Advance Directive Form

Texas’s Advance Directive form authorizes a healthcare proxy and provides detailed instructions regarding an individual’s health treatment. It must be signed by the individual, proxy, and two witnesses.

How to Order a Death Certificate

Only the deceased’s immediate family members of legal age and their legal representatives can obtain a death certificate in Texas. The following information is required for the application:

• Deceased’s name, sex
• Date and place of death
• Names of the deceased’s parents and mother’s maiden name
• Applicant’s name, phone number, address
• Applicant’s relation to the deceased and notarized proof

The certificate along with one certified copy costs $20. An additional copy requested at the same time is priced at $2. A $5 fee is applied to expedited services, $8 for returns by UPS, and $17.50 for returns by express mail. Cash is only accepted when the application is handed in person.

The application can be delivered or mailed at:

Texas Vital Statistics Office

1100 West 49th Street

Austin, TX 78756

Digital Estate Planning Laws

SB 1193 Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act authorizes an individual’s legal representative who can access and control their digital assets and communications. This bill came into effect on September 1, 2017.

Death With Dignity or Aid-in-Dying or Physician-Assisted Death

Texas currently has no legislation regarding assisted death. Updates on this matter can be found here.

Organ Donation Registry

The Texas organ donation registry can be found here.

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Texas utilizes the standard national POLST form that should be completed only after a conversation with a patient or their representative. It’s necessary for patients who are at risk of a life-threatening clinical event due to a life-limiting medical condition.

Probate Laws

Information on Texas legislation on a decedent’s will regarding their estate and other assets can be found in Texas Probate Estates Code.

Estate and Inheritance Tax

Texas has no estate or inheritance tax.