Records

Online indexes are a useful starting point before contacting the clerk. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index includes Castro County records from 1903 to 2000. The Ancestry Texas Death Index also covers that period and shows certificate numbers and other details that help you confirm the record before you request a copy.

The Texas State Library and Archives holds the statewide death index on microfilm from 1903 to 1973, available for public research in Austin. Once you find a record in any index, take note of the certificate number and approximate date. Those details speed up the search at the Castro County Clerk's office and reduce the chance of a no-record response.

For records more than 25 years old, access is open to anyone. You can request directly from the Castro County Clerk or from the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office. State copies cost slightly less, but county copies come faster.

Cities in Castro County

Dimmitt is the county seat and largest community in Castro County. All death records for the county are filed with the county clerk in Dimmitt. No cities in Castro County meet the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page.

Other communities in Castro County include Hart and Nazareth. Death records for all areas of the county are kept at the Castro County Clerk's office in Dimmitt.

Nearby Counties

Castro County is surrounded by other Panhandle counties. These are the neighboring counties if you need to search records in adjacent areas.

Swisher County • Briscoe County • Parmer County • Lamb County • Hale County