Leon County Death Index Search

Leon County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Centerville and go back to 1903 when Texas began statewide death registration. The death index documents all deaths registered in Leon County, and the clerk's office in Centerville is the primary resource for anyone who needs to search those records or get a certified death certificate. Centerville is a small county seat in East Central Texas, and the clerk's office follows the same state-mandated procedures and fees that apply throughout Texas.

Leon County Clerk and Death Certificates

The Leon County Clerk in Centerville maintains the county death index and issues certified death certificates. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. In-person requests require a valid government-issued photo ID and $21 for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, cost $4 each.

Mail requests are accepted by the clerk. Complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Include a photocopy of your photo ID and a check or money order payable to the Leon County Clerk. Send the complete packet to the courthouse in Centerville. Most mail requests are handled within a few business days of receipt. The online state system at txapps.texas.gov is available for online ordering, but state orders from Austin take 20 to 25 business days.

Leon County is in East Central Texas, roughly between Dallas and Houston along the Trinity River. Centerville is a small community that serves as the county's administrative center. The county's location along several major highways has made it a pass-through region for generations, and the death records here reflect the range of families who lived and died in this part of Texas. The clerk handles requests for both current certificates and older records from researchers and family members.

Note: Leon County charges $21 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional. The state fee through DSHS in Austin is $20 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit sets the rules and fees for death records at all county clerk offices, including the Leon County Clerk in Centerville.

DSHS oversight means the same statewide access rules and fees apply in Leon County as in every other Texas county.

Searching Leon County Death Records

In person at the courthouse in Centerville is the fastest option. Give the name and approximate date of death, show your ID, and pay. The clerk searches the death index and, if the record is on file, issues a certified copy the same day.

Mail requests are a good alternative for those who cannot get to Centerville. Fill out the VS-142 form, attach your ID copy, and send the fee. The clerk processes mail requests in order of receipt, usually within a few business days. Online orders through the state are the slowest option, taking 20 to 25 business days from DSHS in Austin before records are mailed to you.

For genealogy work, start with the free FamilySearch Texas Death Index covering Leon County deaths from 1903 to 2000. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same range and allows county filtering. Both return the name, year, and certificate number for each entry. Use that information to request the certified copy from the clerk in Centerville. For records with gaps in online databases, the Texas State Library holds microfilmed death indexes through 1973. The Library of Congress guide to Texas vital records explains how the statewide death index is organized and what to expect in each time period.

Access Rules for Leon County Death Records

Texas restricts death records less than 25 years old under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. During that window, only immediate family members can get certified copies. The law defines immediate family as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative acting with documented court authority may also submit requests for estate or legal purposes.

After 25 years, the death record becomes public. Anyone can request a certified copy from the Leon County Clerk without stating a family relationship. All requesters must show valid photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list covers what forms are valid. Submitting false information to get a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 195.003, with potential penalties of 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Verification letters are available for any death recorded since 1903. A verification confirms the record exists and includes the name, date, and county. Cost is $20 through DSHS. Contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111. These letters are not certified copies and cannot substitute for them in legal matters.

Historical Death Records in Leon County

Leon County was organized in 1846 and is one of the older Texas counties. The county's death records from 1903 forward cover well over a century of families in this part of East Central Texas. Early records reflect farming communities and the timber and cotton economies that drove the region in the late 1800s and early 1900s. For genealogists researching East Texas and the Piney Woods region, Leon County records are part of a broader set of counties to check. The statewide databases on FamilySearch and Ancestry cover Leon County entries from 1903 to 2000. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds microfilmed indexes through 1973. Older records from before statewide registration began may be found in county deed books and probate records at the courthouse in Centerville.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page includes Leon County among the local offices where certified death certificates can be obtained directly from the clerk without going through the state in Austin.

Local service from the Leon County Clerk in Centerville avoids the 20 to 25 business day wait associated with state mail orders from Austin.

Cities in Leon County

Leon County includes Centerville as its county seat along with Buffalo and other small communities. None of the cities in Leon County currently meet the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated city page. All death records for events in the county are processed through the County Clerk in Centerville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Leon County. If a death record is not found here, check the neighboring county offices.

Freestone County • Houston County • Madison County • Robertson County • Limestone County