Find Bowie County Death Records
Bowie County obituary and death records are maintained by the County Clerk in New Boston, Texas. The county shares the Texarkana metro area with neighboring Arkansas. Death records for events within Bowie County outside incorporated city limits are held by the county clerk from 1903 to the present. The city of Texarkana, Texas maintains separate vital records for deaths within city limits. This page explains where to find the right records and how to request certified copies of Bowie County death certificates.
Bowie County Overview
Bowie County Clerk Obituary Records
The Bowie County Clerk's office in New Boston serves as the local registrar for vital statistics in far northeast Texas. Death certificates for events occurring in the unincorporated parts of Bowie County from 1903 to the present are on file here. Deaths that occurred within the city limits of Texarkana, Texas may be held by the city's vital records office. Always check which jurisdiction covers the location of death before deciding which office to contact.
Certified copies of Bowie County death certificates require proof of identity and a showing of qualified applicant status under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193. Family members, legal agents, and those with a documented interest qualify for restricted records. Records older than 25 years are public and available to anyone.
| Office | Bowie County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston, TX 75570 |
| Phone | (903) 628-6740 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.bowie.tx.us |
Note: Deaths within Texarkana city limits may be held by the City of Texarkana rather than the Bowie County Clerk, so verify the location of death before requesting records.
Searching Bowie County Obituaries Online
The Texas DSHS online ordering system at ovra.txapps.texas.gov lets you order certified Bowie County death certificates without traveling to New Boston. The DSHS holds statewide death records and processes requests for county-level events. For genealogy research, FamilySearch at familysearch.org has indexed Texas death records. The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds microfilm of early Bowie County vital records.
The Texarkana Gazette is the primary local newspaper for the Bowie County area. Obituary notices from the Gazette may appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com. Older newspaper archives from the Texarkana area are sometimes available through public libraries in the region.
Requesting Bowie County Death Certificates
To request a certified death certificate from the Bowie County Clerk, mail a completed application, a notarized signature, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Bowie County Clerk, 710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston, TX 75570. Add $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. In-person requests at the courthouse can often be processed the same day.
State-level requests go through the Texas DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs. The state uses the same fee schedule. The requirements for eligible requesters are explained at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx. DSHS mail orders can take several weeks, so online or county requests are faster when possible.
Historical Bowie County Obituary Records
Bowie County's position on the Texas-Arkansas border gives it a unique place in regional genealogy research. Early death records often reflect families that moved freely across the state line. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early Bowie County vital records. FamilySearch includes Texas death indexes that cover Bowie County from the start of statewide registration in 1903.
For newspaper obituaries, the Texarkana Gazette archive goes back many decades. Public libraries in Texarkana hold back issues on microfilm. The Library of Congress guide to Texas genealogy at loc.gov also lists resources for northeast Texas counties.
The Bowie County Clerk's website provides contact information and details on vital records requests in New Boston.
The Bowie County Clerk in New Boston maintains death certificates and vital records for the county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Bowie County Death Records
Under Section 193.003 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, death certificates must be filed within 10 days of death. Bowie County death records under 25 years old are restricted per Chapter 193. Records 25 years or older are public. Delayed registration under Section 193.007 may explain gaps in older records.
Bowie County Obituary Resources
Contact the Bowie County Clerk at (903) 628-6740 or order through DSHS online. The DSHS death records page is at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death. For genealogy, use FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from the Texarkana area appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Bowie County is located in far northeast Texas near the Arkansas border.