Jeff Davis County Death Index

Jeff Davis County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Fort Davis, Texas. The Jeff Davis County Death Index covers deaths registered in the county from 1903 to present. You can request certified death certificates through the clerk's office, by mail, or through the state online ordering system. This page explains the process and what you need to access Jeff Davis County death records.

Jeff Davis County Clerk Vital Records

The Jeff Davis County Clerk's office in Fort Davis is the local registrar for all vital records in the county. The office is at 100 Court Avenue, Fort Davis, TX 79734. Phone: 432-426-3251. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk maintains death certificates for all deaths that occurred in Jeff Davis County from 1903 to the present.

Jeff Davis County is one of the most remote counties in Texas. It sits in the Davis Mountains of the Trans-Pecos region, near Big Bend. The county has a very small population, but the records go back to 1903 just like every other Texas county. Because the county is small and rural, the clerk's office can often give personalized service. Calling ahead before a visit or mail request is a good idea.

The fee for a certified death certificate is $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for in-person requests. For mail requests, include a copy of your photo ID, a completed application form, and payment by money order or check payable to the Jeff Davis County Clerk. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows what identification forms work. Search fees apply even when no record is found, and they are not refunded.

Requesting Jeff Davis County Death Certificates

In-person is the most direct way to get a death certificate. Visit the Jeff Davis County Clerk in Fort Davis during business hours. Show your ID, fill out the request form, and pay the fee. The clerk can often process same-day requests for records in the system. Given the county's remote location, calling ahead to confirm hours and availability is a smart step.

Mail requests work well for those who cannot travel to Fort Davis. Use the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from Texas DSHS. Fill it out completely, attach a clear copy of your government-issued photo ID, and include a money order or cashier's check payable to the Jeff Davis County Clerk. Mail to 100 Court Avenue, Fort Davis, TX 79734. Allow processing time after the office receives your packet. Incomplete submissions are returned.

Online ordering goes through the state system. Use txapps.texas.gov or the Texas.gov vital records portal. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin handles these orders. State fees are $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for additional copies. Processing takes 20 to 25 business days. Ordered records are mailed to you. The state system is convenient when in-person travel to Fort Davis is not an option.

Note: The DSHS Vital Statistics mailing address for standard mail orders sent directly to the state is P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sets the statewide rules that Jeff Davis County follows for all death certificate requests and vital records management.

All Texas counties, including Jeff Davis County, issue death certificates under the same state framework and fee schedule.

Who Can Access Jeff Davis County Death Records

Texas restricts death records less than 25 years old. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that window. Qualified applicants are the deceased's immediate family: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal representatives with proper authority documentation also qualify. County clerk records follow the same rule as state records under Texas Attorney General Opinion H-115.

After 25 years from the date of death, records become public. Anyone with valid photo ID can request a certified copy. Index records are generally available to the public and include name, death date, county, and certificate number. Index data is useful for genealogy research but is not a certified copy. For legal and official purposes, you need a certified copy from the county or state office.

False statements on vital records applications carry felony charges under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195. The penalty is 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The clerk documents every transaction and verifies identity at every step.

Historical Research and the Jeff Davis County Death Index

Jeff Davis County death records go back to 1903. The county's small, isolated population means the death records here are relatively compact but cover more than a century of Trans-Pecos Texas history. For genealogy researchers working on west Texas families from this remote mountain region, the Jeff Davis County records are often the only source for local deaths.

Free online tools can help identify records before requesting certified copies. The Ancestry Texas Death Index 1903-2000 includes Jeff Davis County entries among more than 7 million statewide records. It gives name, death date, county, and certificate number. The FamilySearch Texas Vital Records guide links to free searchable Texas death collections. The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds death indexes from 1903 to 1973 on microfilm for public research.

The Library of Congress Texas genealogy guide notes that state records are copies of county records. If the state index does not have what you need, the Jeff Davis County Clerk in Fort Davis is the original source.

The Ancestry Texas Death Index 1903-2000 is a searchable database that includes Jeff Davis County entries and can help you find a certificate number before contacting the county clerk.

Use this index to narrow down your search, then contact the Jeff Davis County Clerk in Fort Davis with the name, date, and certificate number to request a certified copy.

Cities in Jeff Davis County

Jeff Davis County is one of the least populous counties in Texas. Fort Davis is the county seat and the main community. All death records for the county are processed through the Jeff Davis County Clerk in Fort Davis. No cities in Jeff Davis County meet the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jeff Davis County. For death records from neighboring counties, contact the appropriate county clerk directly.

Presidio County • Brewster County • Reeves County • Pecos County