Reagan County Death Index

Reagan County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Big Lake, Texas. The Reagan County death index covers all deaths registered in the county from 1903 forward. This page explains how to search the Reagan County death index, request certified copies, and find historical death records from this West Texas county.

Reagan County Clerk Death Records

The Reagan County Clerk in Big Lake is the local registrar for all deaths that occur within Reagan County. The clerk maintains the Reagan County death index and can issue certified copies of death certificates. Records go back to 1903, when Texas began mandatory statewide registration of births and deaths. Reagan County is a rural West Texas county, and the clerk's office in Big Lake is the primary point of contact for all death record requests in the county.

In-person requests are the most direct way to get a Reagan County death certificate. Go to the courthouse in Big Lake with a valid government-issued photo ID, fill out an application, and pay the fee. The clerk can search the death index and issue a certified copy while you wait in most cases. If you cannot travel to Big Lake, mail requests are accepted. You need to complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS, attach a copy of your photo ID, and include a money order or check made payable to the Reagan County Clerk. Mail the full packet to the courthouse in Big Lake.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin holds copies of all Reagan County death records from 1903 to present. Ordering through the state means using the Texas online vital records system or mailing a request to Austin. State copies cost slightly less than county copies, but processing takes longer because the records ship from Austin. For most people with a connection to Reagan County, going through the county clerk in Big Lake is faster.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page lists all Texas county offices that can issue certified death certificates, including the Reagan County Clerk in Big Lake.

Reagan County residents can obtain certified death certificates at the local clerk's office without going through the state office in Austin.

Fees and Access for Reagan County Death Records

Reagan County uses the standard Texas fee schedule for death certificates. The first certified copy costs $21.00. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, is $4.00. These fees are set by Texas Health and Safety Code and apply to all county clerk offices statewide. If you order through DSHS in Austin, the fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 per additional copy. Both are certified copies.

Texas law restricts access to death records under 25 years old. Only a qualified applicant can receive a certified copy during that period. A qualified applicant is an immediate family member of the person named on the record. Family members who qualify include a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative or guardian with proper documentation showing authority can also make the request. After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Anyone can then request a copy by showing valid photo ID.

All requesters must present government-issued photo ID when asking for a death certificate. The DSHS acceptable ID list details what forms of ID the clerk will take. A Texas driver's license or state ID is the most common. A U.S. passport and military ID also work. If you lack a primary ID, combining two secondary documents may satisfy the requirement. Check the DSHS list before you visit or mail your request.

Note: If a search is done and no record is found, the fee is still charged. Texas law requires a search fee equal to the certificate fee any time a search is conducted, regardless of the result. Fees are not refunded for unsuccessful searches.

Requesting a Reagan County Death Certificate

You have three ways to get a certified death certificate from Reagan County. The fastest is in person at the Reagan County Clerk in Big Lake. Bring your photo ID and the fee. The clerk can issue the record the same day if it is on file.

Mail requests work if you cannot go to Big Lake. Fill out the VS-142 form from DSHS completely, attach a copy of your government-issued ID, and send a money order or check made out to the Reagan County Clerk. Mail the packet to the Reagan County Courthouse in Big Lake, Texas. Make sure all fields are complete. The clerk will return incomplete applications, which delays your request.

You can also order online through Texas.gov. This connects to the DSHS state system in Austin. Online orders are processed and mailed from Austin, not from the county. Average processing time is 20 to 25 business days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail orders to DSHS. Shipping is additional. If you need the record quickly, the county clerk is the better option.

DSHS also issues death verification letters. These confirm that a death is on file and include the name, date, and county. They are not legal substitutes for certified copies. Check with the agency requesting your document before deciding which type of record to order.

The Texas Government Code Section 552.115 sets the 25-year confidentiality rule that governs access to all death records in Reagan County and across Texas.

Once 25 years have passed from the date of death, Reagan County death records become public and any person can request a certified copy with valid ID.

Genealogy and Historical Research

Reagan County death records go back to 1903. For genealogy research, free online databases can help you find a record before you request a certified copy. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is free to use. It shows the name, death county, date, and certificate number. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers a similar range and lists over 7 million statewide deaths. Both are index-only databases, so you will still need to request the full certificate from the Reagan County Clerk or from DSHS to get a certified copy.

For records not found in online indexes, the Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds microfilm of Texas death records from 1903 to 1973. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide is a helpful starting point if you are new to Texas genealogy. Reagan County was established in West Texas and has a relatively small population, so records volume is lower than in larger counties. If the county clerk does not have the record you need, check with DSHS in Austin since state records are copies of county registrations.

Nearby Counties

Reagan County is in West Texas. These counties border or sit near Reagan County. If a death record is not found in Reagan County, check with the neighboring county clerk.

Glasscock County • Midland County • Martin County • Howard County • Crockett County • Schleicher County • Menard County