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Texas Vital Statistics

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Texas Vital Statistics Frequently Asked Question for the Month of December

If the decedent is a veteran of the armed forces, how does a funeral home receive a free death certificate for the family?

First, lets look at the particular statute in which this question refers to. According to Health and Safety Code §191.0046 (b) The state registrar shall issue without fee a certified copy of a record not otherwise prohibited by law to a veteran or to the veteran's widow, orphan, or other dependent if the copy is for use in settling a claim against the government.

When a decedent is a veteran of the armed forces, the surviving dependent or dependents do not automatically get a free certified copy of a death record. The death certificate has a specific purpose and that purpose is to settle a claim against the government

Texas Vital Statistics does issue a free certified copy for the statue listed above, however, all request for death certificates without charge must be requested by an authorized agent of the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC)* or a Veterans County Service Officer*. The TVC will make the determination on whether a certified copy is needed to settle a claim against the government. If one is needed, the TVC will process the paperwork that then is forwarded to Texas Vital Statistics for a free certified copy of the record that is being requested.

In order for a local registrar's office to issue a certified copy without fee a TVC-14 form completed by a representative or agent from the Texas Veterans Commission or by a Veterans County Service Officer should be presented to the local registrar. The TVC-14 will be completed by the TVC authorized agent and contain information on were this document should be mailed to.

It's The Law!

Texas Health and Safety Code §193.002(4) and §193.005(h) mandates that Funeral Services providers and Medical Certifiers complete death certificates electronically. All funeral services providers and medical certifiers must be using TEDR for the filing of death certificates.

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Vital Statistics On-Line Training Course for Texas Electronic Registrar

Vital Statistics Today Fall 2009 (2.4 M .PDF)

The Fall edition of Vital Statistics Today is available for download in PDF format and will be mailed out within the next couple of weeks. This edition includes information on new statutes passed in this years legislative session, a 2009 Regional Vital Statistics Conference wrap-up, and the registration information for the 55^th Annual Vital Statistics Conference coming up in December.

Click here for information on viewing files.

^{*External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to persons with disabilities.}

Last Updated Thursday, December 31, 2009 8:41 AM