Briscoe County Obituary Records
Briscoe County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Silverton, Texas. This small Panhandle county has a sparse population and limited local resources, making the state-level ordering system particularly useful for death certificate requests. Records date from 1903. If you need to look up a Briscoe County obituary or request a certified death certificate, this page explains your options through both the county clerk and the Texas DSHS.
Briscoe County Overview
Briscoe County Clerk Death Records
The Briscoe County Clerk's office in Silverton is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Briscoe County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk processes requests in person and by mail. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records older than 25 years are available to the public.
| Office | Briscoe County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 555, Silverton, TX 79257 |
| Phone | (806) 823-2131 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Note: For Briscoe County death certificate requests, the Texas DSHS online system is often faster and more convenient than a mail request to the county clerk.
Searching Briscoe County Obituaries
Order Briscoe County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The Texas DSHS statewide system covers all Texas counties including Briscoe. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the best free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries recent Texas obituaries from Panhandle area newspapers.
Requesting Briscoe County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Briscoe County Clerk, P.O. Box 555, Silverton, TX 79257. Additional copies cost $4 each. You can also order through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are listed at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Briscoe County Obituary Records
Briscoe County death records from the early 1900s reflect the agricultural and ranching character of the Texas Panhandle. Some early records may be incomplete due to the sparse population and limited local infrastructure during the earliest years of statewide registration. The Texas State Library holds microfilm covering early Texas death indexes. FamilySearch includes digitized Texas death collections with Panhandle county entries.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index, which covers Briscoe County from 1903 to the present.
The Briscoe County Clerk in Silverton maintains death certificates and vital records for this Texas Panhandle county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Briscoe County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records less than 25 years old are restricted under Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS statewide index at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death covers all Briscoe County entries.
Briscoe County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 823-2131, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, and search genealogy records at FamilySearch. The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds early county records on microfilm.
Nearby Counties
Briscoe County is located in the Texas Panhandle on the edge of the Caprock Escarpment.