College Station Death Records Search

College Station death records are split between two offices depending on where the death occurred. Deaths within College Station city limits since January 1, 2019 are handled by the College Station City Secretary. Deaths outside city limits but within Brazos County go to the Brazos County Clerk. This page explains which office applies to your situation and how to request certified copies.

Where to Get College Station Death Records

Since January 1, 2019, deaths within College Station city limits are registered with and handled by the College Station City Secretary. The city's vital records page is at cstx.gov. If the death occurred inside College Station after that date, start with the City Secretary.

For deaths outside College Station city limits, or for deaths that occurred before January 1, 2019, contact the Brazos County Clerk at 300 E. 26th Street, Suite 120, Bryan, TX 77803, phone 979-361-4128.

If you are not certain which office has the record you need, calling the Brazos County Clerk is a good first step. They can confirm whether the record was registered at the city or county level.

The Texas.gov vital records portal searches the statewide TxEVER system and works for College Station regardless of which local office holds the record. Online orders arrive in about 7 to 14 business days. This is often the simplest option when you are unsure which office to contact.

The state portal connects to records from 1903 onward and handles both city and county registered deaths in a single search.

How to Get a Certified Copy

You can request a College Station death certificate in person, online, by mail, or through the Texas DSHS. Which office you contact depends on when and where the death occurred.

In person at the College Station City Secretary (for deaths in the city since January 2019) or the Brazos County Clerk in Bryan. Show valid photo ID, complete the request form, and pay the fee. In-person requests are usually handled the same day.

Online through Texas.gov or VitalChek. Both connect to the statewide system. A service fee is added on top of the standard certificate cost. Allow 7 to 14 business days for delivery.

By mail to the appropriate office. For county-held records, send to Brazos County Clerk, 300 E. 26th Street, Suite 120, Bryan, TX 77803. Include a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow 3 to 4 weeks.

Through DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death. The state fee is $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. Expedited DSHS service costs $25.

For any request, provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and Brazos County as the location. If you know whether the death occurred within College Station city limits, include that information as well.

Who Can Access These Records

Texas restricts death records for 25 years following the date of death. Only immediate family and certain other qualified people can get a restricted record. After 25 years, the record becomes public.

Immediate family means the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Attorneys representing the estate and funeral directors may also qualify in specific cases.

To access a restricted record, show photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and court orders can establish the relationship. Contact the appropriate office before visiting to confirm what documents are needed.

Records older than 25 years are fully public. Any person can request a copy with valid photo ID. No family relationship needs to be shown. Texas records go back to 1903 statewide.

Genealogists and researchers working with older Brazos County records have access through the county clerk and through digital databases. Texas A&M University's library system in College Station also holds research materials that may supplement official vital records for local family history work.

Fees and Payment

Both the College Station City Secretary and the Brazos County Clerk charge the standard Texas fee: $21 for the first certified copy and $4 per additional copy at the same time.

DSHS charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. Expedited DSHS service is $25. Online platforms add their own service fees.

Payment at the counter can be made by cash, check, or credit or debit card depending on the office. Mail requests need a check or money order. Do not mail cash.

If you are managing an estate, order all the copies you need at once. Insurance companies, financial institutions, and the probate court each typically need their own original. Buying extras at the initial request costs less per copy than placing multiple separate orders.

Texas Law and Death Records

Texas vital records are governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. This law covers registration requirements, the 25-year restriction, and who may issue certified copies. Deaths must be registered within 10 days and before burial or cremation.

The College Station City Secretary acting as local registrar follows the same state rules as a county clerk. All death certificates registered through the city or county enter the TxEVER statewide system, making the records accessible at both local and state levels.

Brazos County uses justices of the peace to conduct death inquests under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49. Justices of the peace investigate unattended and unexpected deaths in the county and certify cause of death in those cases.

The administrative rules for death registration are in 25 TAC 181.31. These rules apply to all local registrars and county clerks in Texas, including the College Station City Secretary and the Brazos County Clerk.

Historical Records and Genealogy

Brazos County death records go back to 1903. For genealogy research in the College Station and Bryan area, there are several good resources to check in addition to the county clerk.

FamilySearch provides free access to Texas death records including Brazos County. Records include index entries and images of original certificates for many years. No subscription is needed.

Ancestry.com has a large Texas collection. A paid subscription is required. The platform is useful for cross-referencing death records with census data and other family history materials. For College Station and Bryan, Ancestry may also have Texas A&M alumni records and yearbooks that supplement vital records for academic community families.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin holds statewide records and research guides. Texas A&M University Libraries also hold local historical materials and special collections that may help with Brazos County family research going back to the county's earliest settlement.

Brazos County has several historical cemeteries, and cemetery index records are available through local genealogical societies and FamilySearch. These can help identify earlier deaths not captured in formal vital records.

Nearby Cities

Other cities in the area with death records pages: Waco, Houston, Austin.

County Resources

For county-level records, see the Brazos County records page.