Smith County Obituary Records

Smith County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Tyler, Texas. Home to the "Rose Capital of America," Smith County is the largest city in East Texas and has vital records dating from 1903.

Smith County Clerk Death Records

The Smith County Clerk's office in Tyler is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Smith 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.

Smith County is the commercial and medical hub of East Texas. Tyler, the county seat, is the largest city between Dallas and Shreveport and is known for rose growing -- the area produces a significant portion of U.S. commercial roses. The county has grown steadily as a regional center for healthcare, education, and retail serving dozens of surrounding counties. UT Health East Texas and the University of Texas at Tyler are major institutions. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Smith County.

Searching Smith County Obituaries

Order Smith County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Smith 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 Tyler Morning Telegraph and area papers.

Requesting Smith County Death Certificates

Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Smith County Clerk, P.O. Box 1018, Tyler, TX 75710. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.

Historical Smith County Obituary Records

Smith County death records from the early 1900s reflect East Texas communities shaped by timber, cotton, and oil. The county was created in 1846 and named for General James Smith. Tyler grew as a prosperous county seat and regional market town. The county had a large Black population with roots in the antebellum era, and Tyler was home to significant African American institutions including Texas College, founded in 1894. Oil discoveries in the East Texas Oil Field boosted the county's economy in the 1930s. The rose-growing industry emerged in the early 20th century and became a defining part of Tyler's identity. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Smith County entries. The Tyler Public Library and East Texas Research Center at UT Tyler hold local genealogy materials.

The Smith County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Tyler.

The Smith County Clerk in Tyler maintains death certificates and vital records for this East Texas regional hub county from 1903 forward.

Texas Law and Smith 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 Smith County.

Smith County Obituary Resources

Contact the clerk at (903) 590-1600, 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.

Cities in Smith County

Tyler is the county seat and the largest city in East Texas.

Nearby Counties

Smith County is located in East Texas and serves as the regional hub for the area.