Franklin County Obituary Records
Franklin County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Mt. Vernon, Texas. Located in Northeast Texas between Dallas and Texarkana, Franklin County has vital records dating from 1903. Whether you need a certified death certificate, want to find obituary notices from Mt. Vernon, or trace family history for someone who died in this region, this page explains the county clerk process and the resources available.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Clerk Death Records
The Franklin County Clerk's office in Mt. Vernon is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Franklin County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.
The clerk's website at co.franklin.tx.us lists current office hours and available services. The office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents in addition to vital statistics.
| Office | Franklin County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 68, Mt. Vernon, TX 75457 |
| Phone | (903) 537-4252 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.franklin.tx.us |
Searching Franklin County Obituaries
Order Franklin County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. For genealogy research, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Mt. Vernon Optic-Herald and other East Texas papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide death index covers Franklin County from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Mt. Vernon courthouse.
Requesting Franklin County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Franklin County Clerk, P.O. Box 68, Mt. Vernon, TX 75457. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Franklin County Obituary Records
Franklin County death records from the early 1900s reflect the farming and timber communities of Northeast Texas. The county sits in the Piney Woods transition zone, and early records document a mix of agricultural families. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Franklin County entries. The Mt. Vernon Public Library and local genealogical societies hold historical materials and newspaper archives useful for research in this region.
The Franklin County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Mt. Vernon.
The Franklin County Clerk in Mt. Vernon maintains death certificates and vital records for this Northeast Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Franklin 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 Franklin County.
Franklin County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 537-4252, 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
Franklin County is located in Northeast Texas between Dallas and Texarkana.