Search Shelby County Obituary Records
Shelby County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Center, Texas. Located in deep East Texas near the Louisiana border, Shelby County has vital records dating from 1903.
Shelby County Overview
Shelby County Clerk Death Records
The Shelby County Clerk's office in Center is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Shelby 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.
Shelby County sits in the Sabine River country of deep East Texas, bordering Louisiana. Center is the county seat. Timber has been the dominant industry for over a century, with the Piney Woods covering much of the county. Poultry farming and some agriculture also contribute to the local economy. The county has a mix of long-established white and Black communities. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Shelby County.
| Office | Shelby County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 1987, Center, TX 75935 |
| Phone | (936) 598-6361 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.shelby.tx.us |
Searching Shelby County Obituaries
Order Shelby County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Shelby 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 Shelby County Today and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Shelby County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Center courthouse.
Requesting Shelby County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Shelby County Clerk, P.O. Box 1987, Center, TX 75935. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Shelby County Obituary Records
Shelby County death records from the early 1900s reflect timber and agricultural communities with roots going back to the Republic of Texas era. The county was created in 1836 and named for Isaac Shelby, a Kentucky governor and Revolutionary War general. Early settlers came from the Deep South, many arriving with enslaved people to grow cotton in the rich East Texas soil. Post-Civil War records show freedmen communities forming throughout the county. The Regulator-Moderator War, one of Texas's most violent internal conflicts, was centered partly in Shelby County in the 1840s. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Shelby County entries.
The Shelby County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Center.
The Shelby County Clerk in Center maintains death certificates and vital records for this deep East Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Shelby 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 Shelby County.
Shelby County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (936) 598-6361, 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
Shelby County is located in deep East Texas along the Sabine River near the Louisiana border.