In a message dated 7/12/1999 1:39:46 PM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << Does anyone know if a death certificate from 1917 would be available from the county court house? Or, where should I go to obtain a copy? >> Pam, Are you familiar with the "Texas Death Index"? It was available till recently till just 1973, but now it current through the 90's. You can look up in that index and find the person you are looking for, 1917 would be in the Death Index for 1903-1940 and it is alphabetized. It will give you the certificate number and then you can write to Austin, giving them the certificate number on the index, the county and person's name, and get a copy of the certificate for $9.00. Send it to: Bureau of Vital Statistics Texas Department of Health P.O. Box 12040 Street Austin, TX, 78711-2040 To verify current fees:Tel: (512) 458-7111 Check or Money Order: Texas Department of Health One word of warning, if it is not the right person you want, you will still get the certificate and not your money back. Another thing, they have a form that they use when you go to Austin to obtain a copy of the certificate, but I find it best just to write a letter asking for the certificate of "my ancestor", if you are not a close relative sometimes they will refuse the request, (I think it's up to the person filling your order) but the ones I have requested as "my ancestor" have all been honored. Another thing, if it's not in the index it does not mean that there was not a certificate issued, it just may have not been registered with the state, then I would check the county, it may have never left their records. Good luck, Yolanda Pepper Miller