Search Taylor County Obituary Records
Taylor County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Abilene, Texas. Located in West Central Texas on the Callahan Divide, Taylor County has vital records dating from 1903.
Taylor County Overview
Taylor County Clerk Death Records
The Taylor County Clerk's office in Abilene is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Taylor 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.
Taylor County is anchored by Abilene, the largest city in West Central Texas and a regional center for health care, higher education, and retail. Three universities -- Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons, and McMurry -- are based in the city. Dyess Air Force Base lies southwest of Abilene and has been a major employer since the 1950s. The county's economy also includes oil and gas production, agriculture, and ranching. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Taylor County.
| Office | Taylor County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 2778, Abilene, TX 79604 |
| Phone | (325) 674-1202 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | taylorcountytexas.org |
Searching Taylor County Obituaries
Order Taylor County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Taylor 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 Abilene Reporter-News and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Taylor County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Abilene courthouse.
Requesting Taylor County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Taylor County Clerk, P.O. Box 2778, Abilene, TX 79604. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Taylor County Obituary Records
Taylor County death records from the early 1900s reflect the farming, ranching, and railroad families who built Abilene into a regional center. The county was organized in 1878, and Abilene was founded the same year along the Texas and Pacific Railway. The railroad made the city a cattle shipping point and later a supply hub for the surrounding agricultural region. Early death records document homesteaders, railroad workers, and merchants who established the communities that still anchor the county. The oil boom of the 1920s brought additional workers and changed the region's economic character. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Taylor County entries.
The Taylor County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Abilene.
The Taylor County Clerk in Abilene maintains death certificates and vital records for this West Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Taylor 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 Taylor County.
Taylor County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (325) 674-1202, 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 Taylor County
Abilene is the county seat and the main city in Taylor County.
Nearby Counties
Taylor County is located in West Central Texas on the Callahan Divide.