Search McKinney Death Records
McKinney obituary and death records are maintained by the Collin County Clerk in McKinney, Texas. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or want to trace a family member who died in the McKinney area, this page covers where to go, what to bring, how to request records by mail or online, and how to find historical obituaries going back to 1903.
McKinney Overview
Where to Find McKinney Obituary Records
McKinney is the Collin County seat, so the county clerk's office is located in the city. All death records for events in McKinney are filed with Collin County. There is no separate city vital records office in McKinney. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates. Plano, Allen, and Frisco are other large Collin County cities that also use this same clerk's office. Staff at the office can walk you through the application process and help you identify which form to use.
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, death records less than 25 years old are restricted to qualified applicants. Records 25 years or older are open to the public. Qualified applicants include the spouse, child, parent, or sibling of the deceased, legal representatives acting on behalf of the estate, and individuals with a direct and tangible interest in the record. If you don't qualify for a restricted record, genealogical databases like FamilySearch offer free access to older records.
| Office | Collin County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 2300 Bloomdale Rd, Suite 2104, McKinney, TX 75071 |
| Phone | (972) 548-4185 |
| County Page | Collin County Death Records |
Note: McKinney is the Collin County seat. The county clerk is in McKinney and handles death records for Plano, Allen, Frisco, and all other Collin County cities.
Searching McKinney Death Records Online
The Texas DSHS online portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov handles certified death certificate orders for McKinney and all of Texas. You need the full name of the deceased and the approximate year of death. Payment is by credit card, and orders are mailed within a few business days. This is a convenient option if you can't visit the courthouse in person.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org has free indexed Texas death records. The Texas death index covers Collin County records and includes McKinney deaths from the statewide registration period starting in 1903. Many entries include images of the original certificates, which can show cause of death, birthplace, and other details not visible in a basic index. FamilySearch is useful for genealogy research on older records.
Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the McKinney Courier-Gazette and Dallas-area papers. Search by name to find recent obituary postings with service dates, surviving family, and funeral home contact information.
How to Request McKinney Death Certificates
Mail requests to: Collin County Clerk, 2300 Bloomdale Rd, Suite 2104, McKinney, TX 75071. Include a completed application form, a copy of your government-issued photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 (first copy). Additional copies of the same record are $4 each. You can also order online at the Texas DSHS portal or visit the McKinney courthouse in person.
State-level requests go through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section at dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are posted at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx. State processing takes longer than a direct county request but covers all Texas counties. For estate purposes, order multiple certified copies at once since additional copies cost only $4 each at time of order.
Historical McKinney Obituaries
McKinney was established in 1848 and has served as the Collin County seat since that year. The city's historic downtown square is one of the best-preserved in North Texas. Death records from the statewide registration period (1903 onward) are held at the Collin County Clerk's office. Earlier records are in county archives and state library microfilm. FamilySearch has digitized portions of the Texas death index for Collin County covering the McKinney area.
The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds historical records for McKinney and the Collin County area. For deaths before 1903, cemetery records and church registers in the area are the main sources. The Collin County Historical Commission and the McKinney Public Library also hold local genealogical collections, including old newspaper files and family history materials that can supplement the official death record index.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Collin County and McKinney from 1903 to the present.
The Collin County Clerk in McKinney maintains death certificates and vital records for this North Texas county from 1903 forward.
McKinney Obituary Resources
Contact the Collin County Clerk at (972) 548-4185 for death certificate requests and records questions. Order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, or search historical records at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from the McKinney area appear on Legacy.com, where you can search by name and date range. For full county contact details, hours, and additional guidance, see the Collin County death records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have death records available through their county clerk offices.