Tarrant County Obituary Records

Tarrant County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the most populous counties in Texas, Tarrant County has vital records dating from 1876.

Tarrant County Clerk Death Records

The Tarrant County Clerk's office in Fort Worth is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Tarrant County from 1876 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.

Tarrant County is the anchor of the western half of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Fort Worth is the county seat and serves as a major cultural and commercial center, home to the Fort Worth Stockyards, world-class museums, and a large medical district. The county includes Arlington, Haltom City, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, and Keller among its many cities. Population exceeds two million, making Tarrant one of the most densely populated counties in the state. The county clerk's office handles a high volume of vital records requests. The DSHS online system is a practical alternative for certified death certificate requests.

Searching Tarrant County Obituaries

Order Tarrant County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Tarrant County from 1876. 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 Fort Worth Star-Telegram and area papers. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is the major daily newspaper and has published obituaries since the late 1800s.

Requesting Tarrant County Death Certificates

Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Tarrant County Clerk, 100 W. Weatherford Street, 5th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76196. In-person requests are accepted at the same address. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.

Historical Tarrant County Obituary Records

Tarrant County death records from the late 1800s reflect the cattle drives, military posts, and early settlement of North Texas. Fort Worth was established near a U.S. Army post in 1849 and became the last major stop on the Chisholm Trail. The city's stockyards and meatpacking industry drew workers from across the country in the early 1900s. Early death records document cowboys, railroad workers, meatpacking employees, and the families who built what would become a major American city. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Tarrant County entries covering the early statewide registration period.

The Tarrant County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests, online records access, and county services in Fort Worth.

The Tarrant County Clerk in Fort Worth maintains death certificates and vital records for this major North Texas county from 1876 forward.

Texas Law and Tarrant 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 Tarrant County.

Tarrant County Obituary Resources

Contact the clerk at (817) 884-1195, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.

Cities in Tarrant County

Tarrant County includes Fort Worth and several other large cities in the DFW Metroplex.

Nearby Counties

Tarrant County is located in North Texas at the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.