Cottle County Obituary Records
Cottle County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Paducah, Texas. This small Panhandle county has vital records dating from 1903. If you need to request a certified death certificate, search for an obituary notice, or trace family history for someone who died in Paducah or the surrounding area, this page explains the local clerk process and the state-level resources available for Cottle County death records.
Cottle County Overview
Cottle County Clerk Death Records
The Cottle County Clerk's office in Paducah is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events in Cottle 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.
Cottle County is one of the more rural and sparsely populated Panhandle counties. The Texas DSHS online system is often the fastest option for ordering a certified death certificate without making a trip to Paducah. The clerk also handles property records, marriage records, and other official documents.
| Office | Cottle County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 226, Paducah, TX 79248 |
| Phone | (806) 492-3023 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Note: For Cottle County death certificates, the DSHS online system at ovra.txapps.texas.gov is often faster than mailing a request to the county clerk in Paducah.
Searching Cottle County Obituaries
Order Cottle County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The Texas DSHS statewide system covers Cottle County from 1903. 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 Panhandle area papers serving Paducah.
Requesting Cottle County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Cottle County Clerk, P.O. Box 226, Paducah, TX 79248. Additional copies cost $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Cottle County Obituary Records
Cottle County death records from the early 1900s reflect the ranching and agricultural settlements of the Rolling Plains. Some early records may be limited given the sparse population in the county's earliest years. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early Texas death indexes with Cottle County entries. FamilySearch includes digitized Texas death collections covering the Panhandle region. Local cemetery records in Paducah can also help trace family history for this area.
The Cottle County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Paducah, Texas.
The Cottle County Clerk in Paducah maintains death certificates and vital records for this Texas Panhandle county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Cottle 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 at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Cottle County.
Cottle County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 492-3023, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Cottle County is located in the southern Texas Panhandle in the Rolling Plains region.