Refugio County Death Index

Refugio County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Refugio, Texas. The Refugio County death index covers all deaths registered in the county from 1903 to the present. This page explains how to search the Refugio County death index, request certified copies of death certificates, and find historical records for genealogy research.

Refugio County Clerk Death Records

The Refugio County Clerk in the city of Refugio serves as the local registrar for all deaths occurring within Refugio County. The clerk's office maintains the Refugio County death index and can issue certified copies of death certificates. Records go back to 1903. Refugio County is a South Texas coastal plain county, and the clerk's office in Refugio handles all death certificate requests for events in the county.

In-person requests are the most direct option. Go to the Refugio County Courthouse in Refugio with a valid government-issued photo ID, fill out a request form, and pay the fee. The clerk can usually issue the record the same day if it is on file. Mail requests are accepted as well. Complete the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS, include a copy of your photo ID, and send a money order or check payable to the Refugio County Clerk. Mail the complete packet to the courthouse in Refugio. Call the clerk's office before mailing if you have questions about current wait times or what to include.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin also maintains copies of all Refugio County death records from 1903 forward. State orders go through the Texas online vital records system or by mail to Austin. State fees are slightly lower, but orders take longer to process and ship from Austin. For most Refugio County requests, going through the local county clerk is faster.

Refugio County is one of the original counties of Texas, created in 1836. The county has a long history, and death records from the earliest statewide registration period starting in 1903 are preserved at the county courthouse and at the state level in Austin.

The DSHS Order Records Locally page lists all Texas county offices that issue certified death certificates, including the Refugio County Clerk in Refugio.

Refugio County residents can get a certified death certificate at the local clerk's office without ordering through the state office in Austin.

Fees and Access for Refugio County Death Records

Refugio County uses the Texas standard fee schedule for certified death certificates. The first copy costs $21.00. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $4.00. If you order through DSHS in Austin, the fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 per additional copy. Both county and state certified copies carry the same legal standing.

Texas law limits access to death records under 25 years old. Only a qualified applicant can request a certified copy during that period. A qualified applicant is an immediate family member of the person named on the record. Qualifying members include a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent. A legal representative or guardian with documentation showing proper authority can also request the record. Once 25 years have passed from the date of death, the record becomes public under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. At that point, anyone can request a copy with valid photo ID.

All requesters must show government-issued photo ID at the time of the request. The DSHS acceptable ID list shows what forms of ID the clerk will accept. A Texas driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify as primary identification. If you only have secondary documents, combining two may satisfy the requirement. Check the DSHS list before you visit or before mailing your request.

Note: If a search is conducted and no record is found, the fee is still charged. Texas law requires a non-refundable search fee equal to the certificate fee in all cases where a search is done.

How to Get a Refugio County Death Certificate

In person at the courthouse in Refugio is the fastest way to get a certified death certificate from Refugio County. Bring your photo ID and the fee. If the record is on file, the clerk can issue it the same day.

Mail requests are an option if you cannot go to Refugio in person. Download and complete the VS-142 form from DSHS. Include a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a money order or check payable to the Refugio County Clerk. Mail the full packet to the courthouse in Refugio. Make sure all fields on the form are complete. Incomplete applications are returned without processing.

Online ordering through Texas.gov connects to the DSHS statewide system in Austin. Orders are processed and mailed from Austin. Average processing times are 20 to 25 business days for online orders and 25 to 30 days for mail orders sent to DSHS. These estimates do not include shipping. If you need the document quickly, the Refugio County Clerk is the better route.

The Texas Government Code Section 552.115 governs the 25-year confidentiality rule for death records in Refugio County and across the state.

After 25 years from the date of death, Refugio County death records become public, and any person can request a certified copy by showing valid photo ID.

Historical Records and Genealogy

Refugio County death records go back to 1903. Online indexes help you identify records before requesting certified copies. The FamilySearch Texas Death Index covers 1903 to 2000 and is free to use. It shows the name, death county, date, and certificate number. The Ancestry Texas Death Index covers the same range with over 7 million statewide entries. Both are index only, meaning you still need to contact the clerk or DSHS for the full certified document.

Refugio County has a long history as one of the original Texas counties, which makes it of particular interest for researchers tracing family lines back to the Republic of Texas era. For records before 1903, probate court records, church archives, and cemetery documentation are useful sources. The Texas State Library and Archives in Austin holds microfilm of Texas death records from 1903 to 1973. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide is a helpful resource for understanding how the statewide system works.

Nearby Counties

Refugio County is in South Texas along the coastal plain. These counties border or are near Refugio County. If a death record is not found in Refugio County, contact the appropriate neighboring county clerk.

Aransas County • San Patricio County • Bee County • Goliad County • Victoria County • Calhoun County