El Paso Death Records Lookup
El Paso obituary and death records are maintained by the El Paso County Clerk, which handles certified copies of death certificates for all of El Paso County, including El Paso city limits. Death records are available from 1903 to the present. The El Paso County Clerk's office also offers death record searches by name through their search guide and partners with VitalChek for online ordering. This page explains where to find El Paso death records, what the request process involves, and what historical and online resources are available.
El Paso Overview
Where to Find El Paso Obituary Records
El Paso death records are handled by the El Paso County Clerk at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105. Their phone number is (915) 546-2071. The clerk's office issues certified copies of death certificates for events that occurred anywhere in El Paso County, including the city of El Paso, from 1903 to the present. The El Paso County Public Health office at elpasocountyhealth.org also assists with birth and death record access and can direct you to the right office for the record you need.
El Paso County provides a Death Records Search Guide at epcounty.com that explains how to search their system by first and last name, with an optional date range to narrow results. This is a useful tool before you formally request a certified copy. The search guide is publicly accessible and covers the name-based search process. The county's main clerk site at epcounty.com/clerk has current forms, fees, and contact details.
| Office | El Paso County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105, El Paso, TX 79901-2496 |
| Phone | (915) 546-2071 |
| Website | epcounty.com/clerk |
| Health Office | elpasocountyhealth.org |
Note: El Paso County Clerk records cover both the city and unincorporated county areas - you do not need to contact a separate city office.
Searching El Paso Death Records Online
El Paso County offers online ordering of vital records through VitalChek on an expedited basis. This is a convenient option if you can't visit the county clerk in person. VitalChek requires the standard qualifying information - name, date, and county - and accepts payment online. The same eligibility rules apply online as in person. Records less than 25 years old require proof of a qualified relationship under Texas law.
The Texas DSHS ordering portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov is another online route for ordering certified copies through the state index. State orders are processed in Austin and take longer than county-level requests. For free research, FamilySearch holds Texas death indexes including El Paso County records from 1903 forward. The site is free and often returns scanned images of original certificates for older deaths in the public domain.
Recent El Paso obituary notices appear on Legacy.com Texas obituaries. The El Paso Times is the primary local paper and its obituary notices are aggregated by Legacy.com. Searching by the deceased's name gives results for recent deaths in the El Paso metro.
How to Request El Paso Death Certificates
In-person requests go to the El Paso County Clerk at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and documentation of your relationship to the deceased. Certified copies are issued to qualified applicants. The fee for the first copy of an El Paso County death certificate is $20. Each additional copy of the same record requested on the same order costs $13.
Mail requests require a completed application, identification documentation, and a check or money order for the fee. Include a return mailing address so the office can send the certificate back to you. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old are restricted to eligible applicants. For records older than 25 years, anyone can request them for genealogy or research purposes without showing a specific relationship to the deceased. VitalChek online orders add a service fee on top of the county fee.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin is a backup option for records that may not be available locally. The state holds a central death index covering all Texas counties, and state-issued certified copies are valid for all legal purposes. Mail orders to the state typically take several weeks to process.
Historical El Paso Obituaries
El Paso County death records from 1903 onward provide a solid foundation for genealogy research. The Texas State Library holds microfilm collections covering early El Paso County vital records that researchers can access in Austin or through interlibrary loan. El Paso's location on the US-Mexico border means that some family history research spans both countries, and local historical archives often reflect that cross-border character.
FamilySearch includes indexed El Paso County death records and links to digital images where available. The El Paso Public Library holds local newspaper archives that include historical obituary notices from the El Paso Times and earlier publications. These archives can fill in context about the deceased that does not appear in official certificates, such as names of surviving family members, funeral details, and biographical information.
The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds broader Texas genealogy resources and can assist researchers who need cross-county or statewide searches. For deaths in the late 19th century before El Paso County began formal registration, local church records and cemetery records may be the only available sources.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section provides statewide access to El Paso County death records and can issue certified copies from the state's central index.
El Paso County death certificates from 1903 to the present are available through the El Paso County Clerk and the state's vital statistics system.
El Paso Obituary Resources
Key resources for El Paso death records include the El Paso County Clerk at epcounty.com/clerk, the county health office at elpasocountyhealth.org, and the Texas state ordering portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. For free historical research, FamilySearch and the Texas State Library both hold El Paso County death records.
For recent obituaries, search Legacy.com by name. For more details on the county records system, visit the El Paso County obituary records page.
Note: El Paso County certificate fees differ slightly from the statewide standard - first copy is $20, additional copies are $13 each on the same order.
Nearby Cities
El Paso is in far west Texas. Other major Texas cities with qualifying death record pages are listed below.