Hays County Death Index

Hays County death records are maintained by the County Clerk's office in San Marcos, Texas. The clerk is the local registrar for vital records and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in the county going back to 1903. Hays County sits between Austin and San Antonio and has grown rapidly in recent years, which means the office processes a significant volume of vital records requests. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the Texas Vital Records online system.

Hays County Clerk and Death Records

The Hays County Clerk's office is in San Marcos at the county courthouse. The clerk manages all vital records for the county, including death certificates, and is the official local registrar under state law. Hays County has seen major population growth over the past two decades, and the clerk's office handles a growing volume of requests each year. Staff can look up death records by the decedent's name and year of death.

The fee for a certified death certificate in Hays County is $21.00 for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $4.00. These fees are fixed by the Texas Local Government Code and the Health and Safety Code. The same amounts apply at every county clerk's office in Texas. For mail requests, use a money order payable to the Hays County Clerk.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page has the current phone number and address for the Hays County Clerk. Hays County's rapid growth means the office may have updated its location or hours, so check that page before going in person. The clerk's office is generally open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Note: Because Hays County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, wait times for in-person requests can vary. Mail requests may be a more predictable option for people who are not in a rush.

How to Search Hays County Death Records

In-person requests at the San Marcos courthouse are the fastest way to get a death certificate in Hays County. Bring valid government-issued photo ID and the fee. The clerk will search by name and year of death. Certified copies are issued the same day for most requests. If the record is older or harder to locate, it may take a bit longer.

Mail requests require the completed VS-142 Death Certificate Application, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the fee. Address the packet to the Hays County Clerk in San Marcos. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time is generally a few business days after the office receives your request.

The Texas Vital Records online ordering system at txapps.texas.gov connects to the DSHS statewide database. Online orders are processed in Austin and mailed to you. State fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. The Texas.gov vital records portal is another access point for the same online ordering system.

Death Certificate Fees in Hays County

Hays County charges $21.00 for the first certified death certificate copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. The Texas DSHS state office charges $20 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. Both sources produce valid certified copies. The county clerk route is usually faster for residents in San Marcos and nearby communities like Kyle, Buda, and New Braunfels.

Fees are not refunded if a search is done and no record is found. This is standard practice across all Texas county offices and the DSHS state office. If you are not sure whether a death was registered in Hays County, use the free FamilySearch Texas Death Index to check before submitting a paid request.

Who Can Access Hays County Death Records

Death records less than 25 years old are restricted in Texas. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies during that period. Qualified applicants include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. A legal representative with proper paperwork also qualifies. After 25 years, the record is public and anyone who shows valid ID can request a copy.

This restriction comes from Texas Government Code Section 552.115. All applicants must show valid government-issued photo ID regardless of when the death occurred. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows what the clerk will accept. False statements to obtain a restricted death certificate are a felony under Health and Safety Code Chapter 195.

Legal representatives requesting records on behalf of an estate or as an attorney of record must bring or include documentation of their authority. A copy of the court order or power of attorney is usually sufficient. Contact the Hays County Clerk before mailing to confirm exactly what documentation they need.

Historical Research in Hays County

Hays County death records go back to 1903. The county's records are generally well preserved. San Marcos is a university town, and the county has a mix of longtime residents and newcomers. Older records from the early twentieth century reflect the rural character of the county at that time.

Free online genealogy resources include FamilySearch's Texas Death Index, which covers 1903 to 2000. Ancestry's Texas Death Index offers similar coverage. Both resources are name indexes that identify the county of record. Once you confirm the death occurred in Hays County, you can request a certified copy from the clerk in San Marcos. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide gives an overview of how the statewide system works.

The Alkek Library at Texas State University in San Marcos holds Texas historical collections and may have supplementary research materials for Hays County genealogy.

The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers statewide deaths from 1903 to 2000, including Hays County, and is a free starting point for genealogy research before requesting a certified copy.

Use the index to confirm the county and approximate date of death before submitting a request to the Hays County Clerk in San Marcos.

Cities in Hays County

Hays County includes several fast-growing communities south of Austin and north of San Antonio. All death records for the county are processed through the Hays County Clerk in San Marcos.

Other communities in Hays County include Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, and Woodcreek. Death records for all of these areas are filed through the Hays County Clerk in San Marcos.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hays County. If you are unsure which county a death was registered in, check the listed address on the death certificate or contact the DSHS office for a statewide search.

Travis County • Caldwell County • Comal County • Blanco County • Kendall County