Ector County Death Index

Ector County death index records are maintained by the County Clerk in Odessa, Texas. You can search the Ector County death index and get certified death certificates for deaths in the county from 1903 to the present. The clerk's office in Odessa offers in-person, mail, and online ordering for death records, serving Odessa and the surrounding Permian Basin area.

Ector County Clerk and Death Records

The Ector County Clerk's office in Odessa handles all death records for the county. The clerk can be reached at (432) 498-4130. The Ector County Birth and Death Records page explains the process for requesting certificates in detail. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours.

Death records in Ector County are available from 1903 to the present. Birth records for Ector County are also available from 1903, and the county can issue birth certificates for births in any Texas county from 1926 onward. This remote access for birth records is a notable feature of the Ector County office. However, death certificates are only available for deaths that occurred in Ector County itself.

Note: Ector County remote access to birth records does not extend to death records. If you need a death certificate for a death in another county, you must contact that county's clerk directly or order through DSHS in Austin.

The Ector County Birth and Death Records page provides full instructions for requesting certified death certificates, including in-person, mail, and online ordering options.

Ector County is listed in the DSHS order records locally directory as a county office where you can get certified death certificates directly from the local level rather than ordering through Austin.

How to Request Ector County Death Records

In-person requests at the Ector County Clerk's office in Odessa are the fastest option. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or state ID card. The fee is $21.00 for the first copy. The clerk will search the death index and issue a certified copy the same day if the record is available. For deaths within the past 25 years, you must be a qualified applicant and have documentation showing your relationship to the deceased.

Mail requests are accepted. Complete 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 payable to the Ector County Clerk. Mail to the Ector County Clerk, Ector County Courthouse, Odessa, TX 79761. Processing is usually completed within a few business days of receipt.

Who Can Access Ector County Death Index Records

Texas restricts access to death records less than 25 years old under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Qualified applicants are immediate family members of the deceased: a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child. Legal representatives with proper documentation may also apply. After 25 years, the record becomes public and any person may request it. All applicants must show valid photo ID. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, or passport. See the DSHS acceptable ID list for the full breakdown. The Ector County Clerk will check your ID and may ask for additional proof of relationship for recent records. Falsifying information on a vital records application is a felony under Texas law.

Historical Death Index Research in Ector County

Ector County death records go back to 1903. For genealogy research, the free FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is searchable by name and county. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers a similar period and links to images for some years. Both are index-only databases that give you basic information about a death record without the full certificate.

The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds microfilmed death indexes from 1903 onward, including Ector County records. For older records or records not in the online databases, the state library is a good research resource. Ector County is in the Permian Basin region of West Texas, and the area saw significant population growth during oil booms, which can affect the volume and coverage of records from specific decades.

Death index records show the deceased's name, date, county, and certificate number. For cause of death, attending physician information, and other details, you need the full certified death certificate. The county clerk in Odessa and the DSHS in Austin both issue certified copies. The local county office is generally faster for in-person and mail requests.

Cities in Ector County

Ector County covers the Odessa metro area. All death records for the county go through the Ector County Clerk's office in Odessa.

Other communities in Ector County include Goldsmith and Gardendale. Death records for all areas of the county are maintained at the Ector County Clerk's office in Odessa.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ector County in West Texas. Contact the correct county clerk if you need records from a neighboring area.

Midland County • Martin County • Andrews County • Winkler County • Ward County • Crane County