Clay County Death Index

Clay County death index records are held at the County Clerk's office in Henrietta, Texas, with certified copies of death certificates available from 1903 to the present. This north Texas county has no known record losses from courthouse disasters, and the death index is intact. The clerk's office handles requests in person and by mail, and the standard Texas fees and access rules apply.

Clay County Clerk and Death Certificates

The Clay County Clerk is in Henrietta, Texas. Phone: 940-538-4631. The office has earlier hours than most Texas counties, running from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. The clerk is the local registrar for births and deaths in Clay County, and the office maintains death records from 1903 to the present along with marriage records, land records, and probate files.

Clay County was created in 1857 from Cooke County and is named for Henry Clay, who served as U.S. Secretary of State. The county sits along the Red River border in north Texas and has a ranching and farming economy. Marriage and land records go back to 1858. Death records start with the statewide 1903 requirement, and no major courthouse disasters have affected this county's records.

Certified death certificates in Clay County cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The clerk accepts checks and money orders for mail requests, and cash for in-person visits. All requesters must show valid government-issued photo ID. Records from the last 25 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Older records are public.

The Clay County government website has contact information for the county clerk and details on available county services including vital records.

The Clay County Clerk's office in Henrietta maintains death records for all areas of the county from 1903 to the present.

How to Request a Clay County Death Certificate

In-person requests are the fastest method. Go to the Clay County Courthouse in Henrietta. Bring valid photo ID and $21. The office opens at 7:30 AM and closes at 4:00 PM on weekdays, which is earlier than many county offices. Arrive before 3:30 PM to allow time for processing.

Mail requests are also handled by the clerk. Send a written request with the full name of the deceased, approximate date and place of death in Clay County, your relationship to the deceased, your mailing address, and the reason for the request. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order for $21 payable to the Clay County Clerk. Add $4 for each extra copy. Do not send cash through the mail.

The state option is to order through the Texas vital records online portal or by mailing a VS-142 form to DSHS in Austin. State fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. State mail orders take 25-30 business days. The county clerk is faster for Clay County records.

Clay County Death Record Access Rules

Texas law restricts death records from the last 25 years. Only a qualified applicant can get certified copies of those records under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Qualified applicants are immediate family members including a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or adult child. Legal guardians and authorized representatives with proper documents also qualify.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public information. Anyone can request it with valid ID and the fee. Government agencies and law enforcement with a direct and tangible interest may also access restricted records. All requesters must present government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list covers what forms of ID are accepted statewide.

Note: If a search finds no record, the fee is not refunded. That applies to all Texas county clerks and to the state DSHS office in Austin.

Clay County Death Records for Family Research

Clay County death records begin with the 1903 state registration requirement and are complete through the present. Online index tools can help narrow a search before you contact the clerk. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers Clay County from 1903 to 2000. The Ancestry Texas Death Index also covers that range, with certificate numbers that help speed up a clerk request.

The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds statewide death index microfilm from 1903 to 1973. The index is alphabetical within time blocks from 1903 to 1955, then annual from 1956 to 1973. Knowing the approximate year of death helps you search the right block in those older records.

For anyone doing research in north Texas, Clay County is part of a region where families often had ties to several Red River border counties. If a record is not found in Clay County, it may be worth checking Wichita County to the northwest or Montague County to the south. Death certificates often list the county of residence, which can confirm where to look.

Cities in Clay County

Henrietta is the county seat of Clay County. All death records for events in Clay County go through the county clerk's office in Henrietta. No cities in Clay County exceed the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page.

Other communities in Clay County include Petrolia and Bellevue. All Clay County death records are maintained by the county clerk in Henrietta.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clay County in north Texas along the Red River region. Contact the clerk in a neighboring county if you believe a death was registered elsewhere.

Wichita County • Montague County • Jack County • Archer County