Stephens County Obituary Records
Stephens County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Breckenridge, Texas. Located in West Central Texas on the Brazos River, Stephens County has vital records dating from 1903.
Stephens County Overview
Stephens County Clerk Death Records
The Stephens County Clerk's office in Breckenridge is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Stephens 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.
Stephens County lies in West Central Texas on the Hubbard Creek drainage. Breckenridge is the county seat and takes its name from John C. Breckenridge, a U.S. Vice President. The county had a major oil boom in the 1910s and 1920s, making Breckenridge one of the most active oil towns in Texas at the time. Today the economy relies on oil production, ranching, and some agriculture. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests.
| Office | Stephens County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 37, Breckenridge, TX 76424 |
| Phone | (254) 559-2195 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Stephens County Obituaries
Order Stephens County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Stephens 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 Breckenridge American and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Stephens County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Breckenridge courthouse.
Requesting Stephens County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Stephens County Clerk, P.O. Box 37, Breckenridge, TX 76424. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Stephens County Obituary Records
Stephens County death records from the early 1900s reflect the transition from open range cattle country to a booming oil economy. The county was organized in 1876 from Bosque County and was on the edge of Comanche territory until the mid-1870s. Early settlers came to ranch on the Cross Timbers and Brazos River land. The oil boom of the 1910s-1920s brought an enormous influx of workers and transformed Breckenridge into a boomtown. Death records from this period reflect the hazards of oil field work and the diverse workforce that oil money attracted. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Stephens County entries.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Stephens County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Stephens County Clerk in Breckenridge maintains death certificates and vital records for this West Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Stephens 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 Stephens County.
Stephens County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (254) 559-2195, 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
Stephens County is located in West Central Texas on the Brazos River drainage.