Tom Green County Death Index

Tom Green County death records are filed with the County Clerk in San Angelo and include deaths registered in the county going back to 1903. This page covers how to search the Tom Green County death index, request certified death certificates from the county or state, understand the Texas access rules, and find free historical tools for genealogy research in Tom Green County.

Tom Green County Clerk and Death Records

The Tom Green County Clerk in San Angelo handles vital records for the county, including certified death certificates. San Angelo is the county seat and the main population center in this West Texas county. The clerk maintains the Tom Green County death index and can issue certified copies of death records going back to 1903. The Tom Green County vital statistics page provides current contact information and service details.

You can request death records in person, by mail, or through the state's online system. In-person visits to the clerk's office in San Angelo are the fastest route. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and the fee. Staff can search the index and issue certified copies while you wait. Mail requests take longer and require a completed request form, a copy of your ID, and the appropriate fee sent to the clerk's office in San Angelo.

The standard fee for a certified death certificate from the Tom Green County Clerk is $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. All copies issued by the county are certified and legally valid. Government-issued photo ID is required for every request. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID card.

Note: Tom Green County serves a large geographic area of West Texas. If a death occurred in a community just outside San Angelo, confirm the county boundaries before submitting a request, as some surrounding areas belong to neighboring counties.

The Tom Green County vital statistics page outlines services available from the County Clerk in San Angelo for requesting certified death certificates and other vital records.

The Tom Green County Clerk serves as the local vital records office for deaths in the county, with records going back to 1903.

How to Get Tom Green County Death Certificates

In-person requests are handled at the Tom Green County Clerk's office in San Angelo. Bring your photo ID and the fee. Staff will search the death index and issue certified copies. This is the fastest method and usually allows same-day service.

For mail requests, fill out the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS or write a request letter with the decedent's name, date of death, and your relationship to the deceased. Include a photocopy of your photo ID and a check or money order payable to the Tom Green County Clerk. Mail to the clerk's office in San Angelo and allow several business days for processing after arrival.

State ordering is available online at txapps.texas.gov. The state fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy. State orders take 20 to 30 business days to process and are mailed from Austin. The Texas.gov vital records portal explains all ordering methods available statewide. For most people in Tom Green County, using the county clerk or the state online system will cover all needs.

Access Rules for Tom Green County Death Records

Texas law restricts 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 of the deceased. That includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal representatives with documentation can also request records on behalf of the family.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record is public. Anyone can request a copy at that point. All requesters must still show valid photo ID. The rule comes from Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Making a false statement to obtain a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195, with penalties of 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

If a search is done and no record is found, a search fee equal to the certificate fee is still charged. This is required by state law and is not refundable. Verification letters are available as a lower-cost alternative. A verification confirms whether a death is on file and includes the decedent's name, death date, and county. It is not a certified copy and cannot serve as a legal substitute for one.

Historical Death Records in Tom Green County

Tom Green County has a long record history. Multiple counties were carved out of the original Tom Green County territory over the years. For genealogy research, the statewide Texas death index includes all Tom Green County deaths from 1903 onward. Free search tools include the FamilySearch Texas Death Index, which covers 1903 to 2000 at no cost, and Ancestry's Texas Death Index, which covers the same range with over 7 million entries. Both give the decedent's name, county of death, date, and certificate number.

The Texas State Library holds microfilmed death indexes from 1903 to 1973. These are available for in-person research in Austin and help fill in gaps for records not found online. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide explains how the state's death record system is organized for researchers who are starting out. Once you find a record in the index, the certificate number helps you request a certified copy more efficiently.

Cities in Tom Green County

Tom Green County's main city is San Angelo. Death records for events throughout the county are handled by the Tom Green County Clerk in San Angelo.

Other communities in Tom Green County include Grape Creek, Wall, and Veribest. Death records for these areas are also filed with the Tom Green County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tom Green County. Many neighboring counties were formed from the original Tom Green County territory, so ancestral records may span multiple county lines.

Concho County • Menard County • Irion County • Crockett County • Sterling County • Glasscock County • Midland County