Applicants who are not immediate family members must provide legal documentation that documents a direct, tangible interest in the death certificate.
Immediate family member: An immediate family member is the decedent's child, spouse, parent, sibling, or grandparent.
ID: The applicant must include a photocopy of his or her valid photo ID issued by a governmental entity.
Notary: Only applications for death certificates (not death verifications) submitted by mail need to be notarized.
Verification letters: Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for certified copies of death certificates.
Checks: Make checks or money orders payable to DSHS - Vital Statistics.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | VS-142 |
| Form Length | 2 pages |
| Fillable? | Yes |
| Fillable fields | 71 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 12 min |
| Edition | 1/26 |
| Where to send | DSHS - VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040 |
| Matches the agency's file | Yes, checked October 9, 2026 |
| Other names | VS-142, VS142, VS 142, Form VS-142, Texas VS-142, Texas death certificate application, Mail Application for Death Record |
| Official source | VS-142 (Rev 1/26), |
Texas Form Vs 142 3 isn’t the one you’re looking for?