Find Death Records in Parmer County

Parmer County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Farwell, where certified death certificates can be requested in person or by mail. The Parmer County death index is part of the Texas statewide vital records system, with records going back to 1903. You can also request records through the Texas Vital Records portal at the state office in Austin. This page covers the access process, fees, and who qualifies to request records from the Parmer County death index.

Parmer County Clerk and Death Index

The Parmer County Clerk in Farwell is the local registrar for death records. The office is at the county courthouse. Farwell sits on the Texas-New Mexico border in the South Plains region. The clerk can search the death index by name and date and issue certified copies to qualified applicants. Valid photo ID is required for every request. Hours are Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours.

Death records in Parmer County go back to 1903. They are also held at the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit in Austin, which maintains a statewide copy of all Texas death certificates. You can request a certified copy from either the county clerk in Farwell or from DSHS. Both issue the same certified document. The county is the practical choice for in-person requests. State orders are mailed and take 20 to 30 business days.

To make a mail request, complete the VS-142 form, include a copy of your ID, and send a check or money order payable to the Parmer County Clerk to the courthouse in Farwell. County turnaround times depend on current volume.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics site explains the statewide rules and fees used by the Parmer County Clerk and all other Texas county clerks when issuing death certificates.

Parmer County death certificate requests follow the same statewide fee schedule and access rules as all other Texas counties.

Parmer County Death Certificate Fees

A certified death certificate from the Parmer County Clerk costs $21.00 for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time, is $4.00. These fees are set by Texas law and apply at every county clerk office in the state. The fee includes a search charge, certification fee, and a vital records archive fee.

The state DSHS office in Austin charges $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 per additional. The state is a bit cheaper but orders are mailed and take longer. For Parmer County requests, the local county clerk is the faster option. A search fee equal to the certificate fee is charged when no record is found. That fee is non-refundable, whether you go in person, by mail, or through the state.

Accessing Parmer County Death Records

Texas restricts death records less than 25 years old. Only immediate family members of the deceased can get certified copies during that window. Immediate family means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. Legal representatives with valid documentation also qualify. ID is required for all requests regardless of record age.

Once a record is 25 years old or older, it becomes public information under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Anyone can then request a copy. The DSHS acceptable ID page lists what forms of ID are accepted. Falsifying information to obtain a death certificate is a felony in Texas, with penalties up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Historical Records Research in Parmer County

The FamilySearch Texas Death Index and Ancestry's Texas Death Index both cover Parmer County deaths from 1903 to 2000. Both include name, county, date, and certificate number. Using these indexes helps identify which record to request from the county clerk before making the trip or sending a request by mail.

Parmer County is a small South Plains county with a relatively compact death index. The Texas State Library and Archives holds the statewide death index from 1903 to 1973 for public research. For genealogists researching Panhandle and South Plains families, Parmer County records may overlap with those of neighboring counties in New Mexico as well. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide explains how the statewide index is structured and how to search it effectively.

Note: Early Parmer County records, especially from before 1920, may have gaps in registration. Contact the county clerk directly if you cannot find a record in the index.

The DSHS Order Records Locally directory lists Parmer County among the local Texas county offices that issue certified death certificates.

Check the directory for current contact information for the Parmer County Clerk's office in Farwell before sending a mail request.

Nearby Counties

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

Castro County • Swisher County • Lamb County • Bailey County • Deaf Smith County