Franklin County Death Record Lookup
Franklin County death records are on file with the County Clerk in Mount Vernon and with the Texas Department of State Health Services. The Franklin County Death Index covers deaths recorded in the county dating back to 1903. You can search these records to locate death certificates for people who died in Franklin County. Requests for certified copies can be made online, by mail, or in person at the courthouse. This page covers how to get Franklin County death records, what it costs, and who can request them.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Clerk and Death Records
The Franklin County Clerk in Mount Vernon is the local custodian of vital records for the county. The office issues certified copies of death certificates and handles requests from qualified applicants. Death records for Franklin County go back to 1903. For deaths that occurred in the county, the clerk is the primary local source. The office is located at the county courthouse in Mount Vernon.
Texas DSHS also holds Franklin County death records from 1903 forward. For deaths from 1964 to the present, the state online system is often the most convenient way to order a certified copy. For older records or anything not in the state system, the Franklin County Clerk is the best place to go.
| Office | Franklin County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Mount Vernon, TX 75457 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| State Vital Records | Texas DSHS Vital Statistics |
How to Search Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County death records can be searched online through the state, by mail, or in person at the county clerk in Mount Vernon.
The Texas Online Vital Records Application is the quickest way to order a certified copy for deaths from 1964 to the present. Submit the form on the DSHS website, upload your ID, and pay by credit card. Processing takes about 20 to 25 business days. If the person died before 1964, you need to use the mail process or visit the county directly.
Mail requests to DSHS go to P.O. Box 12040, Austin TX 78711-2040. Use the VS-142 application. Send a copy of your photo ID and a money order. Mail orders take about 25 to 30 business days. Check DSHS Mailing Addresses for the correct address before you send anything.
Visiting the Franklin County Clerk in person is the best option if you need the record quickly. Bring a valid photo ID and payment. Staff can search for the record and issue a certified copy the same day in most cases.
Death Certificate Fees in Franklin County
The cost for a certified death certificate in Franklin County is $21 for the first copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $4 each. This is the statewide fee set by Texas law.
The fee is made up of a $20 base certificate fee and a $1 Vital Records Preservation Fee. This structure applies to all Texas counties. At the Franklin County Clerk's office, accepted payment is usually cash, check, or money order. Online state requests take credit cards. Mail requests require a money order made out to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Who Can Access Franklin County Death Records
Death records in Texas are confidential for 25 years under state law. During that window, only certain people can obtain a certified copy. After 25 years, the record becomes public.
Qualified requesters for recent Franklin County death records include the spouse, child, parent, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Legal representatives with documentation also qualify. You must provide a valid photo ID with every request. See DSHS Acceptable ID for what is accepted. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 191.051 defines who is a qualified applicant and what penalties apply for misuse.
Franklin County death records that are more than 25 years old are available to anyone. No family connection is required. These older records can be requested from the county clerk or through the DSHS state system. They are also available through genealogy platforms like Ancestry and FamilySearch.
Franklin County Death Records for Historical Research
If you are researching family history in Franklin County, several online databases can help you find older death records. These tools cover different time periods and levels of detail.
Ancestry.com has the Texas Death Index, 1964-1998, which is free to search and shows name, county of death, and date. FamilySearch offers the Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 collection at no cost. Both can help you identify a specific record before requesting the full certified copy from Franklin County.
The Library of Congress has a Texas genealogy research guide with links to other archives. For records from the earliest years of Franklin County, the courthouse in Mount Vernon may have handwritten registers. The Texas Open Records Act gives you the right to request public records, including death records past the 25-year mark.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit manages death records for all Texas counties, including Franklin County, and processes both online and mail requests.
Franklin County residents can also call the DSHS office at (888) 963-7111 for help with death record requests.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County is a small county in Northeast Texas. Mount Vernon is the county seat. No cities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.
All death records for communities in Franklin County, including Mount Vernon, are processed through the county clerk's office.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several other counties in Northeast Texas. If you are not sure which county a death occurred in, check these surrounding areas.