Death-certificate fee in Texas: $20 per certified copy
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics sets the fee and process below. Confirm current details on the office page before you order.
deathcertcost.us provides informational summaries of state vital-records office fees and processes. Fees and timelines change; verify with your state's vital-records office before relying. Not affiliated with any state agency or VitalChek.
Fee per certified copy
$20
The Texas vital-records office charges $20 for the first certified copy, and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Standard processing time
Varies
The office does not publish a standard timeline. It usually depends on how you order — in person is typically fastest, mail is slowest. Confirm current timing with the office.
An expedite fee of about $25 may be available — ask the office.
Copies typically needed
Each institution that handles the estate usually wants its own certified copy. The most common are:
- Bank & financial accounts
- Life-insurance death-benefit claim
- Probate court estate filing
- Pension, retirement & brokerage accounts
How to order
State DSHS: $20 first certified copy / $3 each additional same-order copy. $25 expedite (overnight) processing fee plus shipping. County/local clerks often charge $21 first / $4 additional. Verified by direct fetch of DSHS fees page.
Visit Texas Vital RecordsThis links to the official Texas office — not an aggregator or paid service.
Professional review in progress. How we check these figures is described on our methodology page.