Find Comanche County Death Records
Comanche County death records are maintained by the Oklahoma State Department of Health rather than any local office in Lawton. When someone dies in Comanche County, the funeral director files the death certificate directly with the state. Residents looking for a certified copy will need to request one from the state vital records office, by mail, in person, or through VitalChek online. The OK2Explore database lets you search for free to see if a record exists before you spend money on fees. This page walks through the full process for getting Comanche County death certificates and related records.
Comanche County at a Glance
Comanche County Death Certificate Process
Death certificates in Comanche County follow the same statewide process used across all 77 Oklahoma counties. The Oklahoma State Department of Health stores all death records. The county clerk, Carrie Tubbs, handles property records and marriage licenses but does not issue death certificates. Court Clerk Robert Morales manages court filings, which are also separate from vital records. Only the state vital records office can give you a certified copy of a death certificate.
The cost is $15 per copy. That fee is not refundable. If the state searches and finds no match, you still lose your money. Additional copies are $15 each as well. Pay by check or money order to OSDH for mail requests. Cash works at state offices. Credit cards are only accepted through VitalChek, which charges a service fee.
How to Request Death Records in Comanche County
There are three ways to get a death certificate. You can visit a state office, mail your request, or order through VitalChek online. In-person visits take about one hour. Mail takes roughly four weeks. VitalChek is faster than mail in most cases. Each method needs a completed application form and a copy of your photo ID.
Comanche County residents can visit three state offices. The main office is in Oklahoma City at 1000 NE 10th Street. The Tulsa office is at 5051 S. 129th East Ave. There is also a satellite office in McAlester at 1400 East College Avenue. For people in Lawton, the OKC office is the closest option. Will call pickup runs from 12:00 to 4:45 PM on weekdays. The courthouse in Lawton has accessible parking with wheelchair ramps for those who need to visit local offices for other county services.
Mail your request to Vital Records Service, PO Box 53551, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Include the completed form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order for $15 per copy. Do not mail cash.
Comanche County Death Records Eligibility
Title 63 O.S. Section 1-323 governs who can access death records. Records more than 50 years old are open to anyone. A law that took effect November 1, 2016 made this the standard. For records less than 50 years old, you must be an eligible party. That means a spouse, parent, child, legal guardian, or someone with a court order. The application asks for your relationship to the deceased.
You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, military ID, or tribal ID works. Expired licenses are accepted if they expired within the last three years. Without a primary ID, you can use two secondary forms, but the certificate gets mailed instead of handed to you at the counter.
Comanche County Government Resources
The Comanche County website has information about county government offices and services. While the county does not handle death certificates, the site is useful for finding contact details for the county clerk, court clerk, sheriff's office under Michael Merritt, and the District Attorney Kyle Cabelka. The screenshot below shows the county's official portal.
Comanche County's website links to various departments. Remember that death records are handled at the state level, not through any of these local offices.
Comanche County Health Department
The Comanche County Health Department in Lawton provides public health services but does not issue death certificates. Staff there can answer basic questions and point you toward the right state office. They handle things like immunizations, environmental health, and community wellness programs.
The screenshot above shows the department's page on the state health website. You will find contact details, hours, and a list of their services there. But for death certificates, you must go to the state vital records office.
Note: County health departments across Oklahoma cannot issue death certificates or accept payment for vital records requests.
Online Death Records Search for Comanche County
The OK2Explore database is free and open to everyone. It lists deaths from five or more years ago. You search by name, date, county, and sex. The index shows whether a record exists but does not display the actual certificate. Use this tool before you pay the $15 fee.
You can also search Comanche County records on OKCountyRecords.com for other public filings. This site covers property records, court filings, and various other county documents.
The search interface shown above lets you browse Comanche County public records. Death certificates themselves are only available from the state, but related court or property filings can be found here.
Comanche County Genealogy Resources
The Oklahoma Historical Society research center in Oklahoma City gives free access to Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, and HeritageQuest. These tools have census data, military records, and some vital record indexes. Comanche County has strong military ties through Fort Sill, so military records can be especially relevant for family research in this area.
The Gateway to Oklahoma History holds digitized newspapers where you can find obituaries and death notices from Comanche County. This helps when official records are missing or incomplete, especially for deaths before 1917 when filing was not mandatory.
Corrections and Legal Use of Comanche County Death Records
Errors on a death certificate can be fixed through the state vital records office. The amendment fee is $25. You mail the application with your ID and a note about the error. Supporting documents vary depending on what needs to be changed.
For death certificates needed in foreign countries, get an apostille from the Oklahoma Secretary of State. The Oklahoma State Courts Network has court records for Comanche County, which can be useful for probate and estate matters that involve death certificates. Call the state vital records office at (405) 271-4040 or (405) 426-8880, or email AskVR@health.ok.gov for help.