Aransas County Death Records

Aransas County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Rockport, Texas, with records for county deaths going back to 1903. If you need a certified death certificate for legal, financial, or personal reasons, you can request it in person at the current clerk's office location or by sending a written mail request. Online ordering through the state system is also available. The Aransas County Clerk does not conduct telephone searches, so all requests must be submitted in writing or in person.

Aransas County Clerk Office

County Clerk Misty R. F. Kimbrough oversees vital records for Aransas County. The office is currently operating from a temporary location on Highway 35 North in Rockport. This temporary address has been in place following storm-related impacts in the area, so confirm the address before visiting. The office is open in two shifts during the day with a break at midday.

The Aransas County Clerk's official page provides current contact information, office hours, and guidance on requesting vital records from the county office.

The county clerk's website details the vital records services available, including the types of records held and the procedures for requesting certified copies.

How to Get a Death Certificate

For in-person requests, visit the county clerk's office on Highway 35 North during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and payment for the $21 fee. The clerk will process your request and issue a certified copy the same day if the record is available. Keep in mind the office closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM, so arrive before noon or after 1:00 PM to avoid wait time.

Mail requests are accepted for death certificates. Include a clear photocopy of your valid photo ID and payment by check or money order made payable to the Aransas County Clerk. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted. If you want the record returned by mail but are not sending a self-addressed stamped envelope, the office charges a $3 postage fee. Mail processing takes about 7 to 10 business days from receipt. No telephone searches are conducted, so do not call to ask staff to look up record details over the phone.

For online ordering, use Texas.gov or VitalChek. These platforms connect to the DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin, which holds copies of all Texas death records. You can also call DSHS at (888) 963-7111 or visit their walk-in office at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, for same-day service. Mail requests to DSHS can be sent to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.

Eligibility and Confidentiality Rules

Death records in Aransas County that are less than 25 years old are restricted under Texas law. Under 25 TAC Chapter 181, only immediate family members and certain authorized parties can obtain certified copies of restricted death records.

Immediate family includes a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Legal representatives and government agencies with a lawful need may also qualify. You must show valid identification and, for mail requests, include a copy of your photo ID. The DSHS list of acceptable IDs includes a Texas driver's license or state ID, U.S. passport, or military identification card.

Death records older than 25 years are open to the public. Researchers can request them without proving a family connection. Note that Aransas County also has a specific rule limiting birth certificate issuance to 10 copies per person over a lifetime when requested at the county clerk level. This limit applies to birth records, not death records, but it reflects the county's approach to vital records management.

Fees and Payment

Aransas County charges $21 for the first certified death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $4. If you are mailing a request without enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope, add $3 to cover postage. Payment by out-of-state personal check is not accepted at this office.

Acceptable payment methods include cash, in-state personal check, or money order for in-person requests. Mail requests should use a money order or in-state check. For online orders through Texas.gov or VitalChek, pay by credit or debit card. The DSHS state office charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional, with $25 expedited processing available.

Texas Filing Laws and Record Requirements

The Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191 requires that a death certificate be filed within 10 days of the date of death. The physician or medical examiner completes the cause of death section, and the funeral home or responsible party files the certificate with the Aransas County Clerk as the local registrar. After the clerk accepts the filing, the record is added to TxEVER, the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar that links all county registrars with the DSHS statewide database.

When a death occurs under unclear or suspicious circumstances, an inquest may be required under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49. In Aransas County, the justice of the peace handles inquests. Inquest records are maintained by the court and are separate from the death certificate. Contact the local justice of the peace if you need documentation from an inquest proceeding.

Historical and Genealogy Records

Aransas County has vital records going back well before the 20th century. Death and birth records begin in 1903, marriage records go back to 1871, and land and probate records also date from 1871. For researchers looking for deaths before 1903, probate records, court filings, and land records held by the county may provide indirect evidence of dates and circumstances of death.

FamilySearch has free online access to Texas death records, including records from coastal counties like Aransas. Ancestry also maintains a large Texas vital records database with indexed and scanned death certificates. For records that have been transferred to state-level archives, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission can help with research requests, both online and at their Austin reading room.

Cities in Aransas County

Aransas County does not have a city that meets the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Rockport is the county seat and primary city in the county. Residents throughout Aransas County use the county clerk's office in Rockport for death record requests and other vital records services.

Nearby Counties

Aransas County is a coastal county in South Texas. Deaths that occurred just outside county lines would be recorded with a neighboring county clerk. You can find death records information for Refugio County and San Patricio County, both of which border Aransas County.