Odessa Death Index Records
Odessa death index records are maintained by the Ector County Clerk, the local registrar for vital records in the Odessa area. The Ector County Clerk handles all death certificates filed in the county going back to 1903. If you need to find a death record or get a certified copy for an Odessa resident, you can contact the Ector County Clerk directly, order through the county's online portal, or use the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics system in Austin.
Odessa Overview
Ector County Death Index Records
The Ector County Clerk serves as the local registrar of vital records for Odessa. Death records for Ector County go from 1903 to the present. Birth records from other Texas counties are available through the county's remote access system from 1926 to the present. Death records available at Ector County cover only events that occurred in Ector County, so if a death happened elsewhere in Texas, you would need to contact that county or the DSHS statewide system.
The Ector County Birth and Death Records page shown below explains local access rules for Odessa death index requests.
The Ector County Clerk page outlines who can access Odessa death index records, how to apply, and where to send requests.
Requesting Odessa Death Certificates
To get a certified Odessa death certificate, you can use the Ector County online portal, order through Texas.gov, mail Form VS-142 to DSHS in Austin, or visit the Ector County Clerk in person. In-person requests are fast and the clerk can usually provide same-day copies. The county online portal is a good option if you want to order without going to the office.
Death records are restricted for 25 years. Only immediate family members can obtain certified copies during this time. The issuance of death certificates is restricted to qualified applicants for 25 years from the date of filing. Birth records are restricted for 75 years. The county website notes that birth and death records are not open for public inspection during these confidentiality periods. After 25 years for deaths, the records become public.
Note: Fees are $21 for the first death certificate copy and $4 per additional copy at the county level. State fees are $20 and $3 respectively. Search fees are non-refundable if a record is not found.
Odessa Death Index Access Rules
The Ector County Clerk applies the same confidentiality rules as the state. Under Government Code Section 552.115, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. Immediate family may request certified copies during this window. After 25 years, the full record is public. The general death index entries, including name, death date, county, and certificate number, are available to the public in most cases even for recent deaths.
For Odessa genealogical research, the Ancestry Texas Death Index 1903-2000 covers Ector County deaths in its database of over 7 million records. FamilySearch also has free collections including Texas Deaths 1890-1976 and the Texas Death Index through 2000. These are good starting points for historical research on Odessa and Ector County.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities near Odessa include Midland, Abilene, San Angelo, and Lubbock.