Kent County Obituary Records
Kent County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Jayton, Texas. Located in the Rolling Plains of West Texas, Kent County has vital records dating from 1903.
Kent County Overview
Kent County Clerk Death Records
The Kent County Clerk's office in Jayton is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Kent 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.
Kent County is one of the most rural counties in Texas, with a small population centered in Jayton. The county lies in the Rolling Plains between Lubbock and Abilene. Ranching and some farming have been the main economic activities for decades. Because of the county's small size and remote location, the DSHS online system is the most practical way to order a certified death certificate without traveling to Jayton.
| Office | Kent County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 9, Jayton, TX 79528 |
| Phone | (806) 237-3881 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Kent County Obituaries
Order Kent County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Kent 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 may carry obituary notices for Kent County residents. Local newspaper archives from Jayton and neighboring communities can also be useful for obituary research.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Kent County death records from 1903. Online ordering is recommended over a mail request to the clerk in Jayton.
Requesting Kent County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Kent County Clerk, P.O. Box 9, Jayton, TX 79528. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Kent County Obituary Records
Kent County death records from the early 1900s reflect a sparse ranching population on the Texas Rolling Plains. The county was organized in 1892 and never developed a large population base. Early records often show families with Southern roots who came west after the Civil War to take advantage of open range cattle country. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Kent County entries. Local cemetery records in Jayton hold burial data useful for genealogy research in this remote West Texas county.
The Kent County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Jayton.
The Kent County Clerk in Jayton maintains death certificates and vital records for this West Texas Rolling Plains county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Kent 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 Kent County.
Kent County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 237-3881, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Kent County is located in the Rolling Plains of West Texas between Lubbock and Abilene.