Archer County Death Record Lookup

The Archer County Death Index includes death records from 1903 to the present, held by the County Clerk's office in Archer City. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate for a death that occurred in Archer County, the clerk's office is the right place to start. Requests are handled in person or by mail, and forms are available on the county website.

Archer County Clerk and Death Records

The Archer County Clerk's office is at 100 S. Center, Archer City, TX 76351. Phone is (940) 574-4615. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk maintains vital records including death certificates, birth records, and marriage licenses. Applications for death records are available on the Archer County website.

Archer County was created in 1858 and organized in 1880. Death records go back to 1903, though a courthouse fire in 1904 destroyed some early records. Post-1904 records are well-preserved. If you are researching deaths before 1904, be aware that some documentation may be incomplete or missing due to that fire.

Certified copies are the only type of document the county issues. Plain copies are not provided. You must be a qualified applicant to receive a certificate for a death within the past 25 years.

The Archer County government website provides access to clerk services, fee schedules, and application forms for death certificates in Archer City.

The website includes downloadable applications and links to the 2024 clerk fee schedule for death certificates.

How to Search Archer County Death Records

Visit the clerk's office in Archer City to request a death certificate in person. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk can search by name and issue a certified copy while you wait in most cases. This is the fastest option if you can make the trip.

For mail requests, download the application from the county website at co.archer.tx.us. Fill it out completely, include a copy of your ID, and send a money order made out to the Archer County Clerk. Mail the packet to 100 S. Center, Archer City, TX 76351.

The Texas online vital records system through DSHS is another route. It covers statewide records and processes orders in 20 to 25 days. The DSHS mailing address is P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040 for mail requests, which take 25 to 30 days. Call (888) 963-7111 for help.

Death Certificate Fees in Archer County

The 2024 Archer County fee schedule sets the death certificate fee at $21.00 for the first certified copy. The fee breaks down as a $20.00 county clerk fee and a $1.00 vital statistics preservation fee. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $4.00, made up of a $3.00 clerk fee and a $1.00 preservation fee.

Payment is by money order or cashier's check for mail requests. No personal checks. In-person payments may include cash. Check the county website for current payment options. The DSHS office charges $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy when you order through the state.

Who Can Access Archer County Death Records

Records less than 25 years old are restricted. Qualified applicants include the person's immediate family and legal representatives. After 25 years, records are open to the public under Texas Government Code Section 552.115.

All applicants must provide a valid government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list covers driver's licenses, state IDs, passports, and military IDs. Making a false statement to obtain a death record is a felony carrying 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Archer County Death Records and Genealogy

Archer County is in north Texas near Wichita Falls. The county has records from 1903, though the 1904 courthouse fire affected some very early entries. For deaths before 1904, the DSHS statewide records or indexed resources may have copies. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index is a free way to search for Archer County deaths from 1903 to 2000. Ancestry's Texas Death Index covers the same period. Both are helpful when you are not sure exactly which year a death occurred.

The Library of Congress guide to Texas vital records explains how the state registration system works and where records are held. It is a good resource for anyone starting family history research in Texas.

Cities in Archer County

Archer City is the county seat. Other communities include Holliday and Windthorst. No cities in Archer County currently meet the population threshold for a separate city page. All death records go through the County Clerk's office in Archer City.

Nearby Counties

Archer County is in north Texas near the Oklahoma border. These nearby counties maintain their own death records.

Wichita County • Clay County • Jack County • Young County • Baylor County