The Disinterment Permit issued by VSU serves as the authority to disinter, transport, and reinter a body within this state. If the body is to be removed from the state, transported by common carrier within the state, or cremated, a Burial-Transit Permit must also be obtained. [HSC §694.001, §711.004, 25 TAC §181.6]

A Disinterment Permit shall not be required if a body is to be disinterred and reinterred in the same cemetery.

The Application for a Disinterment Permit (VS-271) (doc 39k), must be signed by the funeral director or embalmer licensed by the Texas Funeral Commission making application for the permit. The Disinterment Consent Form (VS-271.1) (doc 24k) must also be completed with signatures of consent from the cemetery, the owner of the plot, and the deceased's next-of-kin. The sole responsibility for obtaining the consent rests with the funeral director or embalmer making application for a Disinterment Permit. The application, consent forms, and $25.00 required fee must then be sent to VSU.

The State Registrar issues the Disinterment Permit in four parts. The funeral director to whom the permit is issued shall retain a copy, a copy is to be filed by the sexton of the cemetery in which the reinterment is to be made, a copy shall be filed by the local registrar with the local registrar's copy of the Certificate of Death, and a copy will be filed by the State Registrar with the original Certificate of Death.

A Disinterment Permit is good for one (1) year from the date of issuance.

The Application for Disinterment Permit: Form VS-271 (doc 39K).
The Disinterment Consent Form: Form VS-271.1 (doc 24K).

Please see the Handbook on Death Registration for instruction on completing the application and consent form.

Click here for information on viewing files.

Send the completed application, along with the required documentation (listed in the form) and the correct fee amount, to Texas Vital Statistics, via one of the two methods in the table below. Add 10-12 weeks to the processing time if the birth or death has occurred less than 6 months ago. Please make checks or money orders payable to DSHS.

Application methods	Instructions	Cost	Payment methods accepted	Processing time for most requests
Expedited service Overnight mail service such as UPS, FedEx, or USPS express mail Do NOT use USPS priority or certified mail*	Send by overnight mail to: Texas Vital Statistics Department of State Health Services 1100 W. 49th Street Austin, TX 78756 Returned by UPS or USPS express mail.	$25 for the Disinterment Permit + $5 expedited processing fee + delivery cost of $8 for UPS overnight or $14.40 express mail**	Check Money order	7-10 business days Please note: this estimate applies only to complete and acceptable applications. Incomplete or unacceptable applications will require additional processing time.
U.S. Postal Service regular mail	Mail request to: Texas Vital Statistics Department of State Health Services P.O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711	$25 for the Disinterment Permit	Check Money order	6-8 weeks

* Please do not send expedited requests via U.S. Postal Service priority or certified mail because such mail can take up to three weeks to be delivered to our office through our routing system.

**The cost of UPS overnight to most U.S. locations is $8.00. Please contact UPS for the shipping cost if the certificates need to be mailed outside the continental U.S. The cost of express mail delivery to a post office box, military address, Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. territories or U.S. commonwealths is $14.40. These delivery methods offer security and tracking capabilities that are not available with regular mail.

External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.

Last Updated July 12, 2007