Find Midland Death Records
Midland obituary and death records are maintained by the Midland County Clerk in Midland, Texas. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or want to trace a family member who died in the Midland 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.
Midland Overview
Where to Find Midland Obituary Records
Midland is the Midland County seat, so the county clerk's office is located in the city. All death records for events in Midland are filed with Midland County. There is no separate city vital records office in Midland. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates. Odessa in adjacent Ector County is also served by a separate county clerk office. Staff at the Midland County Clerk's office can assist you with the application process and answer questions about required documentation.
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 | Midland County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 211, Midland, TX 79702 |
| Phone | (432) 688-4500 |
| County Page | Midland County Death Records |
Note: Midland is the Midland County seat. The county clerk handles death records for the entire county from the Midland office. For Odessa, contact the Ector County Clerk instead.
Searching Midland Death Records Online
The Texas DSHS online portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov handles certified death certificate orders for Midland 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 Midland County records and includes Midland 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 Midland Reporter-Telegram. Search by name to find recent obituary postings with service dates, surviving family, and funeral home contact information.
How to Request Midland Death Certificates
Mail requests to: Midland County Clerk, P.O. Box 211, Midland, TX 79702. 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 Midland 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 Midland Obituaries
Midland was established in 1881 as a midpoint on the Texas and Pacific Railway between Fort Worth and El Paso -- the name refers to this geographic midpoint. The city grew slowly until oil was discovered in the Permian Basin in the 1920s and 1930s. Death records from the statewide registration period (1903 onward) are held at the Midland County Clerk's office. Earlier records are in county archives and state library microfilm. FamilySearch has digitized portions of the Texas death index for Midland County.
The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds historical records for Midland and the Permian Basin region. For deaths before 1903, cemetery records and church registers in the area are the main sources. The Midland County Historical Commission and the Midland County Public Library's genealogy collection are also worth checking for local family histories, early newspaper indexes, and cemetery survey records specific to the Midland area.
The Midland County Clerk's office handles all death certificate requests and vital records for Midland County.
The Midland County Clerk in Midland maintains death certificates and vital records for this Permian Basin county from 1903 forward.
Midland Obituary Resources
Contact the Midland County Clerk at (432) 688-4500 for death certificate requests and records questions. Order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, or search historical records at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from the Midland 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 Midland County death records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have death records available through their county clerk offices.