Motley County Death Index

Motley County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Matador, Texas. The Motley County Death Index covers all deaths registered in the county from 1903 to the present. You can search the death index and obtain certified copies through the clerk's office in person, by mail, or through the Texas state online system. This page explains how to find and request Motley County death records.

Motley County Clerk and Death Records

The Motley County Clerk in Matador is the local registrar for all death records in the county. Matador is the county seat and home to the courthouse where the clerk's office is located. All deaths registered in Motley County from 1903 forward are on file with the clerk. The office handles vital records requests including death certificates, along with other county records. Motley County is one of the least populous counties in Texas, so the office is small and personalized service is common.

To get a certified death certificate from Motley County, you need a valid government-issued photo ID. For deaths within the past 25 years, you must also be a qualified applicant. Texas law limits access to recent death records to immediate family members of the deceased. That means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative with proper documentation can also qualify. After 25 years, the record is open to the public and any person can request a copy, though photo ID is still required.

In-person requests are processed at the clerk's office in Matador. The clerk searches the Motley County death index by name and approximate date of death. Certified copies are issued the same day for in-person visits when the record is available. Mail requests take additional time. For a very rural, small county like Motley, calling ahead before visiting is a good idea to confirm current hours and procedures.

Note: Motley County has one of the smallest populations in Texas. Records from the early 1900s may have occasional gaps, particularly for deaths in remote rural areas of the county that may not have been formally registered at the time.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office governs statewide rules for death records, setting the fees and access procedures that Motley County follows when issuing certified death certificates.

DSHS standards apply to all Texas county clerks, including Motley County, for processing death record requests.

How to Get Motley County Death Records

The most direct option is to go in person to the Motley County Clerk in Matador. Bring your photo ID and the fee. Give the clerk the full name and approximate date of death. The clerk will search the death index and issue a certified copy on the spot if the record is found. In-person service is especially useful for older records where the exact date may be uncertain.

Mail requests are accepted. Fill out the VS-142 application from DSHS. Include a copy of your photo ID and a money order or check payable to the Motley County Clerk. Mail it to the clerk's office at the courthouse in Matador. Processing takes a few business days after the office receives the packet, plus delivery time on both ends.

State online ordering is also available at txapps.texas.gov. Orders through the state go to DSHS in Austin and are mailed back to you. The state fee is $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. The Texas.gov vital records portal has full details on using the online system. State orders take longer than county orders.

Fees and Access Rules for Motley County Death Records

The county fee for a certified Motley County death certificate is $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. If a search finds no record, the search fee still applies and is not refunded. The state fee through DSHS is $20 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies, slightly less than the county rate. Both options produce certified copies.

Access is governed by Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Records less than 25 years old are restricted to immediate family members. Records 25 years old or older are public. All requesters need valid government-issued photo ID. The DSHS acceptable ID page explains what documents qualify. Providing false information to obtain a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page includes the Motley County Clerk as one of the local offices in Texas where you can get a certified death certificate in person or by mail.

This directory lists current contact information for the Motley County Clerk alongside every other local vital records office in the state.

Genealogy and Historical Research in Motley County

Motley County death records go back to 1903. This is a sparsely populated county in the Texas South Plains region, and records from the early years may reflect the challenges of registration in rural areas. For genealogy research, start with free online index tools to narrow down certificate details before requesting a copy from the county.

The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers deaths from 1903 to 2000 statewide, including Motley County. The database is free to search and shows the name, death county, date, and certificate number. Ancestry's Texas Death Index covers the same range with similar information. These index-only databases help you find the right record before calling or visiting the clerk's office. The Texas State Library and Archives holds microfilmed death indexes from 1903 to 1973 for public in-person research. The Library of Congress guide explains how Texas vital records are organized across state and county systems.

If a Motley County death record does not appear in online indexes, it is possible the death was not registered at the county level. Early deaths in remote areas were sometimes registered late or not at all. In those cases, the state office in Austin may still hold copies, or neighboring county offices may have records if the person died near a county border.

Cities in Motley County

Matador is the county seat of Motley County and the main community in the county. All death records for events in Motley County are filed with the County Clerk in Matador. No cities in Motley County meet the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Motley County. If you are unsure which county a death was registered in, the Motley County Clerk in Matador can help you find the right office.

Cottle County • Childress County • Hall County • Briscoe County • Floyd County • Dickens County