Search Ward County Obituary Records
Ward County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Monahans, Texas. Located in the Permian Basin of West Texas, Ward County has vital records dating from 1903.
Ward County Overview
Ward County Clerk Death Records
The Ward County Clerk's office in Monahans is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Ward 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.
Ward County sits in the Delaware Basin of West Texas along Interstate 20, east of Pecos. Monahans is the county seat and largest town. The county has significant oil and gas production from the Permian Basin and hosts the Monahans Sandhills State Park, a dune field where white sand dunes up to 70 feet tall extend across the flat desert. The county is also an active area for wind energy development. The DSHS online system is the practical option for most death certificate requests given the county's remote location.
| Office | Ward County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 788, Monahans, TX 79756 |
| Phone | (432) 943-2091 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.ward.tx.us |
Searching Ward County Obituaries
Order Ward County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Ward 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 may carry obituary notices from area West Texas papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Ward County death records from 1903. Online ordering is recommended for this remote West Texas county.
Requesting Ward County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Ward County Clerk, P.O. Box 788, Monahans, TX 79756. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Ward County Obituary Records
Ward County death records from the early 1900s document the ranching and railroad families who first settled this dry West Texas plain. The county was organized in 1892 and developed slowly because of the arid conditions. The Texas and Pacific Railway built through the area, and Monahans grew as a railroad water stop. Ranching remained the primary activity until oil was found in the Permian Basin. The oil industry transformed the county in the 1920s and 1930s, bringing workers from across the country and changing the character of the small towns. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Ward County entries.
The Ward County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Monahans.
The Ward County Clerk in Monahans maintains death certificates and vital records for this Permian Basin county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Ward 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 Ward County.
Ward County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (432) 943-2091, 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
Ward County is located in the Permian Basin of West Texas along Interstate 20.