Dawson County Obituary Records

Dawson County death records and obituaries are on file with the County Clerk in Lamesa, Texas. If you need a certified death certificate for a death that happened in Dawson County, the clerk's office keeps those records from 1903 to the present. You can also request records through the Texas Department of State Health Services. This page explains how to find and request Dawson County death records, whether you are a family member, legal representative, or genealogy researcher.

Dawson County Clerk

The Dawson County Clerk serves as the local registrar of vital records. All deaths that occur within Dawson County must be registered with this office. The clerk holds certified copies of death certificates and can process requests from qualified applicants. Death records are kept from 1903 forward.

Dawson County is located in the South Plains region of West Texas. Lamesa is the county seat and the largest community in the county. The clerk's office handles a range of vital records tasks in addition to death records, including birth and marriage records. For death records specifically, the clerk and the state DSHS office are the two main sources.

When you contact the clerk's office, have the full name of the deceased and the approximate date or year of death ready. This helps staff locate the record faster. Bring valid photo ID for in-person visits.

Note: Deaths must be registered within 10 days under Texas Health and Safety Code § 193.003. Delayed registrations follow a different process under § 193.007.

Search Dawson County Death Records Online

Dawson County does not maintain its own public online death record search portal. For remote searches, the state-level tools and genealogy databases are the best options.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section keeps statewide death records. You can order certified copies online through the Online Vital Records Application. This system covers Texas deaths from 1903 to the present, including those registered in Dawson County. You must meet the online order requirements before completing a request. Payment is by credit or debit card. A non-refundable fee applies to each record searched.

FamilySearch offers free access to indexed Texas death records from the early 1900s onward. Many Dawson County records are in their database. The Legacy.com Texas obituary search covers newspaper-published notices from Lamesa and surrounding areas. Check the Lamesa Press-Reporter archives for local obituary announcements as well.

The Texas State Library and the Library of Congress Texas guide are useful for older genealogy research going back to the county's early settlement period.

Requesting Dawson County Death Certificates

You have three ways to request death records from Dawson County: in person at the clerk's office in Lamesa, by mail, or through the state DSHS system online or by mail.

In-person requests at the Dawson County Clerk's office are handled on a walk-in basis during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, the full name of the deceased, and the death date or year. Fill out a request form at the counter. The clerk will search the records and issue a certified copy if one is found and if you qualify as an authorized applicant. Same-day processing is typically available for in-person visits.

Mail requests should be addressed to Dawson County Clerk, P.O. Box 1268, Lamesa, TX 79331. Include a written request with the deceased's full name, date of death, your relationship to the deceased, your full name and contact information, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Allow several weeks for processing. Contact the office by phone at (806) 872-3028 to confirm the current fee before mailing your request.

The DSHS Texas death records system is a third option. You can mail a request to the DSHS office at the address listed on their addresses page, or order online. DSHS fees are set by state law and apply across all counties.

Historical Dawson County Obituary Research

Dawson County was organized in 1905. Early death records from the first decades of the county's history may be incomplete or held only in fragmented form. Researchers looking for pre-1940 records should use multiple sources.

FamilySearch has indexed many Texas death records from the early 1900s and offers a free search tool online. Records for Dawson County deaths during the first half of the twentieth century are available through this service. The Texas State Library and Archives holds microfilm and digital collections covering statewide vital records. Genealogy staff there can help you locate specific county records.

Cemetery records and church registers can fill gaps when official death certificates are missing or incomplete. The Lamesa area has several older cemeteries with burial records that sometimes predate formal state registration. Local genealogical societies in the South Plains region may also hold obituary clippings and family history files.

Note: For deaths before 1903, look to family records, church registers, and cemetery databases as official state records do not exist for that period.

Who Can Get Dawson County Death Records

Texas law restricts access to death records less than 25 years old. This applies to Dawson County records whether requested from the county clerk or from DSHS.

Authorized applicants for recent death records include the spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased. Legal representatives with proper authority can also request on behalf of a qualified person. Once 25 years have passed since the date of death, any member of the public can request the record. No family connection is required for those older records.

You must show valid photo ID for all requests. The DSHS requirements page explains what documentation is needed and who qualifies. The Texas Vital Records portal also has a summary of eligibility rules. For questions about a specific case, call the Dawson County Clerk at (806) 872-3028.

Dawson County Death Record Resources

These links cover the main places to search for Dawson County obituary and death records.

• Texas DSHS Vital Statistics - statewide records
• Order Death Certificate Online - DSHS portal
• Texas Death Records page - DSHS information
• FamilySearch Texas Vital Records - free database
• Texas State Library and Archives
• Legacy.com Texas Obituaries
• Library of Congress Texas Genealogy Guide

Nearby Counties

Dawson County is in West Texas. These neighboring counties are close by and each has its own clerk for local death records.