Austin County Death Index

Austin County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Bellville, Texas. The Austin County Death Index covers deaths from 1903 to the present. The county is one of the original 23 Texas counties, named for Stephen F. Austin. Records from before 1960 may have some gaps due to a courthouse fire, but post-1960 vital records are well-preserved.

Austin County Clerk and Death Records

The Austin County Clerk's office is in Bellville, the county seat in southeast Texas. The phone number is (979) 865-5911, and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk serves as the local registrar and keeps all vital records including death certificates from 1903 onward. The Austin County website has current contact information and services.

A courthouse fire in 1960 affected some Austin County records. Death records for vital statistics purposes were generally not destroyed by that fire, but some supporting documents from earlier periods may be incomplete. If you are researching a death that occurred before 1960, the clerk can tell you whether the specific record survived. Post-1960 death certificates are complete and well-maintained.

Austin County is in southeast Texas, part of the Houston metropolitan region. The county has a strong German immigrant heritage, which means many family genealogy searches for German-Texan ancestors pass through this office. Records in excellent condition and staff are familiar with historical requests from family researchers.

The Austin County government website provides access to county services including the clerk's office in Bellville, vital records information, and online tools.

Austin County is one of the original Texas counties, created in 1836 and named for Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas."

How to Search Austin County Death Records

Visit the clerk's office in Bellville for the fastest service. Bring valid photo ID and the details of the death you are researching. The clerk can search the index and issue a certified copy at the counter. Bellville is in southeast Texas, about an hour west of Houston.

Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with the deceased's full name, date of death, and place of death. Include a copy of your ID and a money order or cashier's check. Mail to the Austin County Clerk in Bellville. Processing takes a few business days once the office receives it.

For the state route, use the Texas online vital records application or mail to DSHS at P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Call (888) 963-7111 for help. Online orders take 20 to 25 days. Mail orders to DSHS take 25 to 30 days. The DSHS Vital Statistics page has full ordering instructions.

Death Certificate Fees in Austin County

Austin County charges $21.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $4.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. This is the standard Texas county fee. Payment must be by money order or cashier's check for mail requests. No personal checks. In-person payments may include cash.

DSHS charges $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for additional copies when ordering through the state system. Both sources provide the same certified document with equal legal weight.

Who Can Access Austin County Death Records

Texas law restricts access to death records for 25 years from the date of death. Only qualified applicants may receive certified copies during this period. Immediate family members qualify, as do legal representatives with proper documentation. After 25 years, the record becomes public. This comes from Texas Government Code Section 552.115.

All applicants must show a valid government-issued photo ID. See the DSHS acceptable ID list for details. Making a false statement to get a death certificate is a felony. The penalty is 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195.

Austin County Death Records and Genealogy

Austin County is one of the best-documented counties in Texas for genealogy, given its status as one of the original 23 counties. Records go back to 1903 for vital records, with other county records dating to 1837. The county's German immigrant heritage makes it especially valuable for researchers tracing German-Texan ancestry in southeast Texas.

The FamilySearch Texas Death Index is free and covers deaths from 1903 to 2000, searchable by name and county. Ancestry has a similar index. Both can confirm a death and guide you to the right record. The Library of Congress Texas genealogy guide is a good reference for any researcher starting Texas family history work.

Cities in Austin County

Bellville is the county seat and main city in Austin County. Sealy is another city in the county. Neither meets the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page. All death records for Austin County go through the County Clerk's office in Bellville.

Nearby Counties

Austin County is in southeast Texas between Houston and the Hill Country. These nearby counties each have their own clerk offices for death records.

Harris County • Waller County • Colorado County • Fayette County • Washington County