Real County Death Records

Real County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Leakey, the small county seat of this rugged Hill Country county in Southwest Texas. The clerk's office holds certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in the county since Texas began requiring statewide death registration in 1903. You can request records by visiting the courthouse, by mail, or through the Texas Department of State Health Services for a statewide online option.

Real County Clerk Office

The Real County Clerk's office in Leakey handles death records for this remote Hill Country county. Real County is one of the least populated counties in Texas, and the clerk's office is small. Call ahead at (830) 232-5202 to confirm office hours and staffing before you make the drive on Ranch Road 337 or US Highway 83 into Leakey. The office can answer questions about what records they hold and what you will need to bring.

Mail requests are accepted. Send a completed form, a legible copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Real County Clerk to the P.O. Box address. Processing by mail typically takes two to four weeks. Given the county's remote location, the state's online ordering system through DSHS or VitalChek is often the most practical option for most requesters.

Death records for Real County go back to 1903. Early records from the first few decades may be incomplete because of the county's very small population and limited access to filing infrastructure. For deaths before 1903 or for gaps in the early record set, church records and local cemetery documentation are the main alternative sources.

Getting a Certified Death Certificate

A certified death certificate is an official document with a government seal that proves a person has died. It is required for settling an estate, claiming insurance, transferring property, and other legal matters. Real County issues certified copies for deaths that were registered in the county.

To request a copy, you need the full name of the deceased, their date of death, and the place where they died. You must also show that you are authorized to receive the record. For deaths within the 25-year restricted period, this means presenting valid photo ID and documentation of your relationship to the deceased or a legal basis for the request.

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.

Order more than one copy when you first make the request. Most legal and financial matters require each institution to have its own original certified copy, and getting extras in your first request costs much less than a second separate request.

Who Can Request Death Records

Texas restricts death records for the first 25 years after the date of death. During this time, only authorized individuals may get a certified copy. These include the spouse, parent, child, adult sibling, grandparent, and grandchild of the deceased. Legal guardians and court-authorized representatives also qualify.

After 25 years, the record becomes public. Any person can request a copy without providing a reason or proving a family connection. This is the rule most relevant to genealogical research, where records are typically decades old and freely accessible.

Funeral directors and attorneys with documented legal authority may access records outside the standard family eligibility rules. Government agencies may access records for official purposes. For any unclear situation, contact the clerk at (830) 232-5202 before submitting your request to confirm eligibility.

See the DSHS acceptable ID list for what forms of identification are accepted. A Texas driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport are the most common. Confirm what you need to bring before making the trip to Leakey.

Fees and Payment

The Real County Clerk charges $21 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $4. Fees are set by Texas law and are the same in all Texas counties.

DSHS charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. Online orders through VitalChek carry an additional $25 service fee. Credit cards are accepted online, making this the easiest payment option for most remote requests.

At the county level, cash, check, and money order are the standard payment methods. Call (830) 232-5202 to confirm current options before traveling to Leakey. For mail requests, use a check or money order payable to the Real County Clerk. Do not mail cash.

Ordering all copies you need at once is always the smarter approach. If you wait and need an additional copy later, you pay the full $21 again. Planning for two or three copies upfront is worth it for most estate situations.

Texas Law and Death Record Requirements

Death registration in Texas is governed by the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 191. A death certificate must be completed and filed within 10 days of death and before any final disposition of remains. The funeral director typically coordinates this with the attending physician or medical examiner.

Deaths that are sudden, violent, or occur outside medical supervision require review by the justice of the peace or medical examiner under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 49. An inquest may be ordered, and the cause of death may remain pending until the review is complete.

Texas files all death certificates electronically through the TxEVER system. Funeral homes, hospitals, and certifying physicians submit certificates through this platform. Electronic filing replaces paper-based processes and speeds up record availability at the county and state level.

The rules for vital record access and management are in the Texas Administrative Code. These cover correction procedures, disclosure rules, and how records are kept long term at both the county and state level.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy

Real County in the Texas Hill Country was created from Bandera and Edwards counties in 1913, a decade after Texas began mandatory death registration. Records from 1903 to 1913 for this area may have been filed under the predecessor counties. For genealogical research in this part of Texas, it helps to know which county had jurisdiction over the area where your ancestors lived.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds historical death records for Texas Hill Country counties including Real County. Their collections include microfilm and early death indexes from the beginning of state registration. The archives are accessible in person in Austin and remotely for some collections.

FamilySearch provides free access to Texas death records. Their database includes Real County entries from the early 1900s. You can search by name and date and view images of original certificates when available. This is a solid free resource for family history research in the Hill Country.

Ancestry.com also holds Texas death records and original certificate images. Public library access to Ancestry is available at some Texas libraries. Check with the local library system in the Uvalde or Kerrville area for access options if you prefer not to subscribe.

State-Level Death Record Requests

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit maintains all Texas death records from 1903 forward. You can request a Real County death certificate from DSHS directly, which is often the most practical option given the remote location of Leakey.

DSHS is at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, TX 78756. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Call (888) 963-7111 for help. Visit dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics for current forms and instructions.

Online ordering through Texas.gov or VitalChek is the fastest route for most people. You fill out the form, verify your identity, pay by credit card, and the certified copy is mailed to you. Standard processing takes 7 to 14 business days. Rush options are available for an added fee.

DSHS can also search statewide records if you are not certain whether a death in this area was registered under Real County or a neighboring county. Their staff can confirm the county of record before you submit a formal paid request.

Cities in Real County

Leakey is the county seat and the main community in Real County. No cities in Real County meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Edwards County, Uvalde County, Bandera County, Kerr County, Medina County