I got a lot of great feedback on the original post and will continue to do some digging and get a broader scope for records in the near future.
Thanks to everyone who had great input (even the naysayers saying its fake). It's 100% imperative we question everything, so thanks for the responses.
Figure out who the local registrar is for Uvalde and make the request from them. The statute appears to require that the certificate be filed with the local registrar within 10 days. That doesn’t necessarily mean the state office of vital statistics has received it yet. And who knows how long that takes.
Sec. 193.002. PERSON REQUIRED TO FILE. The person in charge of interment or in charge of removal of a body from a registration district for disposition shall:
(1) obtain and file the death certificate or fetal death certificate;
(2) enter on the certificate the information relating to disposition of the body;
(3) sign the certificate; and
(4) **** file the certificate electronically as specified by the state registrar.****
Sec. 193.003. TIME AND PLACE FOR FILING DEATH CERTIFICATE. (a) Not later than the 10th day after the date of a death that occurs in this state, a death certificate shall be filed with the local registrar of the registration district in which:
(1) the death occurs; or
(2) the body is found, if the place of death is not known.
(b) Subject to department rules, a certificate of a fetal death that occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar of the registration district in which:
(1) the fetal death occurs; or
(2) the body is found, if the place of fetal death is not known.
That's not how it works. Medical officials (I.E. physicians at hospitals/medical examiners) report the deaths on a database. They have 10 calendar days from the date of death to comply.
There's no "government office" here. It's just a database query.
(d) If a death or fetal death occurs without medical attendance or is otherwise subject to Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, the person required to file the death or fetal death certificate shall notify the appropriate authority of the death.
(e) A person conducting an inquest required by Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, shall:
(1) complete the medical certification not later than five days after receiving the death or fetal death certificate; and
(2) state on the medical certification the disease that caused the death or, if the death was from external causes, the means of death and whether the death was probably accidental, suicidal, or homicidal, and any other information required by the state registrar to properly classify the death.
(f) If the identity of the decedent is unknown, the person conducting the inquest shall obtain and forward to the Department of Public Safety:
(1) the decedent's fingerprints;
(2) information concerning the decedent's hair color, eye color, height, weight, deformities, and tattoo marks; and
(3) other facts required for assistance in identifying the decedent.
(g) If the medical certification cannot be completed in a timely manner, the person required to complete the medical certification shall give the funeral director or the person acting as funeral director notice of the reason for the delay. Final disposition of the body may not be made unless specifically authorized by the person responsible for completing the medical certification.
(h) The person completing the medical certification shall submit the information and attest to its validity using an electronic process approved by the state registrar.
(i) On receipt of autopsy results or other information that would change the information in the medical certification on the death certificate, the appropriate certifier shall immediately report the change in a manner prescribed by the department to amend the death certificate.
(j) The death certificate of a decedent who was an inmate of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the time of death and who was lawfully executed shall classify the manner of death as death caused by judicially ordered execution.
Art. 49.16. ORDERS AND DEATH CERTIFICATES. The justice of the peace or other person who conducts an inquest under this subchapter shall sign the death certificate and all orders made as a necessary part of the inquest.
So with this being criminal, it’s possible there’s a lengthy delay. That’s my guess. Would wait another 30-45 days before trying again.
“ 1) complete the medical certification not later than five days after receiving the death or fetal death certificate”
The death certificate comes first. Which is required to be reported within ten days of the date of death. File the same thing I did and try and see what they say.
It seems that Texas does not consider death certificates public until they are over 25 years old. This information is restricted to “qualified applicants” only.
This relates to getting a copy of the certificate. I have no idea if they’d simply claim “someone by this name died on this date in this location” or if they would not. Although your return letter seems to indicate they found nothing; I’d assume they would send a letter telling you its restricted. But no experience trying it. I’m not a Texas resident so it automatically precludes me from trying.
Front and Envelope Here
I got a lot of great feedback on the original post and will continue to do some digging and get a broader scope for records in the near future. Thanks to everyone who had great input (even the naysayers saying its fake). It's 100% imperative we question everything, so thanks for the responses.
Figure out who the local registrar is for Uvalde and make the request from them. The statute appears to require that the certificate be filed with the local registrar within 10 days. That doesn’t necessarily mean the state office of vital statistics has received it yet. And who knows how long that takes.
Sec. 193.002. PERSON REQUIRED TO FILE. The person in charge of interment or in charge of removal of a body from a registration district for disposition shall:
(1) obtain and file the death certificate or fetal death certificate;
(2) enter on the certificate the information relating to disposition of the body;
(3) sign the certificate; and
(4) **** file the certificate electronically as specified by the state registrar.****
Sec. 193.003. TIME AND PLACE FOR FILING DEATH CERTIFICATE. (a) Not later than the 10th day after the date of a death that occurs in this state, a death certificate shall be filed with the local registrar of the registration district in which:
(1) the death occurs; or
(2) the body is found, if the place of death is not known.
(b) Subject to department rules, a certificate of a fetal death that occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar of the registration district in which:
(1) the fetal death occurs; or
(2) the body is found, if the place of fetal death is not known.
Not likely at all. They're all reported electronically the same way. Here's the database: https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/resources-electronic-death-certificate
This guy thinks government offices work quickly. I mean, I'm not doubting the premise, but this is not proof.
That's not how it works. Medical officials (I.E. physicians at hospitals/medical examiners) report the deaths on a database. They have 10 calendar days from the date of death to comply.
There's no "government office" here. It's just a database query.
Very fish indeed
(d) If a death or fetal death occurs without medical attendance or is otherwise subject to Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, the person required to file the death or fetal death certificate shall notify the appropriate authority of the death. (e) A person conducting an inquest required by Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, shall: (1) complete the medical certification not later than five days after receiving the death or fetal death certificate; and (2) state on the medical certification the disease that caused the death or, if the death was from external causes, the means of death and whether the death was probably accidental, suicidal, or homicidal, and any other information required by the state registrar to properly classify the death. (f) If the identity of the decedent is unknown, the person conducting the inquest shall obtain and forward to the Department of Public Safety: (1) the decedent's fingerprints; (2) information concerning the decedent's hair color, eye color, height, weight, deformities, and tattoo marks; and (3) other facts required for assistance in identifying the decedent. (g) If the medical certification cannot be completed in a timely manner, the person required to complete the medical certification shall give the funeral director or the person acting as funeral director notice of the reason for the delay. Final disposition of the body may not be made unless specifically authorized by the person responsible for completing the medical certification. (h) The person completing the medical certification shall submit the information and attest to its validity using an electronic process approved by the state registrar. (i) On receipt of autopsy results or other information that would change the information in the medical certification on the death certificate, the appropriate certifier shall immediately report the change in a manner prescribed by the department to amend the death certificate. (j) The death certificate of a decedent who was an inmate of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the time of death and who was lawfully executed shall classify the manner of death as death caused by judicially ordered execution.
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.49.htm#49
Art. 49.16. ORDERS AND DEATH CERTIFICATES. The justice of the peace or other person who conducts an inquest under this subchapter shall sign the death certificate and all orders made as a necessary part of the inquest.
So with this being criminal, it’s possible there’s a lengthy delay. That’s my guess. Would wait another 30-45 days before trying again.
“ 1) complete the medical certification not later than five days after receiving the death or fetal death certificate”
The death certificate comes first. Which is required to be reported within ten days of the date of death. File the same thing I did and try and see what they say.
It seems that Texas does not consider death certificates public until they are over 25 years old. This information is restricted to “qualified applicants” only.
This relates to getting a copy of the certificate. I have no idea if they’d simply claim “someone by this name died on this date in this location” or if they would not. Although your return letter seems to indicate they found nothing; I’d assume they would send a letter telling you its restricted. But no experience trying it. I’m not a Texas resident so it automatically precludes me from trying.
That’s why I filed for a record of death, which isn’t the same as a death certificate for legal reasons.