Brewster County Death Records
Brewster County is the largest county in Texas by area, covering a remote stretch of the Big Bend region. Death records and obituaries for this sparsely populated West Texas county are maintained by the County Clerk in Alpine. Records date from 1903. If you need to search obituary notices or request a certified Brewster County death certificate, this page walks you through the local clerk's office, the state ordering system, and online genealogy resources for this unique corner of Texas.
Brewster County Overview
Brewster County Clerk Obituary Records
The Brewster County Clerk's office in Alpine serves as the local registrar for vital records in this remote part of West Texas. Death certificates for events occurring in Brewster County from 1903 to the present are held here. The county includes the Big Bend National Park area and several small communities including Terlingua and Study Butte. For most deaths in the county, the Alpine office is the only local source for certified records.
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, Brewster County death records less than 25 years old are restricted to qualified applicants. These include family members, legal agents, and others with a direct interest in the record. Older records are open to the public. Given the county's remote location, online ordering through the state is often the most practical approach for people who cannot travel to Alpine.
| Office | Brewster County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 119, Alpine, TX 79831 |
| Phone | (432) 837-3366 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Note: Brewster County's remote location makes online ordering through the Texas DSHS the most practical option for most death certificate requests.
How to Search Brewster County Obituaries
The Texas DSHS online ordering system at ovra.txapps.texas.gov is the best route for most Brewster County death certificate requests. The system covers statewide records and processes requests without requiring a visit to Alpine. For genealogy research, FamilySearch at familysearch.org includes indexed Texas death records. The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds microfilm of early county vital records.
The Alpine Avalanche is the main newspaper serving Brewster County. Obituary notices from the Avalanche sometimes appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com. Historical death records from the Big Bend region can also be found through Sul Ross State University's archives in Alpine, which holds materials relating to the Trans-Pecos area.
Requesting Brewster County Death Certificates
Mail requests to the Brewster County Clerk at P.O. Box 119, Alpine, TX 79831. Include a completed application, a notarized signature, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21. Additional copies cost $4 each. Because of the county's remote location, mail requests are more common here than in many other Texas counties. State requests through dshs.texas.gov/vs are an equally valid option and may be faster for some requesters.
Historical Brewster County Obituary Records
Brewster County's early death records reflect the mining, ranching, and frontier life of the Big Bend region in the early twentieth century. Some deaths from remote parts of the county may have been filed late or incompletely during the early years of statewide registration. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early Texas death indexes that include Brewster County. FamilySearch also has digitized Texas death collections covering this period.
Sul Ross State University in Alpine holds historical records relating to the Trans-Pecos region. Researchers studying Brewster County genealogy may find university archives, local cemetery records, and Big Bend historical materials useful supplements to the official death certificate record.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains statewide death records including Brewster County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Brewster County Clerk in Alpine handles death certificates and vital records for this large but sparsely populated West Texas county.
Texas Law and Brewster County Death Records
Texas death certificates must be filed within 10 days of death under Health and Safety Code Section 193.003. Brewster County records under 25 years old are restricted under Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 governs delayed registration. In a remote county like Brewster, delayed filing was more common in early decades when communication was limited.
Brewster County Obituary Resources
Contact the Brewster County Clerk at (432) 837-3366 for direct requests. Order online through DSHS. For genealogy, use FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent Brewster County obituaries may appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Brewster County borders several other West Texas and Big Bend region counties.