Find Temple Death Records
Temple obituary and death records are filed with the Bell County Clerk in Belton, Texas. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or want to trace a family member who died in the Temple 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.
Temple Overview
Where to Find Temple Obituary Records
Temple is in Bell County, so the Bell County Clerk's office in Belton handles death certificate requests for the city. There is no separate Temple vital records office. The Bell County Clerk accepts in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates. Killeen, Harker Heights, and other Bell County cities also use the same clerk's office in Belton. Staff can assist with locating records and explaining what documentation you need to provide with your application.
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 can provide access to older records at no cost.
| Office | Bell County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 480, Belton, TX 76513 |
| Phone | (254) 933-5160 |
| County Page | Bell County Death Records |
Note: Temple death records are filed with Bell County. The county clerk's office is in Belton, about 10 miles from Temple.
Searching Temple Death Records Online
The Texas DSHS online portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov handles certified death certificate orders for Temple and all of Texas. You need the full name of the deceased and the approximate year of death to place an order. Payment is by credit card, and records on file are processed and mailed within a few business days. This is a convenient option if you're unable to visit the Belton courthouse in person.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org has free indexed Texas death records going back to 1903. The Texas death index covers Bell County and includes Temple deaths from the early statewide registration period. Many entries include images of the original certificates, which can show cause of death, birthplace, and other details beyond what a basic name index provides. FamilySearch is a useful starting point for genealogy research on Temple families.
Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Temple Daily Telegram. Search by name to find recent obituary postings with service dates, surviving family, and funeral home contact information.
How to Request Temple Death Certificates
Mail requests to: Bell County Clerk, P.O. Box 480, Belton, TX 76513. 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 through the Texas DSHS portal or visit the Belton 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 records for all Texas counties. If you're requesting for an estate, order multiple certified copies at once since additional copies at the time of order cost only $4 each versus reordering later.
Historical Temple Obituaries
Temple was founded in 1881 as a railroad town along the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway. The city grew as a rail hub and later became known for its medical facilities, particularly the Scott & White hospital system. Bell County death records from the statewide registration period (1903 onward) are held at the Bell County Clerk's office in Belton. FamilySearch has digitized portions of the Texas death index for Bell County covering the Temple area.
The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds historical records for Temple and the Bell County area. For deaths before 1903, cemetery records and church registers are the main genealogical sources. The Bell County Museum in Belton also holds records and local history materials that can supplement official death certificate research.
The Bell County Clerk's office in Belton handles all death certificate requests for Temple, Killeen, and other Bell County cities.
The Bell County Clerk in Belton maintains death certificates and vital records for this Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Temple Obituary Resources
Contact the Bell County Clerk at (254) 933-5160 for death certificate requests and questions about the application process. Order certified copies online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. For free historical research, use FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from the Temple area appear on Legacy.com, where you can search by name and date. For full county contact details, office hours, and additional guidance, see the Bell County death records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have death records available through their county clerk offices.