Bexar County Death Records

Bexar County death records date back to 1873 and are maintained by the County Clerk in San Antonio, along with a dedicated City of San Antonio vital statistics office. Certified death certificates can be requested in person, by mail, or online through the state's vital records system.

Bexar County Clerk Office

The Bexar County Clerk is located in downtown San Antonio at the Paul Elizondo Tower. This office handles birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, probate filings, and land records for the county. For deaths that occurred within the City of San Antonio, a separate vital statistics office operated by the city also processes requests. It is worth knowing which office holds the specific record you need before visiting.

Bexar County has one of the oldest and largest vital records archives in Texas, with death records going back to 1873. The county clerk's office handles requests for most deaths in the county, but the City of San Antonio also maintains a dedicated vital records office at 719 South Santa Rosa, San Antonio, TX 78204. For recent deaths within San Antonio city limits, it may be worth contacting both offices to confirm where the specific record is held.

The Bexar County Clerk website at bexar.org provides detailed information on how to request birth and death certificates, including forms you can download in advance. The site also explains the difference between county records and city records for San Antonio.

For the dedicated San Antonio city death records page, visit San Antonio Death Records.

The Bexar County vital statistics office handles birth and death certificate requests for the county.

The Bexar County Clerk services page outlines available vital record request options and office details.

The main Bexar County Clerk office is located in downtown San Antonio at the Paul Elizondo Tower.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

Certified death certificates from Bexar County can be obtained in person at the county clerk's office, in person at the city vital statistics office, by mail, or through the state's online system.

For in-person requests at the Bexar County Clerk, go to 100 Dolorosa in downtown San Antonio with valid photo ID and the name and date of death. Bring cash or check to pay the $21 fee for the first copy. Lines can be long at this busy office, so arriving early is advisable. The county clerk processes most requests while you wait.

For deaths within San Antonio city limits, the City Clerk Vital Records office at 719 South Santa Rosa, San Antonio, TX 78204 (phone 877-885-1888) may also hold the record. Call ahead to confirm. The city office processes its own certified copies, and fees and procedures may differ slightly from the county clerk.

Mail requests to the Bexar County Clerk at 100 Dolorosa, San Antonio, TX 78205. Include a written request, a photo ID copy, and a check or money order payable to the Bexar County Clerk. Allow extra time for mail processing.

Online orders through Texas.gov or VitalChek cover all Texas counties, including Bexar. Certified copies are shipped by mail in approximately 7 to 14 business days. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin also accepts walk-in and mail requests. Call (888) 963-7111 or mail to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.

Who Can Request Death Records

Texas law restricts access to death certificates that are less than 25 years old. Only qualified persons may request certified copies of recent records.

Eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, parent, adult child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Attorneys of record, estate representatives, and people with a documented direct and tangible interest in the record also qualify. Proof of relationship or legal standing must be provided along with a valid photo ID.

Death records that are 25 years old or more are open to the public. Anyone may request these older records without showing a specific interest. The 25-year restriction is set by 25 TAC Chapter 181.

Acceptable forms of ID for all vital record requests are listed at the DSHS Acceptable IDs page. Accepted documents include a Texas driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID card.

Fees and Payment

The fee for a certified death certificate from the Bexar County Clerk is $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. These fees are standard across all Texas county clerks.

The Bexar County Clerk accepts cash, check, and money order. Call (210) 335-2581 to confirm whether credit or debit cards are currently accepted. For mail requests, make checks or money orders payable to the Bexar County Clerk. Do not mail cash.

Ordering through DSHS Vital Statistics costs $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy. DSHS expedited service is $25 and speeds up processing. Online platforms may add a service fee on top of the certificate cost.

Fees paid are non-refundable after a record search is conducted. A "no record found" certificate is issued at the same fee if no matching record is located.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Texas vital records are governed by the Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, which sets registration requirements, maintenance standards, and access rules. Chapter 193 covers the required content and filing procedures for death certificates specifically.

Deaths in Texas must be registered within 10 days. The attending physician or medical examiner completes the cause-of-death section. The funeral home or next of kin provides personal information about the deceased. The completed certificate goes to the local registrar and then to the state.

Texas processes all death certificates through TxEVER, the state's electronic vital records system. Medical providers and funeral homes file electronically, which makes records available more quickly at both the county and state level. Bexar County processes a large volume of death certificates annually due to the size of the San Antonio metro area.

For deaths requiring investigation, Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49 governs the inquest process. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office handles investigated deaths in the county and maintains its own records separate from the county clerk.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

Bexar County has one of the deepest historical records archives in Texas, with death records extending back to 1873, decades before statewide registration was required in 1903. This makes Bexar County a valuable resource for genealogy research on San Antonio and South Texas families.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) in Austin holds microfilm and digital copies of early Bexar County death records and other vital registrations. These are accessible in person at the Austin archives or through TSLAC's online catalog.

FamilySearch has digitized collections for Bexar County and the San Antonio area going back to the 19th century. Search by name, year, or county for free access to index entries and some original images.

Ancestry.com has Texas vital records collections, including Bexar County death indices going back to the 1800s. The San Antonio Public Library system may offer free Ancestry access for library card holders.

The San Antonio Public Library Texana/Genealogy collection holds extensive local records, including newspaper obituaries, cemetery surveys, and historical family files. This is one of the best local genealogy collections in South Texas.

State-Level Death Record Requests

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section handles death certificate requests for all Texas counties, including Bexar County. This is a good option for ordering online or by mail without visiting the county clerk.

Order online at Texas.gov, walk in to the DSHS office at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756, or mail to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Call (888) 963-7111 for assistance.

Full details on ordering procedures, fees, and required ID are at the DSHS death records page.

Cities in Bexar County

San Antonio is the county seat and by far the largest city in Bexar County, with a population well over one million. San Antonio has a dedicated page: San Antonio Death Records. Other communities in Bexar County include Leon Valley, Converse, Universal City, Helotes, and Windcrest, none of which meet the 100,000-population threshold for a separate city page.

Nearby Counties

Bexar County is bordered by several counties in the San Antonio region. For death records from nearby areas, visit: Medina County, Bandera County, Kendall County, Comal County, Guadalupe County, Wilson County, and Atascosa County.