Search Wichita Falls Death Records
Wichita Falls obituary and death records are maintained by the Wichita County Clerk in Wichita Falls, Texas. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or want to trace a family member who died in the Wichita Falls 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.
Wichita Falls Overview
Where to Find Wichita Falls Obituary Records
Wichita Falls is the Wichita County seat, so the county clerk's office is located in the city. All death records for events in Wichita Falls are filed with Wichita County. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates. Because the clerk is in Wichita Falls itself, residents don't need to travel to a separate county seat to request records. Staff can assist with the application process and explain what identification or documentation you need to bring.
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 recent restricted record, you can still access records older than 25 years or use genealogical databases for historical searches.
| Office | Wichita County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 1679, Wichita Falls, TX 76307 |
| Phone | (940) 766-8144 |
| County Page | Wichita County Death Records |
Note: Wichita Falls is the Wichita County seat. The county clerk office is in the city and handles all death records for the county.
Searching Wichita Falls Death Records Online
The Texas DSHS online portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov handles certified death certificate orders for Wichita Falls and all of Texas. You need the full name of the deceased and the approximate year of death to place an order. Payment is by credit card, and records on file are processed and mailed within a few business days. This is the fastest route if you can't make it to the Wichita Falls courthouse in person.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org has free indexed Texas death records going back to 1903. The Texas death index covers Wichita County and includes Wichita Falls deaths from the early statewide registration period. Many entries include images of the original certificates, which can show cause of death, birthplace, and other details not captured in a basic index. FamilySearch is a strong option for genealogy research on older records.
Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Times Record News. Search by name to find recent obituary postings with service dates, surviving family, and funeral home contact information.
How to Request Wichita Falls Death Certificates
Mail requests to: Wichita County Clerk, P.O. Box 1679, Wichita Falls, TX 76307. 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 Wichita Falls 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 typically takes longer than a direct county request, but the state office holds records for deaths across all Texas counties and can supply certified copies for legal or administrative use. If you're ordering for estate purposes, order multiple copies at once to save on reorder fees.
Historical Wichita Falls Obituaries
Wichita Falls was established in 1882 along the Fort Worth and Denver Railway. Wichita County was organized in 1882. The city grew rapidly after oil was discovered in the area in 1912. Death records from the statewide registration period (1903 onward) are held at the Wichita County Clerk's office. Earlier records are in county archives and state library microfilm. FamilySearch has digitized portions of the Texas death index for Wichita County.
The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds historical records for Wichita Falls and the Wichita County area. For deaths before 1903, cemetery records and church registers are the main genealogical sources. The Wichita County Heritage Society and the Kemp Public Library's genealogy collection also hold records relevant to early Wichita Falls families.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Wichita County and Wichita Falls from 1903 to the present.
The Wichita County Clerk in Wichita Falls maintains death certificates and vital records for this North Texas county from 1903 forward.
Wichita Falls Obituary Resources
Contact the Wichita County Clerk at (940) 766-8144 for death certificate requests and records questions. Order certified copies online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. For free historical research, use FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from the Wichita Falls area appear on Legacy.com, where you can search by name and filter by date. For full county contact details, hours, and guidance on the request process, see the Wichita County death records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have death records available through their county clerk offices.