Henderson County Obituary Records
Henderson County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Athens, Texas. Located in East Texas between Dallas and Tyler, Henderson County has vital records dating from 1903. Whether you need a certified death certificate, want to find obituary notices from Athens, or trace family history in this region, this page covers the county clerk process and the resources available.
Henderson County Overview
Henderson County Clerk Death Records
The Henderson County Clerk's office in Athens is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Henderson 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.
Henderson County covers a large area in East Texas west of the Piney Woods, including communities like Corsicana-area residents moving east and Cedar Creek Lake communities. Athens serves as the county seat and the main commercial center. The clerk handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate orders.
| Office | Henderson County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 632, Athens, TX 75751 |
| Phone | (903) 675-6115 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | henderson-county.com |
Searching Henderson County Obituaries
Order Henderson County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Henderson 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 Athens Daily Review and local area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide death index covers Henderson County from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Athens courthouse.
Requesting Henderson County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Henderson County Clerk, P.O. Box 632, Athens, TX 75751. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Henderson County Obituary Records
Henderson County death records from the early 1900s reflect the farming and timber communities of East Texas. Athens was a thriving market town at the turn of the century, and early records document a mix of agricultural families from across the South. The county later became known for its Black-eyed pea production. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Henderson County entries. The Henderson County Library in Athens holds local newspaper archives useful for obituary research.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Henderson County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Henderson County Clerk in Athens maintains death certificates and vital records for this East Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Henderson 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 Henderson County.
Henderson County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 675-6115, 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
Henderson County is located in East Texas between Dallas and Tyler.