Kaufman County Death Index Search

Kaufman County death records are on file with the County Clerk in Kaufman, Texas, starting from 1903 when the state began mandatory vital records registration. If you need to search the Kaufman County death index or get a certified copy of a death certificate for a death that occurred in the county, the clerk's office in Kaufman is your primary resource. The county has grown steadily as part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and the volume of records reflects that growth.

Kaufman County Clerk and the Death Index

The Kaufman County Clerk maintains the official death records for the county. The courthouse is in the city of Kaufman, which serves as the county seat. You can request death certificates in person at the clerk's office during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Bring a valid photo ID and the appropriate fee. The clerk will search the death index by the deceased's name and approximate date of death, then issue a certified copy if the record is on file.

Mail requests are also accepted. Download and complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Include a clear photocopy of your government-issued ID and a check or money order payable to the Kaufman County Clerk. Mail to the courthouse in Kaufman. Most requests are handled within a few business days of receipt.

Kaufman County sits just east of Dallas County and has grown considerably over the past two decades. Communities like Forney, Terrell, and Mesquite border this county. The clerk's office handles vital records for all parts of Kaufman County, including areas that have grown rapidly with the expansion of the Dallas metro. More people living in the county means more death records being filed each year.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sets all rules and fee schedules that the Kaufman County Clerk must follow when issuing certified death certificates.

The state framework ensures consistent rules across all 254 Texas counties, including Kaufman County.

How to Access Kaufman County Death Records

Going in person to the County Clerk in Kaufman is the most direct way to get a certified death certificate. You can often get it the same day. For records from the distant past, the clerk's index makes retrieval straightforward. For recent deaths, there may be a brief delay while the record works through the registration process.

The free FamilySearch Texas Death Index is an excellent starting point for genealogy searches. It covers deaths from 1903 to 2000 statewide. You can search by name and filter by county to find Kaufman County entries. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same period. Both show the certificate number, death year, and county. You can use this information to confirm the record before ordering a certified copy from the clerk. The Texas State Library holds microfilm copies of early death indexes for in-person research.

The Texas online vital records system lets you order through DSHS. State orders take 20 to 25 business days on average and are mailed from Austin. For most Kaufman County residents, the local clerk is faster and more convenient.

Note: If a search is done and no record is found, the search fee is still charged and is not refundable under Texas law.

Access Rules and Fees for Kaufman County

Texas law restricts access to death records younger than 25 years. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, only immediate family members can request certified copies of recent records. The law defines immediate family as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. A legal representative can also make requests with proper documentation showing their authority to act on behalf of the family.

Once a death record reaches its 25-year anniversary, it becomes public information. Any person can request it from the Kaufman County Clerk at that point. All requesters, including members of the general public requesting older records, must present valid ID. The DSHS acceptable ID page lists what forms are accepted. A Texas driver's license or state-issued photo ID is the standard option.

The fee for the first certified copy is $21 at the county level. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $4. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 191.0045 covers the vital records archive fee that is part of this total. Payment at the Kaufman County Clerk can be made by cash, check, or money order. Mail requests require a check or money order.

Genealogy and Historical Records in Kaufman County

Kaufman County was established in 1848 and named for David S. Kaufman, a Texas congressman. The county's death records from the early 1900s reflect the farming and ranching communities that dominated the area before the Dallas metro expanded eastward. Early death records often include information about birthplace and family relationships not always present in modern filings. If you are researching family history in Kaufman County, the 1903 to 1960 records can be especially valuable.

The Library of Congress Texas genealogy research guide explains how the Texas death index is structured and what each time period covers. The statewide index runs alphabetically within broader date ranges from 1903 to 1940, then 1940 to 1945, 1946 to 1955, and annually from 1956. This structure helps researchers narrow down what to look for before contacting the county clerk. Verification letters from DSHS can also confirm that a specific record exists before you pay for a full certified copy.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page includes the Kaufman County Clerk among the local offices where you can pick up a certified death certificate in person.

The Kaufman County Clerk in Kaufman provides same-day service for most in-person death certificate requests.

Cities in Kaufman County

Kaufman County includes the city of Kaufman as its county seat along with Forney, Terrell, Seagoville, and other communities. Death records for all events within county lines are filed with the Kaufman County Clerk. None of the cities in Kaufman County currently meet the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Kaufman County. If a death record is not in the Kaufman County index, checking neighboring counties may be worthwhile.

Dallas County • Rockwall County • Hunt County • Van Zandt County • Henderson County • Navarro County • Ellis County