Galveston County Death Index
Galveston County death records are maintained by the Galveston County Health District, which serves as the local vital records office for the county. The Galveston County Death Index covers deaths registered in the county from 1903 to the present. This page covers how to request certified copies, which offices handle the records, what fees apply, and who qualifies to access recent records.
Galveston County Overview
Galveston County Health District and Death Records
The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) is the primary local office for death records in Galveston County. The office keeps records of birth and death events from 1903 to the present. You can visit the health district in person or request records by mail. The in-person location is at 9850-A Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite A-102, Texas City, TX 77591. The office is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone numbers are (409) 938-7221 and (409) 765-2595.
For mail requests to the Galveston County Health District, send the request form for a Galveston County death certificate, a copy of a valid photo ID, and a $21 money order for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record costs $4. Mail the documents to GCHD Vitals, P.O. Box 939, La Marque, Texas 77568. Money orders are required for mail submissions.
Delayed birth and death records not held by the health district are available at the Galveston County Clerk's office in Galveston. The clerk handles historical and delayed records as a separate function from the health district's primary vital records role. Both offices follow the same Texas DSHS Vital Statistics rules and fee schedules.
Note: For online orders, use the Texas vital records portal through DSHS. Online orders are mailed from Austin and take 20 to 25 business days.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office sets the rules and standards that the Galveston County Health District and Galveston County Clerk follow when issuing certified death certificates.
State oversight ensures consistent access standards and fee structures across all local vital records offices in Texas, including those in Galveston County.
How to Request Galveston County Death Records
In-person requests at the Galveston County Health District in Texas City are the fastest option. Bring your photo ID and the fee. Staff can search the death index by name and issue certified copies the same day when the record is available. The office is at 9850-A Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Suite A-102, Texas City, TX 77591.
Mail requests require the death certificate application form, a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and a money order for $21 made payable to the Galveston County Health District. Send to GCHD Vitals, P.O. Box 939, La Marque, Texas 77568. For mail requests, allow several business days for the office to process and return your documents after receipt.
You can also order online through the Texas.gov vital records portal. Online orders go to the state DSHS office in Austin and are mailed out. They take longer than local requests but are a good option if you are not near Galveston County. The state fee is $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy at the same time, slightly lower than the local fee. The VS-142 application form is used for mail orders to either the state or the county.
Who Can Access Galveston County Death Records
Galveston County death certificates for deaths within the past 25 years are confidential records. They can only be released to qualified requesters. A qualified requester is the record subject, a close family member by blood or marriage, or a legal representative. Family members who qualify include a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal representatives with documented authority also qualify. This is required under Texas Government Code Section 552.115.
After 25 years, the record becomes public. Anyone can request it. You still must show a valid government-issued photo ID to the health district or county clerk. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows every document the office will accept. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID all work as primary identification.
Making a false statement to obtain a death certificate is a felony in Texas. The health district and county clerk both document the requester's identity on every transaction. Penalties under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195 include prison time and fines up to $10,000.
Galveston County Death Records for Genealogy
Galveston County has one of the longer death record histories in Texas, going back to the start of state registration in 1903. The county includes Galveston Island and the coastal mainland along Galveston Bay. For genealogy researchers, death records from this area can include records tied to the maritime trade, the early petroleum industry, and the communities that rebuilt after the 1900 storm.
Free tools to start your search include FamilySearch's Texas Death Index, which covers 1903 to 2000 and is free to use. Ancestry's Texas Death Index covers the same period and links to images for some years. Both databases are indexes. They tell you the death county, date, and certificate number but do not give you the full certificate. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide is a useful reference for understanding how Texas death records are organized and where copies are stored.
The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds statewide death indexes from 1903 to 1973. These records are available for public research. For detailed Galveston County historical records, the Rosenberg Library in Galveston is a strong local resource for historical records beyond the death index itself.
The DSHS Order Records Locally directory includes the Galveston County Health District as one of the local offices where you can get certified copies of Galveston County death certificates.
The health district in Texas City provides faster service for most Galveston County requests compared to ordering through the state DSHS office in Austin.
Cities in Galveston County
Galveston County includes Galveston, Texas City, League City, La Marque, Friendswood, and other communities. Death records for events anywhere in the county are maintained by the Galveston County Health District and the county clerk.
Other communities in Galveston County include Galveston City, Texas City, La Marque, Friendswood, and Dickinson. Death records for all of these areas go through the Galveston County Health District at 9850-A Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City.
Nearby Counties
Galveston County sits along the Gulf Coast south of Houston. These counties border it or are nearby. If a death occurred near a county line, the decedent's county of last residence typically determines where the record was filed.