Mason County Death Index Search

Mason County death records are kept by the County Clerk in the city of Mason, Texas. This page covers how to search the Mason County Death Index, request certified copies, and find older records that go back to 1903.

Mason County Clerk and Death Index Records

The Mason County Clerk's office is located at the Mason County Courthouse in Mason, Texas. This office serves as the local registrar for vital records, which means all death certificates for events in Mason County are filed here. The clerk's staff can look up death records by the deceased person's name and approximate year of death. In-person visits are the fastest way to get a certified copy.

If you need to request by mail, use the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Include a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID and a check or money order payable to the Mason County Clerk. Send the packet to the courthouse. Call ahead to confirm the mailing address and current office hours. Mail requests are generally processed within a few business days after they arrive.

The state DSHS office in Austin also accepts requests. You can order online at txapps.texas.gov or by mail to the state address. State orders take longer, typically 20 to 30 business days. If speed matters, the county clerk is the right choice.

Note: Mason County is a small Hill Country county with a limited staff. Plan ahead if you need a record quickly, and confirm that the clerk's office will be open on the day you plan to visit.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section sets the statewide rules for all county death record offices in Texas, including the Mason County Clerk's office.

Every death certificate issued by the Mason County Clerk meets the same state standards that apply across all 254 Texas counties.

Death Certificate Fees in Mason County

The Mason County Clerk charges $21.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. If you need additional copies of the same record at the same time, each one costs $4.00. Texas law sets these amounts, so they are the same at every county clerk in the state.

The state DSHS office charges $20.00 for the first certified copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record. Both the county and state copies are legally valid certified documents. Most people in Mason County use the county clerk for faster, in-person service. State-ordered copies come from Austin by mail and take considerably longer.

If a search is done and no record is found, the fee is not refunded. Texas law requires the fee be paid regardless of the outcome. To reduce the risk of a failed search, include the full legal name and approximate year of death when making a request.

Who Can Access Mason County Death Records

Texas restricts access to death certificates from the past 25 years. Only immediate family members can get certified copies of these recent records. Texas law defines immediate family as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the person named on the record. A legal guardian or legal representative can also request records if they provide the right supporting documents.

Once a death occurred more than 25 years ago, the record is public under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Anyone can request a copy at that point without explaining their relationship to the deceased. All requesters, whether family or general public, must show a valid government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID page lists the acceptable forms. Falsifying information to get a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195, with penalties including prison time and fines up to $10,000.

Historical Research in Mason County

Mason County has death records starting in 1903. All records older than 25 years are public and can be searched using free online databases. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index and the Ancestry Texas Death Index both cover 1903 to 2000. These index databases show the name, death date, county, and certificate number. They help you confirm a record exists before you request the full certified copy.

For records that predate the online indexes or for deaths not found in the databases, the Texas State Library in Austin holds microfilmed death indexes from 1903 to 1973. These are available to researchers in person. Mason County being in the Hill Country means that older records may reflect communities with deep German immigrant roots, and some records from the late 19th and early 20th century may have non-standard spellings. When searching the index, try alternate spellings if your first search turns up nothing. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide is a good starting point for anyone new to searching Texas death records.

The Ancestry Texas Death Index 1903-2000 covers Mason County records as part of its statewide database and is a useful tool for locating a record before requesting a certified copy.

The Ancestry index lists over 7 million Texas deaths and includes Mason County entries from 1903 through 2000.

Cities in Mason County

Mason is both the county seat and the largest community in Mason County. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All death records for Mason County are filed with the county clerk in Mason.

Nearby Counties

Mason County is in the Texas Hill Country. If you are not sure which county a death was registered in, check with the county clerks of these neighboring counties.

McCulloch County • Menard County • Kimble County • Gillespie County • Llano County • San Saba County