Nolan County Death Index Search

The Nolan County death index is filed and maintained by the County Clerk in Sweetwater, where certified death certificates can be requested in person or by mail. Nolan County death records go back to 1903 as part of the Texas statewide vital records system managed by DSHS. State orders can also be placed through the Texas Vital Records portal. This page explains the process, fees, and who qualifies to access the Nolan County death index.

Nolan County Clerk and Death Index

The Nolan County Clerk in Sweetwater is the local registrar for all death records in the county. The clerk's office holds certified death certificates going back to 1903. Staff can search the death index by the name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. A valid photo ID from the government is required for every request. Office hours are Monday through Friday during standard courthouse times.

Records filed with the Nolan County Clerk are part of the same system as those held by the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit in Austin. Both hold copies of every death certificate registered in the county since 1903. You can go to either office for a certified copy. The county clerk in Sweetwater is the faster route for in-person requests. State orders from Austin are mailed and take more time.

To request by mail, use the VS-142 application form, include a copy of your ID, and send a check or money order payable to the Nolan County Clerk. State mail-in orders from Austin average 25 to 30 business days. County turnaround times depend on current request volume.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office provides the rules, forms, and processing times that apply to all county clerks in Texas, including the Nolan County Clerk in Sweetwater.

All death certificate requests in Nolan County follow the same statewide rules set by DSHS.

Death Certificate Fees in Nolan County

Nolan County follows the state fee schedule for death certificates. The first certified copy is $21.00. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $4.00. These fees are the same at every Texas county clerk office and are set by state law. Bring the correct fee in cash, check, or money order. Check with the clerk's office about whether they accept credit cards before you arrive.

The state DSHS office in Austin charges $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional. That is a dollar less, but the order is mailed and takes longer. For most situations involving a Nolan County death record, the county clerk in Sweetwater is the more practical option when you need the certificate within a few days. Online orders through Texas.gov are routed to the state office, not the county.

Note: If the clerk searches and finds no record, a non-refundable search fee equal to the certificate fee is still charged.

Who Can Request Nolan County Death Records

Death records less than 25 years old are restricted in Texas. Only immediate family members of the deceased can get certified copies during that period. Immediate family means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the person on the record. Legal representatives with supporting documentation can also request restricted records. The same rules apply at the county and state level, as confirmed by Texas Government Code Section 552.115.

Once a record is 25 years old, it becomes public and anyone can request a copy. All requesters still need to show valid government-issued ID. The DSHS acceptable ID list outlines Group A, B, and C forms of identification accepted at county offices. Making a false statement to obtain a death certificate is a felony under Texas law, with penalties up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Historical Records and Genealogy in Nolan County

Nolan County death records from 1903 through 2000 are indexed in the FamilySearch Texas Death Index and in Ancestry's Texas Death Index. Both let you look up a name, find the date and county, and get the certificate number before requesting the actual record. These databases work well for genealogy research but are not legal substitutes for certified copies issued by the county clerk.

The Texas State Library and Archives holds the statewide death index from 1903 to 1973, which is available for public research. For deaths in West Texas counties like Nolan, the state index and the county's own records are the two primary sources. Older records, especially from before 1930, sometimes have gaps or incomplete entries. If you do not find a record at the state level, it is worth checking directly with the Nolan County Clerk, since county registrations were not always forwarded to Austin immediately. The Library of Congress Texas research guide has more on how to navigate these gaps.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page lists Nolan County along with all other Texas counties where you can obtain certified death certificates from a local office.

Use the directory to get current contact details for the Nolan County Clerk's office in Sweetwater before sending a mail request.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Nolan County. Contact the appropriate clerk if you are not sure which county holds the record you need.

Fisher County • Jones County • Taylor County • Mitchell County • Scurry County