Find Lubbock Death Records
Lubbock obituary and death records are maintained by the Lubbock County Clerk in Lubbock, Texas. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or want to trace a family member who died in the Lubbock 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.
Lubbock Overview
Where to Find Lubbock Obituary Records
Lubbock is the Lubbock County seat, so the county clerk's office is right in the city. All death records for events in Lubbock are filed with Lubbock County. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates. Lubbock County has its own online search tools in addition to the statewide DSHS system. There is no separate city vital records office for Lubbock; all certificate requests go through the county clerk, and staff there can guide you through the process.
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 offer free access to older records.
| Office | Lubbock County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 10536, Lubbock, TX 79408 |
| Phone | (806) 775-1047 |
| County Page | Lubbock County Death Records |
Note: Lubbock is the Lubbock County seat. The county clerk handles death records for the city and the entire county from the same Lubbock office.
Searching Lubbock Death Records Online
The Texas DSHS online portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov handles certified death certificate orders for Lubbock and all of Texas. You need the full name of the deceased and the approximate year of death. Payment is by credit card, and orders are mailed within a few business days. This is a convenient option if you can't visit the courthouse in person.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org has free indexed Texas death records. The Texas death index covers Lubbock County records and includes Lubbock deaths from the statewide registration period starting in 1903. Many entries include images of the original certificates, which can show cause of death, birthplace, and other details not visible in a basic index. FamilySearch is useful for genealogy research on older records.
Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Search by name to find recent obituary postings with service dates, surviving family, and funeral home contact information.
How to Request Lubbock Death Certificates
Mail requests to: Lubbock County Clerk, P.O. Box 10536, Lubbock, TX 79408. 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 Lubbock County 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 all Texas counties. For estate purposes, order multiple certified copies at once since additional copies cost only $4 each at time of order.
Historical Lubbock Obituaries
Lubbock was established in 1890 when two rival communities -- Old Lubbock and Monterey -- merged and the county was organized. The city grew through the cotton farming era and became a major regional center with the growth of Texas Tech University. Death records from the statewide registration period (1903 onward) are held at the Lubbock County Clerk's office. Earlier records are in county archives and state library microfilm. FamilySearch has digitized portions of the Texas death index for Lubbock County.
The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds historical records for Lubbock and the South Plains region. For deaths before 1903, cemetery records and church registers in the area are the main sources. The Lubbock County Historical Commission and the Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University also hold local obituary files, cemetery indexes, and historical newspaper records that can supplement official death certificates.
The Lubbock County Clerk's office maintains vital records and handles death certificate requests for Lubbock and the surrounding county.
The Lubbock County Clerk in Lubbock maintains death certificates and vital records for this South Plains county from 1903 forward.
Lubbock Obituary Resources
Contact the Lubbock County Clerk at (806) 775-1047 for death certificate requests and records questions, or order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. Search historical records at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from the Lubbock area appear on Legacy.com, where you can search by name and date range. For full county contact details, hours, and additional guidance, see the Lubbock County death records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have death records available through their county clerk offices.