Howard County Death Index Search

Howard County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Big Spring, Texas, and the death index covers events registered in the county from 1903 to the present. The clerk is the local registrar for vital statistics and issues certified death certificates to qualified applicants in person, by mail, or through the Texas Vital Records online system.

Howard County Clerk and Death Records

The Howard County Clerk's office is located at 300 S. Main St., Big Spring, TX 79720. The office can be reached at (432) 264-2222. The clerk manages death records as the official local registrar under Texas state law. Howard County is in the Permian Basin region of West Texas. Big Spring serves as the county seat and main population center, and the clerk's office processes vital records requests for residents across the county.

A certified Howard County death certificate costs $21.00 for the first copy. The fee is broken down under state statutes: a county death certificate fee under Texas Administrative Code Section 181.22, plus a Vital Records Preservation Fee under Health and Safety Code Section 191.0045. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, costs $4.00. Mail requests should include a money order payable to the Howard County Clerk. Personal checks may not be accepted.

Verification of death documents, which confirm a death is on file but are not full certified copies, are available for $20.00. These are not legal substitutes for certified copies but can confirm a record exists before ordering a full certificate. Contact the Howard County Clerk at (432) 264-2222 to ask about current procedures and payment options before submitting any request.

Note: Search fees in Texas are not refunded if a record is not found. Confirm the county and approximate date of death before paying for a search. The free FamilySearch Texas Death Index can help you verify the county of record before submitting a paid request.

How to Search Howard County Death Records

In-person requests at 300 S. Main St. in Big Spring are the fastest option. Bring valid government-issued photo ID and the fee. The clerk searches by name and approximate year of death. Certified copies are issued the same day for most requests. The office phone number is (432) 264-2222 if you want to call ahead.

Mail requests require the completed VS-142 Death Certificate Application, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a money order payable to the Howard County Clerk, 300 S. Main St., Big Spring, TX 79720. Allow about a week after the office receives your packet. Some Texas clerks also require a notarized affidavit of personal knowledge for mail requests, so call the office to confirm before sending.

Online ordering through txapps.texas.gov or the Texas.gov vital records portal connects to the DSHS statewide system. These orders take 20 to 25 business days and are mailed from Austin. State fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. Both county and state routes produce valid certified copies.

Who Can Access Howard County Death Records

Texas law restricts access to death records less than 25 years old. Only qualified applicants can request certified copies during that window. Qualified applicants under Texas Administrative Code Section 181.1(13) are the deceased's spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative or guardian with proper documentation also qualifies. After 25 years, the record is public and any person with valid ID can request it.

This restriction is established in Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all requests, whether the record is restricted or public. The DSHS acceptable ID list details which forms are accepted. Providing false information to obtain a death certificate is a felony under Health and Safety Code Section 195.003, with penalties of 2 to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000.

Non-family members with a direct legal interest, such as insurance beneficiaries or estate representatives, can provide documentation of their interest. This may include an insurance policy naming the requester, letters testamentary, or a court order. Contact the Howard County Clerk at (432) 264-2222 to confirm what documentation is needed before mailing a request.

Historical Death Records in Howard County

Howard County death records go back to 1903. Big Spring and the surrounding Permian Basin area have seen periods of growth tied to oil production and ranching. The records reflect the families who have lived and worked in the region over more than a century.

Free online tools include the FamilySearch Texas Death Index covering 1903 to 2000 and Ancestry's Texas Death Index for a similar range. These are name indexes that provide the county of record, date of death, and certificate number. Use them to confirm a death was registered in Howard County before placing a paid request with the clerk in Big Spring. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide explains the statewide system and is a useful reference for genealogists.

The Texas State Library and Archives holds microfilmed death indexes for 1903 to 1973. Researchers who cannot travel to Big Spring can use those resources to gather key information before requesting certified copies by mail.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page lists Howard County along with all other Texas county offices that issue certified death certificates, including current contact details for the Big Spring office.

Howard County residents can order through the local clerk at 300 S. Main St. in Big Spring or through the statewide DSHS system in Austin.

Cities in Howard County

Howard County includes Big Spring and smaller communities in West Texas. All death records for the county go through the Howard County Clerk at 300 S. Main St. in Big Spring.

Communities in Howard County include Big Spring, Coahoma, and Forsan. The nearby city of Midland is in Midland County. No city in Howard County meets the 100,000-population threshold for a qualifying city page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Howard County. If you are not certain which county a death was registered in, contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111 for guidance.

Dawson County • Martin County • Midland County • Glasscock County • Sterling County • Mitchell County