Search Motley County Obituary Records
Motley County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Matador, Texas. Located on the Rolling Plains of West Texas, Motley County has vital records dating from 1903.
Motley County Overview
Motley County Clerk Death Records
The Motley County Clerk's office in Matador is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Motley 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.
Motley County is one of the most sparsely populated counties in Texas, sitting on the Rolling Plains south of the Caprock Escarpment. Matador is the county seat and sole incorporated community. Ranching is the dominant industry, and the county has changed little economically since the late 1800s. The clerk's office in Matador handles all county records functions. Because population is so low, each death record in the early years represents a significant portion of the community. The DSHS online system is the most practical way to request a certified death certificate from Motley County.
| Office | Motley County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 660, Matador, TX 79244 |
| Phone | (806) 347-2621 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Motley County Obituaries
Order Motley County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Motley 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 from the Matador Tribune and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Motley County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Matador courthouse.
Requesting Motley County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Motley County Clerk, P.O. Box 660, Matador, TX 79244. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Motley County Obituary Records
Motley County death records from the early 1900s reflect the ranching families who settled the Rolling Plains after the open range era ended. The county was organized in 1891, carved from the vast XIT Ranch and other large cattle operations that dominated the region. Early settlers established small ranches and farms on the Plains grassland. The Matador Land and Cattle Company, a Scottish-owned operation, controlled much of the county for decades. Individual death records carry special weight in such a small county -- each one tells the story of families who chose to make a life in one of Texas's most remote corners. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Motley County entries.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Motley County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Motley County Clerk in Matador maintains death certificates and vital records for this remote West Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Motley 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 Motley County.
Motley County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 347-2621, 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
Motley County is located on the Rolling Plains of West Texas south of the Caprock Escarpment.