Search El Paso County Death Records
The El Paso County Death Index covers death records filed with the County Clerk in El Paso, Texas. El Paso County is one of the largest counties in Texas by population, with records going back to 1900. The El Paso County Clerk operates multiple locations throughout the county, making it accessible to residents across this large west Texas border community. Certified death certificates are available in person at any of the clerk's locations, by mail, and through online ordering services.
El Paso County Overview
El Paso County Clerk Death Records
The El Paso County Clerk is Delia Briones, an elected official responsible for vital records and other county clerk functions. The main office is at the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105, El Paso, Texas 79901. The main office phone is (915) 273-3532, and you can also reach the office by email at countyclerk@epcounty.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The El Paso County Clerk website has current forms, procedures, and information about all clerk services.
El Paso County operates three annex locations in addition to the main courthouse office. The Ysleta Annex is at 9521 Socorro Road, Suite A-1, and can be reached at (915) 273-3468. The Northeast Annex is at 4641 Cohen Avenue, Suite B, phone (915) 273-3452. The Northwest Annex serves the Anthony area at 435 Vinton Rd, Room 208, Anthony, Texas 79821, phone (915) 273-3517. The Northeast and Northwest annexes close from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM for lunch. Having multiple locations is helpful in a county this size, which stretches from the city of El Paso west along the Rio Grande.
El Paso County death certificates are available for events that occurred in the county from 1900 to the present. The fee is $21.00 for the first certified copy and $4.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You must present valid government-issued photo ID to request records during the 25-year confidential period. The clerk's office also offers online ordering through VitalChek, which is convenient for those who cannot visit any of the office locations in person.
The El Paso County Clerk website at epcounty.com provides information about all clerk services including vital records, annex locations, hours, and online ordering options.
The El Paso County Clerk maintains multiple office locations to serve residents across the large county, including the main courthouse office and three annexes in different parts of the community.
How to Get El Paso County Death Records
In person is the most direct option. Visit any of the four El Paso County Clerk locations with valid ID and the $21.00 fee for the first copy. The main office at 500 E. San Antonio and the three annexes can all process death certificate requests. Staff can search by name and date of death and issue certified copies during your visit when records are available.
Mail requests to the Texas DSHS are another option. Fill out the VS-142 Death Certificate Application and mail it to the DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin at P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. State fees are $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy. You can also order online through the state portal at txapps.texas.gov. State processing takes 20 to 25 business days on average.
Note: El Paso County is a large, busy county. In-person visits to annex locations may be faster than going to the main courthouse office during peak periods.
Death Certificate Fees in El Paso County
The El Paso County Clerk charges $21.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, is $4.00. These fees are set by Texas state law and apply at the local El Paso County level. The fee structure covers the county search fee, certification fee, and the vital records archive fee.
If you order through the DSHS state office in Austin, the fee is slightly lower at $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy. Both local and state copies are certified. For most El Paso County residents, using the local clerk is faster than ordering through Austin. No fee is refunded if a search is done and no record is found. The search fee applies regardless of the outcome.
Who Can Access El Paso County Death Records
Texas law under Texas Government Code Section 552.115 makes death records confidential for 25 years from the date of death. Only immediate family members can get certified copies during that confidential period. Immediate family means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the person named on the certificate. A legal representative with proper documentation showing their authority can also request records.
After 25 years from the date of death, the record is public information. Anyone can then request a copy. All requesters, whether immediate family or members of the general public for older records, must still show valid government-issued photo ID. See the DSHS acceptable ID list for what forms of identification the El Paso County Clerk will accept. Making a false statement to obtain a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195, with penalties of 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
El Paso County Death Index for Historical Research
El Paso County has death records going back to 1900, making it one of the earlier county record sets in Texas. The county's location on the US-Mexico border and its history as a major crossing point means the records cover a diverse population with significant Hispanic heritage and strong ties to both sides of the Rio Grande. For genealogists, the county offers records that may reflect families with connections to both Texas and northern Mexico.
Free online indexes include the FamilySearch Texas Death Index covering 1903 to 2000 and Ancestry's Texas Death Index for the same range. Both are index-only databases that give you name, county, date, and certificate number. The El Paso County Clerk's website notes that a historic deed index covering 1874 to 1963 is available online at kofilequicklinks.com/ElPaso, which may be useful for cross-referencing property and death records for estate research.
The Texas State Library and Archives holds statewide death indexes from 1903 to 1973. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide provides context on how the Texas records system works. For El Paso County research specifically, keep in mind that some records from this border region may also involve New Mexico or Chihuahua state records depending on where a person was born or died.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office sets the statewide standards that El Paso County follows for registering, certifying, and releasing death records to qualified applicants.
The DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin maintains the central repository for all Texas death records including El Paso County entries going back to 1903.
Cities in El Paso County
El Paso County is anchored by the city of El Paso, the largest city in west Texas. All death records for events in the county are processed through the El Paso County Clerk's offices. The clerk's multiple locations serve different parts of the county.
Other communities in El Paso County include Socorro, Anthony, Horizon City, and San Elizario. Death records for all communities in the county go through the El Paso County Clerk's office.
Nearby Counties
El Paso County is in the far west corner of Texas. These nearby counties or jurisdictions may hold records for people who lived or died near the county boundaries.