Harrison County Obituary Records
Harrison County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Marshall, Texas. Located in the Piney Woods of East Texas near the Louisiana border, Harrison County has vital records dating from 1903. Whether you need a certified death certificate, want to search obituary notices from Marshall, or trace family history in this region, this page covers the county clerk process and the available resources.
Harrison County Overview
Harrison County Clerk Death Records
The Harrison County Clerk's office in Marshall is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Harrison 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.
Marshall serves as both the county seat of Harrison County and a regional center for the East Texas Piney Woods. The city has a rich history and is home to Wiley College. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is available for ordering death certificates without visiting the Marshall courthouse.
| Office | Harrison County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 1365, Marshall, TX 75671 |
| Phone | (903) 935-4858 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | harrisoncountytx.org |
Searching Harrison County Obituaries
Order Harrison County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Harrison County from 1903. For genealogy, 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 Marshall News Messenger and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide death index covers Harrison County from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Marshall courthouse.
Requesting Harrison County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Harrison County Clerk, P.O. Box 1365, Marshall, TX 75671. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Harrison County Obituary Records
Harrison County death records from the early 1900s reflect the African American and white communities of the East Texas Piney Woods. Marshall was one of the more prosperous cities in East Texas during this era, and early death records document a diverse community. The county has a significant place in the history of Black education in Texas. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Harrison County entries. The Marshall Public Library holds local newspaper archives useful for obituary research.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Harrison County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Harrison County Clerk in Marshall maintains death certificates and vital records for this East Texas Piney Woods county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Harrison 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 Harrison County.
Harrison County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 935-4858, 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
Harrison County is located in East Texas near the Louisiana border in the Piney Woods region.