Freestone County Obituary Records
Freestone County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Fairfield, Texas. Located in East Central Texas between Dallas and Houston, Freestone County has vital records dating from 1903. If you need a certified death certificate, want to search obituary notices from Fairfield, or trace family history for someone who died in this region, this page explains the county clerk process and the online resources available.
Freestone County Overview
Freestone County Clerk Death Records
The Freestone County Clerk's office in Fairfield is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Freestone 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 older than 25 years are available to the public.
The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. For those outside the Fairfield area, the Texas DSHS online system is a convenient way to order certified death certificates without mailing a request to the county seat.
| Office | Freestone County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 1013, Fairfield, TX 75840 |
| Phone | (903) 389-2635 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Freestone County Obituaries
Order Freestone 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 Fairfield Recorder and other area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Freestone County death records from 1903. Online ordering is available without contacting the county clerk.
Requesting Freestone County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Freestone County Clerk, P.O. Box 1013, Fairfield, TX 75840. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Freestone County Obituary Records
Freestone County death records from the early 1900s reflect the cotton farming and timber communities of East Central Texas. The county has a diverse genealogical history including African American communities from the Reconstruction era. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Freestone County entries. Local genealogical societies in Fairfield hold historical materials and cemetery records useful for research in this region.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Freestone County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Freestone County Clerk in Fairfield maintains death certificates and vital records for this East Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Freestone 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 Freestone County.
Freestone County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 389-2635, 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
Freestone County is located in East Central Texas between Dallas and Houston.