Search Taylor County Death Index

Taylor County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Abilene and cover events going back to 1903. This page covers how to search the Taylor County death index, request certified death certificates, understand the access rules that apply, and use free online tools for genealogy research tied to Taylor County deaths.

Taylor County Clerk and Death Records

The Taylor County Clerk's office in Abilene is the place to go for certified death certificates covering events in Taylor County. The clerk provides vital records services for the Abilene area and surrounding communities within the county. You can visit in person, submit requests by mail, or check the Taylor County website for current contact details and any online ordering options the office may offer.

Taylor County is a mid-sized West Texas county. Abilene is the county seat and the main population center, so most death records filed in the county will be for events that happened in or near Abilene. The clerk's office maintains the local death index and can issue certified copies of records going back to 1903. For very old records, staff can search the manual index and pull original certificates from the archive.

The clerk follows the standard Texas fee structure for death certificates. The first certified copy costs $21.00, and each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $4.00. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID to any in-person visit. The same ID requirement applies to mail requests, where you include a copy of your ID with the application form.

Note: If you are unsure of the exact county where a death occurred, you can also contact the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office at (888) 963-7111 to verify the county of record before submitting a request.

The Taylor County website provides access to county services, including vital records through the County Clerk's office in Abilene, which handles death certificate requests for the county.

The Taylor County Clerk's office serves as the local vital records office for deaths that occurred within Taylor County going back to 1903.

How to Get Taylor County Death Certificates

In-person requests are the fastest way to get a certified death certificate from Taylor County. Go to the Taylor County Clerk's office in Abilene during regular business hours. Bring your photo ID and the required fee. Staff can search the index and issue certified copies while you wait in most cases. The decedent's full name and approximate date or year of death will help speed the search.

If you cannot visit in person, mail requests are accepted. Fill out the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Include a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a check or money order made payable to the Taylor County Clerk. Mail your request to the Taylor County Clerk's office in Abilene. Processing times vary but generally take a few business days after the office receives a complete request.

You can also order through the state DSHS system online at txapps.texas.gov. State-ordered copies are mailed from Austin and cost $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The state route is convenient if you are not nearby, though processing takes 20 to 30 business days on average.

Who Can Request Taylor County Death Records

Texas law restricts access to death records that are less than 25 years old. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that period. A qualified applicant is an immediate family member: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal representatives with proper documentation can also request records on behalf of the family. The same rules apply at Taylor County just as they do at every Texas county clerk office.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record is public. Anyone can request a copy of a public death record without showing a family relationship. You still need to present valid photo ID to complete the transaction. This rule is found in Texas Government Code Section 552.115. The 25-year window applies from the date of death as listed on the record, not from the filing date.

If a record cannot be found, you will still be charged a search fee equal to the certificate fee. Texas law requires this. The fee is not refundable. If you are uncertain whether a record exists in Taylor County, you can request a verification letter instead. A verification letter confirms whether a death is on file and gives the decedent's name, date of death, and county. It is not a certified copy and cannot be used as a legal substitute for the certificate.

Falsifying any part of a vital records application is a felony under Texas law with penalties of 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Taylor County Historical Death Records

Taylor County death records extend back to 1903, giving researchers over a century of data to work with. West Texas counties like Taylor have records that are less well-known than the larger metro counties, but they are just as complete in terms of state registration. The statewide Texas death index includes Taylor County deaths, so you can search for ancestors using online tools before requesting physical copies from the clerk.

Free search tools include the FamilySearch Texas Death Index, which covers 1903 to 2000 and is free to use. Ancestry's Texas Death Index also covers this range with over 7 million entries. Both databases show the decedent's name, death county, date, and certificate number. You can use these index results to request a certified copy from the Taylor County Clerk. The Texas State Library and Archives holds additional historical indexes from 1903 to 1973 that are searchable in person in Austin.

Cities in Taylor County

Taylor County's main population center is Abilene. Death records for events throughout the county are handled by the Taylor County Clerk in Abilene.

Smaller communities in Taylor County include Tye, Merkel, and Tuscola. Death records from these areas are also filed with the Taylor County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Taylor County. If you are not sure which county holds the death record you need, check the location where the death occurred.

Jones County • Callahan County • Coleman County • Nolan County • Fisher County