Maverick County Death Records

Maverick County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Eagle Pass and cover deaths registered in this South Texas border county since 1903. If you need a certified death certificate for legal, estate, or personal reasons, you can request one in person at the courthouse in Eagle Pass, by mail, or through the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin. The county clerk maintains the local index for all deaths registered in Maverick County.

Maverick County Clerk Office

The Maverick County Clerk is located at 500 Quarry Street in Eagle Pass, which sits on the Rio Grande across from Piedras Negras, Mexico. Maverick County is part of the South Texas border region and includes communities such as El Indio and Quemado in addition to the Eagle Pass area.

The clerk's office holds death records for all deaths registered in the county. If you need to confirm whether a specific record is on file before coming in person, call (830) 773-2829. Staff can search the county index by name and date.

Note that deaths occurring on the Mexican side of the border are not registered in Maverick County. Only deaths that occurred within Maverick County, Texas, go through this office. For deaths that happened elsewhere in Texas, contact that county's clerk or DSHS.

Maverick County does not have a separate public online records portal for death certificates. Use the DSHS or Texas.gov systems for digital requests.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

The Maverick County Clerk charges $21 for a certified death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record costs $4 when ordered at the same time. These fees are set by the state and are the same for every county clerk in Texas.

In-person requests are handled at 500 Quarry Street. Bring a valid photo ID and give the clerk the full name and date of death for the person whose record you need. If the record is indexed and on file, you can typically receive a certified copy the same day. For older records not yet digitized, the search may take a little longer.

For mail requests, write a letter stating the name of the deceased, the date of death, and your relationship to the person. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to the Maverick County Clerk. Mail to 500 Quarry Street, Suite 1, Eagle Pass, TX 78852. Mail requests typically take two to four weeks.

State-level orders through DSHS are another option. DSHS can process requests for any Texas county. Online ordering is also available through VitalChek for a convenience fee plus the base certificate cost.

Who Can Request Death Records

Texas restricts access to death records for the first 25 years after the date of death. During that window, only the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased may request a certified copy. Their legal representatives may also make the request on their behalf.

People outside those categories can still obtain the record if they have a direct and tangible legal need. Common examples include settling an estate, a life insurance claim, or other legal proceedings tied to the death. You may need to provide a written explanation and supporting documents.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public. Anyone can request it without providing a reason. Researchers, genealogists, and family members tracing older family lines all use public-access records for this type of search.

All requestors must show a valid government-issued photo ID. The DSHS accepted ID guide lists all forms recognized by Texas for vital records requests.

Fees and Payment

Maverick County Clerk fee: $21 for the first certified copy, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Pay at the counter with cash, check, or money order. For mail orders, use a check or money order payable to the Maverick County Clerk. Do not mail cash.

DSHS fee: $20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy. DSHS also offers 24-hour expedited service for an extra $25. Phone: (888) 963-7111. Mail: P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. In-person: 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756.

VitalChek charges a convenience fee on top of the base cost. The total amount depends on the delivery option you pick. Standard mail delivery is the most affordable choice.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Death record registration in Texas is governed by Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. The law requires that a death be registered within 10 days. The funeral director or person who takes charge of the body files the certificate with the local registrar, which in Maverick County is the county clerk or a designated deputy.

The certificate must include the deceased's full name, date and location of death, and cause of death as determined by a physician, medical examiner, or justice of the peace. If the cause of death is unclear, sudden, or violent, the justice of the peace may open an inquest under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49. The JP or medical examiner certifies the cause before the record can be finalized.

Texas uses TxEVER (Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar) for electronic filing and storage of all vital records. Every death registered in the state flows through this system, allowing DSHS to maintain a central index of all Texas death filings regardless of county.

Relevant statutes: Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 49, and access rules in Title 25, Chapter 181 of the Texas Administrative Code.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

Official death records for Maverick County begin in 1903. Before that date, church registers and civil records from the Spanish and Mexican periods are the main documentary sources for deaths in this border region. Those older records, if they survived, are generally held by local churches, the Diocese of San Antonio, or archives in Mexico rather than the county clerk.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds microfilm of Texas vital records from the early years of statewide registration. For Maverick County, this collection covers records from the 1903 start of the registration system through several decades. Research staff can help you determine which years and record types are available.

FamilySearch has free searchable Texas death records including indexes and some digitized certificates. Their platform lets you search by name, county, and date range without any cost. This is a good starting point for any historical research into Maverick County deaths.

Ancestry.com holds Texas death indexes and some certificate images. Library cardholders at many public libraries can access Ancestry for free, which is worth checking before purchasing a subscription.

The Eagle Pass Public Library and local genealogical societies may hold records, obituaries, and cemetery documentation specific to Maverick County and its communities. These informal sources can fill in gaps for early 20th-century deaths not fully captured in the official registration system.

State-Level Death Record Requests

The Texas Department of State Health Services handles statewide death certificate orders. DSHS can fulfill requests for any death registered in Texas, regardless of county. This is the best option if you are not certain which county holds the record you need.

Contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111 or visit dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. Mail to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. In-person service is at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756.

The Texas.gov vital records portal lets you order certified death certificates online from anywhere in Texas.

Online orders are processed statewide and arrive within 7 to 14 business days.

Additional details on the state process are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death.

Cities in Maverick County

Eagle Pass is the county seat and the main city in Maverick County. No cities in Maverick County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Death records for all communities in the county, including Eagle Pass, El Indio, and Quemado, are handled through the Maverick County Clerk at 500 Quarry Street in Eagle Pass.

Nearby Counties

Deaths registered just outside Maverick County may be on file with a neighboring clerk. Check these offices if your search at Maverick County comes up empty: Zavala County, Dimmit County, Kinney County, Val Verde County, Webb County.