Reeves County Death Index Search

Reeves County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Pecos, Texas. The Reeves County death index covers all deaths registered in the county from 1903 to the present. This page explains how to search the Reeves County death index, request certified death certificates, understand access rules, and find historical records.

Reeves County Clerk and Death Records

The Reeves County Clerk in Pecos serves as the local registrar for all deaths occurring within Reeves County. The clerk's office maintains the Reeves County death index and can issue certified copies of death certificates. Records go back to 1903. Reeves County is a large West Texas county, and all death record requests for events within the county go through the clerk in Pecos.

In-person requests are the most direct way to get a Reeves County death certificate. Go to the Reeves County Courthouse in Pecos with a valid government-issued photo ID, fill out a request form, and pay the fee. The clerk can typically issue the record the same day if it is on file. For mail requests, complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Include a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a money order or check made payable to the Reeves County Clerk. Mail the complete packet to the courthouse in Pecos.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit in Austin holds copies of all Reeves County death records from 1903 to present. State orders can be submitted through the Texas online vital records system or by mail to Austin. State fees are slightly lower than county fees, but processing takes longer since records are mailed from Austin. If you can get to Pecos in person, that is the fastest option.

Note: Reeves County is a large geographic county in far West Texas. Deaths that occur in or near the county may sometimes be registered in neighboring counties depending on where the event took place. If a record is not found in Reeves County, check with the clerk in a neighboring county or contact DSHS in Austin.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit in Austin sets the fee schedule and access rules that Reeves County and all other Texas county clerks follow when issuing certified death certificates.

All death certificate requests in Reeves County are subject to the same state fee schedule and 25-year confidentiality rules as every other Texas county.

Fees and Who Can Get Reeves County Death Records

Reeves County follows the Texas standard fee schedule for certified death certificates. The first copy costs $21.00. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $4.00. If you order through DSHS in Austin, the fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 per additional copy. Both county and state certified copies are legally equivalent.

Texas limits access to death records that are less than 25 years old. Only a qualified applicant can request a certified copy during that period. A qualified applicant is an immediate family member of the person named on the record. That includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative with proper documentation showing authority to act on behalf of the family can also make the request. After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, and anyone can request a certified copy with valid photo ID.

Every requester must show government-issued photo ID, regardless of the record's age. The DSHS acceptable ID list details what the clerk will accept. A Texas driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify. If you lack a primary ID, you may be able to combine secondary documents. Check the DSHS list before your visit or before mailing your request.

Making a false statement to obtain a death record is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195. The penalty is two to ten years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The clerk records the requester's identity on every transaction. Search fees are charged even when no record is found and are not refundable.

How to Request a Reeves County Death Certificate

You have three options. In person at the Reeves County Courthouse in Pecos is the fastest. Bring your photo ID and the fee. The clerk can usually issue same-day service when the record is on file.

Mail requests work if you cannot travel to Pecos. Download the VS-142 form from DSHS. Fill out every field completely. Include a copy of your photo ID and a money order or check made payable to the Reeves County Clerk. Send the complete packet to the Reeves County Courthouse in Pecos. Incomplete applications are returned, which slows down your request. Send everything by certified mail if you want a delivery confirmation.

Online ordering through Texas.gov connects to the DSHS system in Austin. Records 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 sent directly to DSHS. These estimates do not include shipping time. If you need the document quickly, the Reeves County Clerk in Pecos is the better choice.

The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers over 7 million Texas deaths from 1903 to 2000, including Reeves County records, and is a useful starting point for genealogy research before requesting a certified copy.

Index entries include the name, death county, date, and certificate number. Use this information to confirm a record exists before submitting a request to the Reeves County Clerk.

Historical Research and Genealogy

Reeves County death records go back to 1903. For genealogy research, free online indexes are a practical starting point. 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 entries. Both are index only. You will need to request the original record from the Reeves County Clerk or DSHS in Austin for a certified copy.

For records not found online, 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 explains how to use these resources. Reeves County has a moderate population for a West Texas county. If the county clerk cannot find the record, the DSHS state office in Austin is the next step since state records are copies of county registrations.

Nearby Counties

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

Culberson County • Hudspeth County • Ward County • Loving County • Brewster County • Terrell County • Crane County