Rains County Obituary Records
Rains County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Emory, Texas. Located in Northeast Texas east of Dallas, Rains County has vital records dating from 1903.
Rains County Overview
Rains County Clerk Death Records
The Rains County Clerk's office in Emory is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Rains 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.
Rains County is one of the smallest counties in Texas by area, sitting in the Pineywoods-Blackland Prairie transition zone northeast of Dallas. Emory is the county seat and only incorporated city. Lake Tawakoni, which straddles the county's southern border, draws retirees and recreational visitors. The county has grown somewhat as Dallas-area residents seek rural living within commuting distance. Agriculture, light industry, and lake recreation are the main economic activities. The DSHS online system is a practical option for certified death certificate requests.
| Office | Rains County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 187, Emory, TX 75440 |
| Phone | (903) 473-5000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Rains County Obituaries
Order Rains County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Rains 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 local East Texas papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Rains County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Emory courthouse.
Requesting Rains County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Rains County Clerk, P.O. Box 187, Emory, TX 75440. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Rains County Obituary Records
Rains County death records from the early 1900s reflect the farming communities of Northeast Texas. The county was created in 1870 and named for Emory Rains, a Texas legislator. Early records document families who farmed the red clay soils and raised cattle in this small county. Cotton was an important crop in the early decades. Because the county is small and has always had modest population, individual death records represent a meaningful slice of local history. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Rains County entries. Local genealogy resources at county historical organizations help researchers trace families in this area.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Rains County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Rains County Clerk in Emory maintains death certificates and vital records for this Northeast Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Rains 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 Rains County.
Rains County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 473-5000, 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
Rains County is located in Northeast Texas east of Dallas.