Shackelford County Obituary Records
Shackelford County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Albany, Texas. Located in West Central Texas, Shackelford County has vital records dating from 1903.
Shackelford County Overview
Shackelford County Clerk Death Records
The Shackelford County Clerk's office in Albany is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Shackelford 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.
Shackelford County sits in West Central Texas on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. Albany is the county seat. The county is known for its ranching heritage and is home to the Fort Griffin State Historic Site, the ruins of a frontier military post and the wild cattle town that grew around it in the 1870s. Oil production added to the ranching economy in the 20th century. The county has a low population and a strong sense of local identity. The DSHS online system is the practical choice for death certificate requests from Shackelford County.
| Office | Shackelford County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 606, Albany, TX 76430 |
| Phone | (325) 762-2232 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | shackelfordcounty.org |
Searching Shackelford County Obituaries
Order Shackelford County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Shackelford 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 Albany News and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Shackelford County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Albany courthouse.
Requesting Shackelford County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Shackelford County Clerk, P.O. Box 606, Albany, TX 76430. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Shackelford County Obituary Records
Shackelford County death records from the early 1900s document the ranching families who settled the Clear Fork country after the frontier wars ended. Fort Griffin, built in 1867 on a bluff above the Clear Fork of the Brazos, anchored early settlement and protected the region from Comanche raids. The town of Fort Griffin below the fort became a wild cattle-drive supply point before Albany took its place as the county seat. Early records reflect a mix of Texas ranching families, trail-drive cowboys, and the occasional outlaw. The county has maintained a ranching character for over a century. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Shackelford County entries.
The Shackelford County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Albany.
The Shackelford County Clerk in Albany maintains death certificates and vital records for this West Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Shackelford 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 Shackelford County.
Shackelford County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (325) 762-2232, 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
Shackelford County is located in West Central Texas on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.