Hale County Death Index Lookup

The Hale County Death Index contains death records filed in Plainview and throughout Hale County going back to 1903. The Hale County Clerk in Plainview is the local office that maintains these records and can issue certified death certificates. Located on the South Plains of West Texas, Hale County serves as a regional hub for surrounding rural counties, and its death records reflect communities across the area. This page covers how to search the Hale County death index, what to expect when requesting certified copies, fees, access rules, and genealogy resources.

Hale County Clerk Death Records

The Hale County Clerk is located at 500 Broadway, Room 140, Plainview, TX 79072. The phone number is (806) 291-5261. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call before visiting to confirm staff availability and that vital records can be searched on the day you plan to come in. The clerk's office can search the Hale County death index and issue certified copies for qualifying requests on the same day.

When requesting in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. For deaths within the last 25 years, you must also show that you are an immediate family member of the deceased. Texas defines immediate family for this purpose as the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal guardian or authorized legal representative with proper documentation can also request the record. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows all forms of identification that Texas vital records offices will accept.

Mail requests go to the Hale County Clerk at 500 Broadway, Room 140, Plainview, TX 79072. Use the VS-142 application from DSHS. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to the Hale County Clerk. Allow extra time for mail requests. Processing plus return shipping can take a week or more.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sets the state standards that the Hale County Clerk follows when issuing certified death certificates, including the fee structure, forms, and access rules.

All certified death certificates from the Hale County Clerk in Plainview meet the standards set by DSHS and carry the same legal authority as certificates issued by the state office in Austin.

How to Search the Hale County Death Index

The fastest way to get a Hale County death record is in person at the clerk's office in Plainview. You can also mail a request to the same office. For those not in the Plainview area, ordering through the state is an option. The Texas Vital Records online system lets you place an order that DSHS processes and mails from Austin, taking 20 to 25 business days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail-in state orders. The Texas.gov vital records portal links to the same state system.

Before ordering a paid copy, use free online indexes to confirm the record exists. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index is free and covers 1903 to 2000. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same range and includes the death county, date, and certificate number. If Hale County shows up as the death county in either database, you can proceed to request a certified copy. The CDC's summary at Where to Write for Vital Records - Texas covers the ordering process and fees.

Note: Plainview is also a regional medical hub. Some deaths from people in nearby counties may have occurred in Plainview but been registered in the deceased's county of residence. Check with the clerk if you have any doubt about which county holds a specific record.

Hale County Death Certificate Fees

The Hale County Clerk charges $21.00 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, costs $4.00. These fees are set by Texas law and apply to all county clerks in the state. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Hale County Clerk. Call ahead to confirm payment methods for in-person visits.

The DSHS state office in Austin charges $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for additional copies ordered at the same time. The state fee is one dollar less than the county fee. But the state route takes weeks longer. For anyone who needs a Hale County death record quickly, going to the clerk in Plainview is the right choice. Texas law charges a non-refundable search fee equal to the copy fee when a search is performed and no record is found.

Access Rules for Hale County Death Records

Texas restricts access to death records that are less than 25 years old. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, certified copies during that period are only available to immediate family members and authorized legal representatives. After 25 years from the date of death, the record is public. Anyone with a valid photo ID can then request a copy from the Hale County Clerk without needing to prove a family connection.

The same confidentiality rule applies at both the county and state levels. The Texas Attorney General's Open Records Decision No. 307 confirmed that county clerk records have the same protections as state records under Section 552.115. All requesters must present a government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID page lists what forms are accepted. False statements on vital records applications are a felony under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Historical Hale County Death Index Research

Hale County death records begin in 1903 with statewide registration. Early records may be sparse for the first few decades as the county was still developing and registration compliance varied. The statewide index is organized alphabetically within time blocks and annually from 1956 onward. For genealogy work, checking both the local records in Plainview and the statewide indexes is recommended. The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds microfilm indexes to Texas death records from 1903 to 1973 and is open for in-person public research at no charge.

Free online databases include the FamilySearch Texas Death Index, which covers 1903 to 2000. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same period. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide is useful for understanding how the statewide system is organized and what is available in different formats. For West Texas regional research, Wayland Baptist University in Plainview also holds some historical materials relevant to Hale County and surrounding areas.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page lists the Hale County Clerk and all other authorized local offices in Texas that can issue certified death certificates in person or by mail.

This directory is maintained by DSHS and confirms which office serves Hale County residents for local death record requests.

Cities in Hale County

Hale County includes Plainview and smaller communities such as Petersburg and Abernathy. All deaths occurring in Hale County are registered with and maintained by the Hale County Clerk in Plainview.

None of the cities in Hale County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Residents from any community in Hale County can request death records directly from the clerk's office in Plainview.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hale County. If you are unsure which county a record was filed in, contact the clerk's office in the most likely county to confirm before paying a search fee.

Floyd County • Castro County • Lubbock County • Swisher County • Lamb County