Find Obituaries in Andrews County

Andrews County death records and obituary information are kept by the County Clerk in Andrews, Texas, with records dating back to 1903. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or are researching a deceased family member for genealogy, this guide covers how to search Andrews County obituary records, what to bring, how to request copies, and where to look for historical death notices from this West Texas county.

Andrews County Clerk Obituary Records

The Andrews County Clerk's office maintains death certificates for events that occurred in unincorporated parts of the county from 1903 to the present. Andrews County is located in West Texas, and the county seat is the city of Andrews. The clerk's office handles in-person and mail requests for death records. Requests must be made by a qualified applicant under Texas law - typically an immediate family member, legal representative, or someone with a documented interest in the record.

Death records less than 25 years old are restricted. Public access opens up after that 25-year mark under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193. For older records, any member of the public may request a copy without needing to demonstrate a relationship to the deceased. The clerk's staff can help you determine what documentation you need to bring before your visit.

The Andrews County Clerk website lists contact information and services for residents seeking vital records in Andrews, Texas.

The Andrews County Clerk at 201 N. Main Street holds death certificate records for Andrews County from 1903 onward.

Searching Andrews County Death Records Online

The Texas DSHS offers a statewide death record ordering system that covers all Texas counties including Andrews. Visit the Texas online vital records ordering portal to place an order from home. You'll need the full name of the deceased, approximate date of death, and the county where the death occurred. The portal accepts credit card payment.

FamilySearch is another strong option for genealogy research. Their Texas collection includes indexed death records from across the state. You can search by name and filter by county. For Andrews County specifically, check the FamilySearch Texas death index, which draws from state records going back to the early 1900s.

The Legacy.com Texas obituaries page aggregates death notices published in newspapers across the state. Searching by name may turn up an obituary notice from the Andrews area. The Andrews County News is the primary local newspaper and has run obituary notices for many decades. Old issues may be available through the public library in Andrews or through interlibrary loan.

Requesting Andrews County Death Certificates

In-person requests at the Andrews County Clerk's office are typically the fastest way to get a certified death certificate. Bring a government-issued photo ID and be prepared to explain your relationship to the deceased if the record is less than 25 years old. The fee is $21 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

Mail requests require a notarized application form, a photocopy of your ID, and payment by check or money order. Make checks payable to the Andrews County Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if possible. Processing times by mail can range from a few days to a few weeks depending on volume. You can also go through the state - the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit handles statewide requests, though state orders may take longer than county-level requests. Check the DSHS mailing addresses page for the correct address to use when ordering through the state office.

Historical Death Records and Andrews County Obituaries

For genealogists, Andrews County records going back to 1903 can be found through multiple channels. The Texas State Library maintains microfilm collections for many West Texas counties. Visit the Texas State Library website to check what holdings exist for Andrews County and how to access them remotely or in person in Austin.

FamilySearch has digitized and indexed many early Texas death records. Their collection for West Texas includes county-level death indexes that can point you to the right certificate. The Library of Congress guide to Texas vital records also lists major repositories and online resources for genealogy research in Texas.

Keep in mind that before statewide vital records registration was well established, local recording was sometimes inconsistent. Records from the earliest decades - 1903 through the 1920s - may have gaps or incomplete information. Cross-referencing with church records, cemetery records, and newspaper archives often fills in those gaps for Andrews County research.

Texas Death Certificate Law

Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, a death certificate must be filed within 10 days of the death. The attending physician, medical examiner, or funeral director typically takes responsibility for filing. The certificate records the deceased person's name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, cause of death, and information about survivors or informants.

Texas law restricts access to recent death records. Records are closed for 25 years from the date of death. After that period, they become public under Chapter 193. This rule applies to both the county clerk and the state DSHS vital statistics unit. Anyone - not just family members - can request records older than 25 years. For newer records, you need to qualify as a family member, legal representative, or demonstrate a direct and tangible interest.

Andrews County Obituary and Vital Records Resources

The Texas vital records portal is a good starting point for any death record search. From there you can navigate to the DSHS ordering system or find links to county-level resources. The Texas DSHS death records page explains what records the state maintains and how to request them.

For obituary searches, check Legacy.com Texas for notices published through newspapers in Andrews and surrounding Permian Basin communities. The FamilySearch wiki at familysearch.org Texas vital records has a comprehensive overview of genealogy resources for the whole state.

Nearby Counties

Andrews County sits in West Texas, bordered by other Permian Basin counties. Each maintains its own death records.