Collin County Death Index

Collin County death index records are maintained by the County Clerk in McKinney, Texas, with certified copies of death certificates available from 1903 to the present. The county covers a fast-growing area north of Dallas that includes Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Allen. The clerk's office processes death certificate requests in person, by mail, and through an online ordering system, and the office publishes its fee schedule and requirements publicly.

Collin County Clerk Death Certificates

Collin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, and the volume of records the clerk handles reflects that growth. Death records go back to 1903 with no records prior to that date, since the clerk's office confirms that Texas death certificates were not filed before 1903. New records are typically available at the county clerk's office about two weeks after the date of death, so recent requests should account for that delay.

The fee for a certified death certificate in Collin County is $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. The fee breaks down as $1 for the vital statistics record preservation fee and $20 for the death certificate fee. A vital computer search fee of $10 applies in some cases. Fees are non-refundable even if the record is not found.

Note: Mail requests must include a notarized application and a copy of valid government-issued ID. In-person applications only need the original ID, not a notarized form.

The Collin County Clerk death certificates page explains the full application process, who qualifies, required information, and how to submit a request in person, by mail, or online.

The death certificates page on the Collin County website covers every step of the process and includes contact information for the clerk's office in McKinney.

How to Get a Collin County Death Certificate

In person at the Collin County Clerk in McKinney is the fastest way. Bring your original valid government-issued ID and $21. Staff can print the certificate while you wait. No notarized form is needed for in-person requests.

Mail requests require a notarized application. Send it with the full name of the deceased, date and county of death, parents' names including mother's maiden name, your relationship to the deceased, your mailing address, and the purpose of the record. Include a copy of your valid government-issued ID and a check or money order for $21 payable to the Collin County Clerk. The Collin County Clerk advises not to send cash through the mail. Mail turn-around time is about 7 business days after receipt.

You can also order through the Texas vital records online portal at the state level. State fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. State orders take 20-25 business days online and 25-30 business days by mail. For Collin County records, using the county clerk is faster.

The online system processes requests during normal business hours and mails certified copies to the requester's address.

Who Can Get Collin County Death Records

Collin County follows state law on access. You must be a qualified applicant to get a death certificate for a death that occurred within the last 25 years. Qualified applicants include a parent, grandparent, sibling, adult child, spouse, or the informant named on the death certificate. Anyone else must have a signed and notarized statement from a qualified applicant authorizing them to pick up the record, along with a copy of the authorizing person's ID and their own original ID.

The restriction comes from Texas Government Code Section 552.115. After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public. Anyone can then request it with valid ID and the fee. Collin County's fee schedule also notes that verification of death facts is available for $21 as an alternative to a certified copy if you only need to confirm that a death is on file.

If you cannot meet the requirements at the county level, you can contact the State Bureau of Vital Statistics in Austin at 888-963-7111. State rules are the same as county rules, so you would still need to be a qualified applicant for recent records. All requesters must show valid government-issued photo ID per the DSHS acceptable ID requirements.

Collin County Death Index for Research

Collin County death records go back to 1903 and are intact through the present. The county's rapid growth over the last few decades means recent records are substantial in volume, but the clerk's office handles the volume well through its multiple locations and online ordering system.

For older records, the FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and includes Collin County records. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same range with certificate numbers and additional details. Both are index-only databases. The Texas State Library and Archives holds statewide death index microfilm from 1903 to 1973 for public research in Austin.

Collin County also offers genealogy support through the State Archives Library, reachable at 512-463-5463. The clerk's office can point you to county-level resources as well. For research spanning multiple DFW-area counties, Collin County records work well alongside those of Dallas County to the south and Denton County to the west.

Cities in Collin County

Collin County includes several large cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. All death records for events in these cities go through the Collin County Clerk in McKinney.

Other communities in Collin County include Wylie, Murphy, Sachse, Prosper, Celina, and Farmersville. All death records for these areas are also handled by the Collin County Clerk in McKinney.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Collin County in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. If you are searching for a record and are uncertain of the county, the address or city on the death certificate can help you identify the right office.

Dallas County • Denton County • Rockwall County • Hunt County • Fannin County • Grayson County