Search Dawson County Death Index

Dawson County death index records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Lamesa, Texas. You can search the death index and get certified copies of death certificates for deaths in Dawson County from 1905 to the present. The county was organized in 1905, which is why records start that year rather than 1903 like most Texas counties.

Dawson County Clerk and Death Records

The Dawson County Clerk's office in Lamesa serves as the local registrar for death records in the county. The office is located at the Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa, Texas. You can reach the clerk by phone at 806-872-3778. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Dawson County website has current contact details and general information about county services.

Death records in Dawson County go back to 1905 when the county was formally organized. Dawson County was created from Bexar County in 1876 but was not organized until 1905, which is why the death index begins that year. The county seat has always been Lamesa, and the courthouse there has been the home of vital records since the county's organization. All deaths that occurred within Dawson County's boundaries are registered with the county clerk.

The fee for a certified death certificate is $21.00 for the first copy. Each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $4.00. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Do not send cash through the mail. If you are ordering by mail, use a check or money order payable to the Dawson County Clerk.

Note: Dawson County's records start in 1905, not 1903. If you are looking for a death that occurred in this area in 1903 or 1904, the record may not exist at the county level. Check the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office for guidance on finding older or missing records.

The Dawson County website lists contact information for the county clerk and provides information about obtaining vital records including death certificates from the Lamesa courthouse.

The Dawson County Clerk in Lamesa is the only local office that can issue certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Dawson County.

How to Find Dawson County Death Records

In-person requests give you the fastest results. Go to the Dawson County Clerk at the Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa. Bring valid government-issued photo ID and $21.00. The clerk can search the death index and issue a certified copy the same day if the record is on file. For deaths within the past 25 years, you also need to show proof of your relationship to the person on the record.

Mail requests are accepted. Fill out the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Include a clear copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for $21.00 made out to the Dawson County Clerk. Mail everything to the Dawson County Clerk at the Dawson County Courthouse, Lamesa, TX 79331. Processing times vary but are usually a few business days after the office receives your request.

For statewide online ordering, use the Texas online vital records system. State-processed orders take 20-25 business days and are mailed from Austin. The state fee is $20.00 for the first copy, which is slightly less than the county fee. Both options produce a certified copy valid for legal purposes. For Dawson County specifically, the local office may be more practical since it can handle requests the same day in person.

Who Can Access the Dawson County Death Index

Texas restricts access to death records less than 25 years old. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that period. A qualified applicant is an immediate family member, meaning a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. A legal representative with proper paperwork may also request records. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, death records become public information 25 years after the date of death. At that point, anyone can request a certified copy.

All applicants must show valid government-issued photo ID at the time of the request. Check the DSHS acceptable ID list to confirm what forms of ID are accepted. Acceptable options include a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, or U.S. passport. The clerk checks ID for every death record request, whether the requester is family or a member of the general public requesting an older record.

Making a false statement to get a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195. The penalty can be 2 to 10 years in prison plus fines up to $10,000. This applies to all vital records requests in Texas, including at the Dawson County Clerk's office.

Genealogy Research in Dawson County

Dawson County records go back to 1905. For genealogy, the statewide death index is a useful starting point. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index is free and covers deaths from 1903 to 2000. You can search by name and narrow results to Dawson County. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers a similar range and provides images for some years. Both tools let you confirm whether a record exists before you request a certified copy from the county.

The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds microfilmed death indexes for the state going back to 1903. For Dawson County research specifically, the microfilm covers records from 1905 onward. Researchers can also contact the county clerk directly to ask whether a death occurred in the county if they are unsure of the location.

Dawson County was named for Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a Texas Ranger. The county has an agricultural history centered on cotton farming and later oil production. This background can sometimes help genealogists understand migration patterns and where people lived in the region during specific time periods.

Note: Verification letters are available if you need to confirm a death is on file without obtaining a certified copy. The fee is the same as for a certified copy, and the letter is not a substitute for a certified death certificate for legal purposes.

Cities in Dawson County

Dawson County's county seat is Lamesa. Other communities in the county include O'Brien, Welch, and Tahoka Road area settlements. No cities in Dawson County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All death records for the county go through the Dawson County Clerk in Lamesa.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dawson County. If a death may have occurred near the county line, check with the appropriate clerk to confirm registration.

Lubbock County • Lynn County • Terry County • Yoakum County • Gaines County • Borden County • Martin County