Death Records in Aransas County
Aransas County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Rockport, Texas. The Aransas County Death Index covers records from 1903 to the present, and the clerk accepts requests for certified copies by mail or in person. The office is currently at a temporary location due to post-hurricane recovery, so check the county website before you visit.
Aransas County Overview
Aransas County Clerk and Death Records
County Clerk Misty R. F. Kimbrough runs the Aransas County Clerk's office. The office is currently at 2718 Hwy 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382. This is a temporary location. The permanent courthouse address is 2840 Hwy. 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382. Phone is (361) 790-0122 and fax is (361) 790-0119. The office is open 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM, Monday through Friday.
The clerk's office is staffed by seven people who handle vital records including birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and military discharge papers. Aransas County death records go back to 1903. Some records were affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, but recovery efforts have preserved most of the collection. Always check the Aransas County website before visiting in case the location or hours have changed again.
One important note: the Aransas County Clerk does not conduct telephone searches. If you want to know whether a specific record exists, you need to submit a written request or visit in person. The office also does not accept out-of-state personal checks.
The Aransas County government website provides current information on the temporary clerk office location in Rockport and how to request vital records.
Check the county website before visiting since the clerk's office has been at a temporary location following Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
How to Search Aransas County Death Records
You can request Aransas County death records in person or by mail. To go in person, visit the temporary office at 2718 Hwy 35 N, Rockport. Bring a valid photo ID. New as of October 1, 2025, a valid picture ID is required to file any official public record. If you mail a document, include a copy of your ID with the package.
For mail requests, fill out the county's mail application for a birth or death certificate. You can find this form at the Aransas County Clerk's website. The form must include the deceased's full name, date and place of death, parents' names, and your contact information. Include your ID copy and a money order. A $3.00 postage fee is added to mail-back orders unless you include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
You can also order through the Texas online vital records system at DSHS or use the Texas.gov vital records portal. State processing takes 20 to 25 days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail. Call DSHS at (888) 963-7111 with questions.
The Aransas County Clerk's office page lists contact details, hours, the new ID filing requirements effective October 2025, and the current temporary office location.
This page also notes that veterans can file DD-214 military discharge papers for free at the Aransas County Clerk's office.
Death Certificate Fees in Aransas County
A certified copy of a death certificate from Aransas County costs $21.00 for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $4.00 each. These fees are set by state law. The county's mail application form lists these fees clearly. No personal checks accepted and no out-of-state personal checks under any circumstances.
If a record is searched but not found, the search fee is still charged and is not refundable. DSHS fees are slightly lower at $20 for the first copy. Either office provides the same certified document.
Who Can Access Aransas County Death Records
Texas law restricts death records for 25 years. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that time. Immediate family members qualify, as do legal representatives with documentation. The warning on the Aransas County application form is clear: making a false statement to get a certificate carries a penalty of 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195.
After 25 years, the record is public. Texas Government Code Section 552.115 governs this rule. You must still show ID. The DSHS acceptable ID guide lists all valid forms of identification.
Aransas County Death Records and Genealogy
Aransas County sits on the Texas Gulf Coast and was created in 1871. Death records start from 1903. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 affected some county operations, but recovery efforts have preserved the vital records. This county is useful for Gulf Coast genealogy research, particularly for families in the Rockport and Fulton areas.
Free and paid indexes are available online. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers records from 1903 to 2000 and is free to search. Ancestry's Texas Death Index is another option. Both can help you confirm a death and point you to the original county record. The Library of Congress guide provides broader context for Texas vital records research.
Cities in Aransas County
Rockport is the county seat of Aransas County. The county also includes Fulton. Neither Rockport nor any other city in Aransas County currently meets the population threshold for a separate city page. All death records for the county go through the County Clerk's office in Rockport.
Nearby Counties
Aransas County is on the Gulf Coast in south Texas. These nearby counties also keep their own death records.