Search Limestone County Death Index

Limestone County death records are filed with the County Clerk in Groesbeck, Texas, and are part of the Texas statewide vital records system that dates to 1903. If you need to look up a death in Limestone County or get a certified death certificate, the clerk's office handles all requests. You can go in person, send a request by mail, or order through the state DSHS online system. This page covers what to expect at each step.

Limestone County Clerk and the Death Index

The Limestone County Clerk in Groesbeck is the local authority for death records in the county. The office maintains the local death index and can issue certified death certificates for any event registered within Limestone County. The clerk's office is located at the Limestone County Courthouse in Groesbeck, TX 76642. Contact the clerk's office directly to confirm current hours and any requirements before you make a trip.

Limestone County follows the Texas state fee schedule for death records. The fee for the first certified copy is $21.00, which covers the county search and certification plus the required Vital Records Archive Fee under Health and Safety Code Section 191.0045. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, costs $4.00. You must show a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of the request. The clerk will not release a record without proper identification, regardless of your relationship to the deceased.

If you use the state DSHS office in Austin instead of the local clerk, the fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy. State online orders are mailed from Austin and take 20 to 30 business days to process through txapps.texas.gov. The county route is faster for in-person requests. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics site has full details on both paths.

Note: Deaths registered in Limestone County but occurring near county borders may occasionally be filed in an adjacent county. If you cannot find the record, check with neighboring clerks or contact DSHS directly.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit oversees all county death record systems, including Limestone County, and sets the rules for who can request records and how much they cost.

DSHS rules apply to every certified death certificate issued in Limestone County, whether you request it locally or through the state office.

Requesting Limestone County Death Records

In-person requests are the fastest way to get a Limestone County death certificate. Go to the County Clerk's office at the Limestone County Courthouse in Groesbeck. Bring your government-issued photo ID and the fee. The clerk can search the index by name and approximate date of death. If the record is found and you qualify, the clerk can issue a certified copy the same day.

Mail requests are also available. Complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Send the form along with a copy of your photo ID and a money order or check payable to the Limestone County Clerk. Mail to the clerk's office at the courthouse in Groesbeck, TX 76642. Turnaround times vary but most mail requests are handled within a few days after receipt. Incomplete applications are returned, which adds delay.

For state-level online ordering, use the Texas.gov vital records portal or go directly to txapps.texas.gov. These online orders go through DSHS in Austin. You pay by credit card, and the certified copy is mailed to you. Expect 20 to 25 business days for standard processing. This method works for any Texas county record since 1903.

Who Can Request Limestone County Death Records

Texas law limits who can get certified copies of death records that are less than 25 years old. Only qualified applicants can request restricted records. A qualified applicant is a close family member of the deceased: child, spouse, parent, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative acting on behalf of the family may also request records with proper documentation. This rule is set by Texas Government Code Section 552.115 and applies at both the county and state levels.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public. Anyone can then request a certified copy by showing valid ID and paying the fee. Even for public records, ID is required. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows what forms of identification the clerk will accept. Falsifying information to get a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195, with penalties of 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

If you do not need a full certified copy, you can request a verification letter. A verification confirms that a death record is on file and includes the name, date of death, and county. It costs the same as the base certificate fee but is not a legal substitute for a certified copy.

Limestone County Death Records for Research

Limestone County death records in the Texas index go back to 1903. That is when the state began requiring registration of births and deaths at the county level. Earlier records may exist in local church or probate files, but coverage before 1903 is spotty at best. For anything after 1903, the county and state systems provide a reliable record trail.

Free online indexes can help you search before ordering a certified copy. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is free to search. Ancestry's Texas Death Index covers a similar range and includes over 7 million entries. Both are index-only, meaning you get the certificate number and date, not the full document. Use the certificate number to order from the county or state once you have confirmed the right record.

The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide explains the full structure of the state system, including how county records feed into the state index. The Texas State Library in Austin also holds death indexes from 1903 to 1973. If you are doing research on older Limestone County records, these resources are worth checking before you contact the clerk's office.

Cities in Limestone County

Limestone County's county seat is Groesbeck. Other communities include Mexia, Coolidge, Kosse, and Thornton. All death records for events in the county go through the Limestone County Clerk in Groesbeck. None of the cities in Limestone County meet the 100,000 population threshold for a separate city page on this site.

If a death occurred near the county line, confirm with the Limestone County Clerk whether the record is on file locally or with a neighboring county.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Limestone County. If you are unsure which county holds a particular death record, contact the clerk offices in nearby counties or search the state DSHS system.

Hill County • Freestone County • Leon County • Robertson County • Falls County • McLennan County