How To Obtain A Harris County Death Certificate

death certificate harris county

Where Can I Get A Death Certificate In Harris County?


In this article, I will explain to get a death certificate in Harris County. 

If the deceased passed away in Harris County (not Houston city limits) then this article will explain the process of obtaining a death record. 

Obtaining A Death Certificate In Harris County

To get a death record in Harris County you will need to contact a Harris County Clerk’s office. The main number for Harris County Clerk’s is at (713) 274-8686. Their Vital Statistics office is the place where you can start the process of obtaining a death certificate.

There are 11 Harris County death certificate offices in the area.  You can find a list of those offices on the map below. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm. 

Editor’s Note: Harris County Clerk’s Vital Records offices also issues birth certificates if the deceased passed away in Harris County (outside Houston city limits). 

What Death Certificates Does Harris County Clerk’s Office Have?

If the deceased passed away in Harris County (outside Houston city limits) there is a good chance the Harris County Clerk has that death record. That being said if the individual passed away in the following Harris County cities, you cannot obtain a death record from the Harris Couty Clerks office.  Those cities are: 

  • Houston
  • Baytown
  • La Porte
  • South Houston
  • Jacinto City 
  • Justice of Peace Precincts 3 & 4

Again if the deceased passed away in one of the cities/areas above you will need to contact their health department to obtain the death certificate. 

How Much Does A Death Certificate Cost In Harris County?

The cost is $21 for a death certificate in Harris County.  If you need an extra copy the cost is $4 for each additional certificate.

Harris County birth certificates and birth facts both cost $23.

Who Can Order A Death Certificate In Harris County? 

Close family members, legal guardians, and attorneys can order death certificates for the deceased. 

Below is a list of individuals who can request a death certificate as well as the documents needed to prove their relationship to the deceased.  Regardless of the relationship, you will need to show a document from the Primary Acceptable ID list. You can find that in the next section.

  • Parent – Primary Acceptable ID and present a birth certificate of the deceased child with your name as the parent.
  • Grandparent – Primary Acceptable ID and prove the relationship to the deceased. This can be a birth certificate of the mother or father of the deceased grandchild. That birth certificate should list your name.
  • Spouse – Primary Acceptable ID and a marriage certificate with the deceased’s name.
  • Son or Daughter –  Primary Acceptable ID and prove the relationship to the deceased. This can be your birth certificate with the deceased’s name as your parent.
  • Brother or Sister – Primary Acceptable ID and my prove the relationship to the deceased. This can be your birth certificate indicating you have the same parent as the deceased.
  • Legal Guardian – Primary Acceptable ID and prove the relationship to the deceased. This can be a Certified court order showing you have legal custody. 
  • Attorney – Primary Acceptable ID and my prove the relationship to the deceased. This can be a Certified copy of a court-issued document that establishes legal interest. Also, provide your Bar card.

If you have questions about the documents needed to obtain a death certificate of a family member contact the Harris County Clerk’s office at (713) 274-8686

Download A Harris County Death Certificate Application

You can download your death certificate here.

When completing the application be sure to follow all the instructions listed, complete each part of the application, include your demographic information, and select the type of certificate that you need.

Harris County Birth Certificate Harris County Death Certificate

How To Order A Death Certificate In Harris County

To order a Harris County death certificate you will need to visit one of the Harris County Clerk’s offices in the area. You can also call them at (713) 274-8686 to learn about the process. 

How To Obtain A Death Certificate For Houston

If the deceased passed away in Houston city limits, then you will need to contact the Houston Health Department.  We have a community resources guide that explains the process of obtaining a death certificate in Houston that you can access here

How To Order A Texas Death Certificate 

If someone passed away outside of Harris County, but in Texas, the following information can help you obtain a death record.

Visit Texas.gov to obtain a Texas death certificate. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission manages this website and will help you start the process of obtaining a death or Texas birth certificate.

How Long Do Harris County Death Certificates Take To Arrive? 

The timeframe is typically 25-30 days to receive a Harris County death certificate according to Texas Health and Human Services.

Conclusion

To obtain a death certificate you will need to contact the city or county that the deceased passed away in. For the purpose of this article, if someone passed away in Harris County (outside Houston city limits) you will need to contact the Harris County Clerk. 

If you have questions about obtaining a death certificate in Harris County, then you can contact the Harris County Clerk at (713) 274-8686, visit one of the 11 Harris County death certificate offices, or visit the Vital Statistics website.

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