Find Obituaries in Panola County
Panola County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Carthage, Texas. Located in the East Texas Piney Woods near the Louisiana border, Panola County has vital records dating from 1903.
Panola County Overview
Panola County Clerk Death Records
The Panola County Clerk's office in Carthage is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Panola 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.
Panola County sits in the far eastern corner of Texas bordering Louisiana. Carthage is the county seat and largest town. The county is known for natural gas production -- it sits atop the Haynesville Shale formation -- along with timber and cattle. Carthage is also known as the birthplace of country singer Tex Ritter. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Panola County.
| Office | Panola County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 936, Carthage, TX 75633 |
| Phone | (903) 693-0302 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.panola.tx.us |
Searching Panola County Obituaries
Order Panola County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Panola 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 Panola Watchman and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Panola County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Carthage courthouse.
Requesting Panola County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Panola County Clerk, P.O. Box 936, Carthage, TX 75633. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Panola County Obituary Records
Panola County death records from the early 1900s reflect the timber and agricultural communities of deep East Texas. The county was created in 1846 and named after a county in Mississippi, reflecting the origin of many early settlers who came from the Deep South. The county's population included Black Texan communities with roots in the antebellum plantation era, as cotton farming was important here before timber took over. Natural gas discoveries in the 20th century transformed the county's economy again. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Panola County entries. Local genealogy resources at the Panola County Historical Society can help researchers trace family histories in this East Texas county.
The Panola County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Carthage.
The Panola County Clerk in Carthage maintains death certificates and vital records for this East Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Panola 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 Panola County.
Panola County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 693-0302, 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
Panola County is located in East Texas bordering Louisiana.