Cochran County Obituary Records
Cochran County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Morton, Texas. This small South Plains county on the New Mexico border has vital records dating from 1903. If you need to request a certified death certificate, search for an obituary notice, or do genealogy research for someone who died in Morton or the surrounding area, this page explains the county clerk process and the online resources that cover Cochran County death records.
Cochran County Overview
Cochran County Clerk Death Records
The Cochran County Clerk's office in Morton is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Cochran County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts requests in person and by mail. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old are restricted to qualified applicants. Records 25 years or older are open to the public without restriction.
For this small, rural county, the Texas DSHS online ordering system is often the most convenient way to get a certified copy without making a trip to Morton. The clerk handles land records, marriage records, and other county documents in addition to vital statistics.
| Office | Cochran County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 116, Morton, TX 79346 |
| Phone | (806) 266-5458 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Cochran County Obituaries
Order Cochran County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The Texas DSHS statewide system covers all Texas counties including Cochran from 1903 forward. 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 obituary notices from South Plains area newspapers serving Morton and Cochran County.
Note: The DSHS online system is often faster and more convenient than a mail request to the clerk for Cochran County death certificates.
Requesting Cochran County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Cochran County Clerk, P.O. Box 116, Morton, TX 79346. Additional copies are $4 each. You can also order through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Cochran County Obituary Records
Cochran County death records from the early 1900s reflect the cotton farming and ranching character of the South Plains. The county sits on the high plains near the Texas-New Mexico border. Early death records may be sparse given the small population. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early Texas death indexes with Cochran County entries. FamilySearch includes digitized Texas death collections covering South Plains counties. Local cemetery records in Morton can also help trace family history for this area.
The Cochran County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Morton, Texas.
The Cochran County Clerk in Morton maintains death certificates and vital records for this South Plains county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Cochran County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS statewide index at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death covers all Cochran County entries.
Cochran County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 266-5458, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, and search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Cochran County is located on the South Plains of Texas along the New Mexico border.