Access Loving County Death Records
Loving County death records are on file with the County Clerk in Mentone, Texas. Loving County is the least populous county in Texas and one of the least populous in the entire United States. Despite its small size, it is part of the Texas statewide vital records system, and deaths registered in the county are indexed going back to 1903. If you need to find a death record in Loving County, the clerk's office is your primary local source, with state DSHS as an alternative.
Loving County Overview
Loving County Clerk and Death Records
The Loving County Clerk in Mentone is the local registrar for all vital records in the county, including death certificates. The office is at the Loving County Courthouse, Mentone, TX 79754. Loving County has an extremely small permanent population, and the clerk's office may have limited staffing hours. Calling ahead before any visit or mail request is strongly recommended. The clerk can search the local death index by name and date of death.
Texas sets the fee structure for death records. The first certified copy costs $21.00, covering the county search and certification fees plus the Vital Records Archive Fee under Health and Safety Code Section 191.0045. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $4.00 each. All requests require a valid government-issued photo ID. This applies to both immediate family members requesting restricted records and members of the public requesting records that have passed the 25-year mark.
Because of Loving County's remote location in West Texas near the New Mexico border, many requesters may find it more practical to use the state DSHS system. The DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin can issue certified copies of any Texas death record since 1903. The state fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy. Order online at txapps.texas.gov. Processing time through the state is 20 to 25 business days for online orders.
Note: Because Loving County records relatively few deaths each year, the death index for this county is thin compared to more populous Texas counties. If a record is not found locally, check with DSHS to see if it was registered at the state level.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin maintains Loving County death records as part of the statewide system and can issue certified copies for all Texas counties.
For a remote county like Loving, the DSHS state office is often the most accessible way to request a certified death certificate.
How to Get a Loving County Death Certificate
In-person requests at the Loving County Courthouse in Mentone are possible. Call first to confirm hours and availability. Bring your photo ID and the fee. If the clerk is available and the record exists, you can receive a certified copy the same day.
Mail is often the more practical option. Complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Send the form with a copy of your photo ID and a money order or check payable to the Loving County Clerk to the courthouse in Mentone, TX 79754. Incomplete applications will be returned. Processing time varies but usually takes a few business days after the office receives a complete packet.
State online ordering is available through txapps.texas.gov and the Texas.gov vital records portal. This option routes through DSHS in Austin and is mailed to you. Standard processing is 20 to 25 business days for online orders. The DSHS mailing address page also lists where to send paper mail applications directly to the state office. DSHS is at P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.
Access to Loving County Death Records
Texas law under Texas Government Code Section 552.115 restricts access to death records less than 25 years old. Only qualified family members may request these records: child, spouse, parent, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. A legal representative may also request records with proof of authority. Once the record is 25 years old from the death date, it is public and any requester with valid ID may obtain a copy.
Acceptable identification requirements are detailed on the DSHS acceptable ID page. A driver's license, state ID card, or US passport all qualify as primary ID. If you don't have primary ID, a combination of secondary and supporting documents is also accepted. Making a false statement on a death record request 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.
Genealogy Research in Loving County
The Loving County death index goes back to 1903. Given the county's population, the total number of recorded deaths is very low, which makes searches relatively simple. Records older than 25 years are publicly accessible.
Free resources can help you find a record without visiting in person. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is free to use. Ancestry's Texas Death Index spans the same period. Both are index databases that identify records so you can order the actual certificate. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide provides a solid overview of how the state and county record systems work together. The Texas State Library in Austin holds death indexes from 1903 to 1973 for all Texas counties.
Cities in Loving County
Loving County's only community is Mentone, the county seat. There are no cities in Loving County that meet the 100,000 population threshold. All death records for events in the county are handled by the Loving County Clerk in Mentone.
Nearby Counties
Loving County sits on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Permian Basin. It borders the following Texas counties. If a death record cannot be found in Loving County, check with adjacent clerks.