Red River County Death Index

Red River County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Clarksville, Texas. The Red River County death index covers all deaths registered in the county from 1903 to the present. This page explains how to search the Red River County death index, request certified death certificates, and access historical records for genealogy research.

Red River County Clerk Death Records

The Red River County Clerk in Clarksville is the local registrar for all deaths in the county. The clerk's office holds the Red River County death index and can issue certified copies of death certificates. Records go back to 1903, when Texas began mandatory statewide registration. Red River County is in far Northeast Texas, along the border with Oklahoma, and the clerk's office in Clarksville is the primary point of contact for all death record requests in the county.

For in-person requests, go to the Red River County Courthouse in Clarksville. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, fill out an application, and pay the fee. The clerk can usually search the death index and issue a certified copy the same day for most requests. If you cannot travel to Clarksville, mail requests are accepted. Complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application, include a copy of your photo ID, and send a money order or check made out to the Red River County Clerk. Mail the full packet to the courthouse in Clarksville.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin also maintains copies of Red River County death records from 1903 forward. State orders go through the Texas online vital records system or by mail to Austin. State fees are slightly lower, but processing takes longer since records ship from Austin rather than the county clerk in Clarksville.

Red River County is one of the oldest counties in Texas, organized in 1836. Death records from the early statewide registration era starting in 1903 are on file with both the county and the state. For records before 1903, you would need to look at probate records, church records, and cemetery records, as vital statistics registration did not begin until that year.

The Library of Congress Texas Vital Records guide explains how Red River County death records fit into the statewide system, including how to find records from 1903 forward and where to look when a record is not in the index.

Statewide registration of Texas deaths began in 1903, and Red River County records from that year forward are part of both the county and state systems.

Fees and Access Rules

Red River County follows the standard Texas fee structure. A certified death certificate costs $21.00 for the first copy. 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. 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 and have the same legal weight.

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

All requesters must show government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list covers accepted forms. A Texas driver's license or state ID is the most common. A U.S. passport, military ID, or license to carry also works. If a primary ID is not available, combining two secondary documents may be sufficient. Check the list before your request.

Note: Texas law requires that if a search is done and no record is found, a search fee equal to the certificate fee is still charged. These fees are not refundable.

Requesting a Red River County Death Certificate

Three options are available for getting a certified Red River County death certificate. In person at the courthouse in Clarksville is the fastest. Bring your photo ID and the fee. The clerk can typically issue the record the same day if it is on file.

Mail requests are the right option if travel to Clarksville is not practical. Fill out the VS-142 form from DSHS completely. Include a copy of your government-issued ID and a money order or check payable to the Red River County Clerk. Send the full packet to the courthouse in Clarksville. Make sure all fields are filled in. Incomplete applications come back without being processed.

Online ordering through Texas.gov connects to DSHS in Austin. Orders are processed there and mailed to you. Average processing times are 20 to 25 business days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail orders to DSHS. Shipping is not included in those estimates. If you need the record quickly, the county clerk in Clarksville is the better route.

The DSHS Vital Statistics mailing addresses page has the correct address for sending mail-in death certificate requests to the state office, an alternative to going through the Red River County Clerk in Clarksville.

The state mailing address is Texas Vital Statistics, DSHS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. County requests go to the Red River County Clerk in Clarksville.

Genealogy and Historical Death Records

Red River County death records go back to 1903. For genealogy research, online databases make it easier to locate a record before you request a certified copy. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is free. It shows the name, death county, date, and certificate number. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same range with over 7 million statewide entries. Both are index only. You still need to request the full record from the county or DSHS for a certified copy.

Red River County is one of the oldest organized counties in Texas, with deep historical roots going back to the early Republic of Texas period. For records before 1903, researchers often look to probate court filings, church records, and local cemetery documentation. The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds microfilm of Texas death records from 1903 to 1973. For Red River County research, the local county archives and the courthouse in Clarksville are both useful starting points.

Nearby Counties

Red River County is in Northeast Texas, bordered by Oklahoma to the north. These counties are nearby. If a death was registered in a neighboring county, check the respective clerk's office.

Bowie County • Cass County • Titus County • Franklin County • Lamar County • Hopkins County