Smith County Death Index

Smith County death records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Tyler, Texas. The Smith County death index covers all deaths registered in the county from 1903 to the present. This page explains how to search the Smith County death index, request certified death certificates, understand who can access records, and find historical records for genealogy research.

Smith County Clerk and Death Records

The Smith County Clerk in Tyler is the local registrar for all deaths occurring within Smith County. The clerk's office holds and maintains the Smith County death index and can issue certified copies of death certificates. Records go back to 1903. Smith County is the largest county by population in the East Texas region, and Tyler is the county seat and the regional center for vital records services in this part of the state.

Tyler vital records are also served by the Northeast Texas Public Health District, located at 815 N. Broadway Avenue, Tyler, TX 75702. This office provides regional vital records services for the area. The Smith County Clerk's office phone for vital records is 903-877-7565. For in-person requests at the courthouse in Tyler, bring a valid government-issued photo ID, fill out an application, and pay the fee. The clerk can typically issue a certified copy the same day if the record is on file.

Mail requests are also accepted. 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 Smith County Clerk. Mail the full packet to the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler. The clerk will return incomplete applications, so check all fields before mailing.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin also holds copies of all Smith County death records from 1903 forward. State orders go through the Texas online vital records system or by mail to Austin. State processing takes 20 to 25 business days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail orders. These times do not include shipping. Going through the Smith County Clerk in Tyler is faster for most people.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit in Austin sets the rules, fees, and access standards that Smith County and all other Texas county clerks follow when issuing certified death certificates.

State regulations govern every death certificate request in Smith County, including the 25-year confidentiality rule and the required identification process.

Fees and Who Can Access Smith County Death Records

Smith County uses 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 the DSHS state office in Austin, the fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 per additional copy. County and state certified copies are both legally valid.

Texas limits 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 named on the record. That includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative with documentation showing proper authority to act for 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. Anyone can then request a copy with valid photo ID.

All requesters must show government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows what forms of ID the clerk will accept. A Texas driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify as primary identification. If you only have secondary documents, two of them may be enough. Check the DSHS list before your visit or before mailing a request.

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

How to Get a Smith County Death Certificate

Three options are available. In person at the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler is the fastest. Bring your photo ID and the fee. Same-day service is typical when the record is on file. The clerk can search by name and approximate date of death.

Mail requests work well if you cannot go to Tyler in person. Download the VS-142 form from DSHS and complete all fields. Attach a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a money order or check made payable to the Smith County Clerk. Mail the complete packet to the courthouse in Tyler. Incomplete applications are returned, so review everything before you send it.

Online ordering through Texas.gov connects to the DSHS system in Austin. Orders are processed and mailed from there. Average processing times are 20 to 25 business days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail orders sent to DSHS. These estimates do not include shipping. For faster service, the Smith County Clerk in Tyler 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. If you are not sure which type of document you need, check with the agency requesting the record before placing your order.

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

Smith County residents and those with connections to the county can get certified death certificates directly from the local clerk in Tyler without ordering through Austin.

Genealogy and Historical Death Records in Smith County

Smith County death records go back to 1903. For genealogy research, free online databases help you identify records before requesting certified copies. 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 will need to contact the Smith County Clerk or DSHS for certified copies.

Smith County has substantial records given the size of Tyler as the regional hub of East Texas. The Northeast Texas Public Health District in Tyler also maintains local records. For older records, 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 the statewide index and what to do when a record is not found online. If the county clerk cannot locate a record, the DSHS state office in Austin is the next step.

Cities in Smith County

Smith County includes Tyler and surrounding communities. Death records for events throughout Smith County are processed through the Smith County Clerk in Tyler or through the Northeast Texas Public Health District.

Longview is in neighboring Gregg County. Death records for Longview events go through the Gregg County Clerk, not the Smith County Clerk. Other communities in Smith County include Whitehouse, Lindale, and Bullard. Death records for these areas go through the Smith County Clerk in Tyler.

Nearby Counties

Smith County is in East Texas. These counties border or are near Smith County. If a death record is not found in Smith County, contact the neighboring county clerk.

Henderson County • Van Zandt County • Upshur County • Gregg County • Rusk County • Cherokee County • Anderson County • Wood County