Find Death Records in Martin County

The Martin County Death Index contains records filed with the County Clerk in Stanton, Texas. This page explains how to search for death records in Martin County, get certified certificates, and find older historical records dating back to 1903.

Martin County Death Index and the County Clerk

The Martin County Clerk's office in Stanton is the local authority for death certificates in the county. As the local vital records registrar, the clerk keeps copies of all death certificates filed in Martin County going back to 1903. If a death occurred in Martin County, this is where you go first. The clerk's office is at the Martin County Courthouse in Stanton. Staff can search the index and issue certified copies in person.

Mail-in requests are accepted as well. Use the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Send the completed form along with a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID and a check or money order made payable to the Martin County Clerk. Mail everything to the county courthouse in Stanton. Call the clerk's office first to get the exact mailing address and confirm current hours.

The state option is also available. Orders placed through the Texas vital records online system go to the DSHS office in Austin and are mailed to you. State processing typically runs 20 to 30 business days. County orders are faster when you need a copy quickly.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section governs death record procedures across all Texas counties, including Martin County, and maintains the state's central repository for all death certificates from 1903 forward.

Martin County's clerk office aligns with all DSHS rules, meaning fees, ID requirements, and access rules are the same here as anywhere else in the state.

Fees for Death Certificates in Martin County

Martin County charges $21.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, are $4.00 each. The fee structure is fixed by Texas law and does not vary from one county to the next.

The state DSHS office in Austin charges slightly less: $20.00 for the first certified copy and $3.00 per additional copy. Both produce certified records that are legally valid. For most purposes, going through the county is faster. State orders are mailed from Austin and can take a month or more. County in-person service is usually same-day.

If a search turns up no record, the fee is still charged. Texas law does not allow refunds for search fees, even when no record is found. Providing as much information as possible on your request form, such as full name, date of death, and county of death, reduces the chance of a failed search.

Note: Martin County is an oil-patch county in the Permian Basin. Records for some early 20th century deaths may be sparse if the death occurred in a remote area before full registration was enforced.

Access Rules for Martin County Death Records

Texas law restricts certified copies of recent death certificates to qualified applicants only. A qualified applicant is an immediate family member of the deceased: a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal representatives with proper documents can also request copies. This restriction applies to any death that occurred within the past 25 years.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. At that point, anyone can request a certified copy. You still need to show valid photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows what forms are accepted at county offices. The rule applies equally at the county clerk and at the state DSHS office.

Falsifying information to get a death certificate is a felony under Texas law. Penalties include 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000 under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195. The clerk documents the requester's identity for every transaction.

Searching Martin County Historical Records

Martin County death records from 1903 onward are part of the Texas statewide index. Free online databases make it easier to search before you request a certified copy. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is free. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same general range. Both show basic information such as name, death date, county, and certificate number. They are index tools only, not full certificate copies.

Once you find a record in the index, you need to contact the Martin County Clerk or the state office to get the actual certified copy. The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin has microfilmed death indexes from 1903 to 1973 that are open to the public. If a record does not show up in the online databases, the microfilm collection is the next logical step. The state library also has county-level research guides that can help you understand what records exist for West Texas counties like Martin.

The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide explains how the statewide death index is organized and where researchers can find records at the county and state levels.

The guide covers Martin County as part of the broader Texas system and points researchers to the right sources for records from different time periods.

Cities in Martin County

Stanton is the county seat and the location of the Martin County Clerk's office. No cities in Martin County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All death records for the county are filed with the Martin County Clerk in Stanton.

Nearby Counties

Martin County sits in the Permian Basin region. These counties share borders with Martin County. If you are unsure whether a death was filed in Martin or a neighboring county, contact the county clerk for help.

Dawson County • Howard County • Glasscock County • Midland County • Andrews County