Texas Death Certificate Apostille Guide
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Apostilling a Texas death certificate means ordering an official certified copy from the state, then having Texas authenticate the issuing official's seal so it's accepted abroad. This guide walks you through doing it yourself, paying only the state apostille fee: Standard apostille/authentication: $15 per document; Adoption apostille: $10 per document, total fees capped at $100 per child.
- Apostille fee: $15 per document
- Certified copy: $20 first copy, $3 each additional same order; death verification: $20
- Processing Time: About 25 business days by mail; same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: Office of the Texas Secretary of State
- Note: Only works for Texas-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a Texas death certificate, order an official certified copy from Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS), then submit it to Office of the Texas Secretary of State with the $15 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de defunción de Texas, solicite una copia certificada oficial a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS) y luego envíela a Office of the Texas Secretary of State junto con la tarifa de apostille de $15. Tenga en cuenta el tiempo necesario para obtener tanto la copia certificada como el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of the Death Certificate issued by the state vital-records office. It does not verify or certify the facts of the death itself — it only confirms that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine, so a foreign government will accept the document.
Because of this, the copy you submit matters. A funeral-home or hospital-issued copy, a souvenir keepsake, or a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled.
You need the state's certified copy bearing the registrar's original seal and signature. Anything else will be returned to you unauthenticated, so confirm you have the right copy before you go any further.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Texas death certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Who Can Apply
Ordering a certified copy is generally limited to people with a direct connection to the deceased, and you'll need a valid government-issued photo ID. Eligibility usually covers
- The surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling, or the estate's legal representative or executor; a valid photo ID and proof of relationship or legal interest are typically required.
Document Requirements
Certified original
State-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolor seal — not an informational copy
Original signature
The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
Eligible requester
Usually the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or the estate's legal representative/executor; a valid photo ID and proof of relationship or legal interest are typically required
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
- •Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
- •Stamped (non-original) signatures
- •Damaged or altered certificates
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your death certificate and the apostille itself.
$20 first copy, $3 each additional same order; death verification: $20
Certified death certificate (Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS))
$15
Per document
Payment method: In-person appointment/walk-in: check, money order, credit/debit card (2.7% convenience fee), cash (exact change only)
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $20 first copy, $3 each additional same order; death verification: $20 — Certified death certificate (Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS)) |
| Apostille fee | $15 — per document |
| Payment | In-person appointment/walk-in: check, money order, credit/debit card (2.7% convenience fee), cash (exact change only) |
| Processing — by mail | Mailed Authentication Requests can take up to twenty-five (25) business days to process your request from the day of receipt. Current processing time may exceed this timeframe due to high demand. |
| Processing — in person | Appointment-based same-day service on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (max 10 docs per person/company/transaction) |
| Same-day / expedited | Same-day in-person service via appointment days and walk-in days |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified death certificate
Start by requesting the certified copy from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS).
- Online (Texas.gov)
- In-person (Austin office; limited to office hours)
- Local offices (for applicable records)
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the certified copy, assemble your apostille packet: the certified copy, the completed request form, your payment, and a return envelope. The required form is the state's authentication request form (Required form(s): https://www.
Authentications Unit
P.O. Box 13550
Austin
Texas 78711-3550 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled death certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
Authentications Unit
P.O. Box 13550
Austin
Texas 78711-3550
Phone
(512) 463-5705
Hours
Walk-in hours (division): 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
Stamped (non-original) signatures
Damaged or altered certificates
Official Resources
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Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- sos.texas.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- dshs.texas.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- sos.state.tx.us· checked 2026-06-06
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS)
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your Texas death certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $15 apostille fee and Office of the Texas Secretary of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified death certificate (Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS)) and the apostille submission addresses.
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