Marion County Obituary Records
Marion County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Jefferson, Texas. Located in Northeast Texas near Caddo Lake, Marion County has vital records dating from 1903.
Marion County Overview
Marion County Clerk Death Records
The Marion County Clerk's office in Jefferson is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Marion 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.
Marion County is in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas near Caddo Lake. Jefferson, the county seat, was once one of the most important inland ports in Texas before the railroad era. The town retains much of its 19th-century architecture and draws visitors. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests.
| Office | Marion County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 497, Jefferson, TX 75657 |
| Phone | (903) 665-3261 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.marion.tx.us |
Searching Marion County Obituaries
Order Marion County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Marion 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 Jefferson Jimplecute and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Marion County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Jefferson courthouse.
Requesting Marion County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Marion County Clerk, P.O. Box 497, Jefferson, TX 75657. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Marion County Obituary Records
Marion County death records from the early 1900s reflect the decline of Jefferson as a commercial center and the county's transition to a timber and farming economy. Jefferson had been one of Texas's wealthiest cities in the 1870s, and early records document prosperous merchant families, Black Texan families who stayed after emancipation, and newer settlers. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Marion County entries. The Jefferson Carnegie Library holds local newspaper archives and genealogical collections that are invaluable for Marion County obituary research.
The Marion County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Jefferson.
The Marion County Clerk in Jefferson maintains death certificates and vital records for this Northeast Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Marion 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 Marion County.
Marion County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 665-3261, 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
Marion County is located in Northeast Texas near Caddo Lake in the Piney Woods region.