Search Parmer County Obituary Records
Parmer County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Farwell, Texas. Located on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Texas Panhandle, Parmer County has vital records dating from 1903.
Parmer County Overview
Parmer County Clerk Death Records
The Parmer County Clerk's office in Farwell is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Parmer 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.
Parmer County sits at the far western edge of the Texas Panhandle, sharing its western border with New Mexico. Farwell is the county seat and faces the twin city of Texico, New Mexico across the state line. The county is a major agricultural producer, especially potatoes, grain sorghum, and cattle. A significant Hispanic population lives and works in the county's farming and food processing industry. The clerk's office handles all county records. The DSHS online system is practical for certified death certificate requests from Parmer County given its remote location.
| Office | Parmer County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 145, Farwell, TX 79325 |
| Phone | (806) 481-3690 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.parmer.tx.us |
Searching Parmer County Obituaries
Order Parmer County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Parmer 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 State Line Tribune and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Parmer County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Farwell courthouse.
Requesting Parmer County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Parmer County Clerk, P.O. Box 145, Farwell, TX 79325. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Parmer County Obituary Records
Parmer County death records from the early 1900s document the settlement of the flat Llano Estacado by homesteaders who came to farm after the open range era ended. The county was organized in 1907, relatively late for Texas, reflecting how recently the area transitioned from rangeland to farms. The XIT Ranch, one of the largest ranches in world history, once covered this area. Early settlers came from the Midwest seeking cheap land on the High Plains. The Ogallala Aquifer beneath the county made large-scale irrigation possible by mid-century, transforming the agriculture. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Parmer County entries.
The Parmer County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Farwell.
The Parmer County Clerk in Farwell maintains death certificates and vital records for this Texas Panhandle county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Parmer 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 Parmer County.
Parmer County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (806) 481-3690, 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
Parmer County is located at the far western edge of the Texas Panhandle bordering New Mexico.