Webb County Death Index

Webb County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Laredo, with the death index covering all registered deaths in the county from 1903 to the present. You can search the Webb County death index and request certified copies at the clerk's office in person, by mail, or through the Texas Vital Records online ordering system. This page covers the full process for getting Webb County death certificates, including fees and access restrictions.

Webb County Clerk Vital Records Office

The Webb County Clerk's office in Laredo is the primary source for certified death certificates in the county. Webb County is one of the larger counties in South Texas by population, with Laredo serving as a major border city on the Rio Grande. The volume of death records requests at the Webb County Clerk reflects the county's size. Staff can search the death index by name and approximate date of death and issue certified copies for deaths registered in the county. You must show valid photo ID for any request involving records less than 25 years old under Texas Government Code Section 552.115.

The Webb County Clerk's office is located at the courthouse in Laredo. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday during standard business hours. The DSHS Order Records Locally listing includes Webb County as a local vital records office. Call ahead to confirm current hours and any specific submission requirements before visiting in person.

Fees at the Webb County Clerk are $21.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $4.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These fees are set by state law. If you order through the state DSHS office in Austin, the fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional. County orders are faster for local residents since you can often get same-day service in person.

Note: Webb County also serves the city of Laredo, which is a qualifying city with its own page. See the Laredo city page for city-specific resources.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit oversees all death records in Texas, including those at the Webb County Clerk's office in Laredo.

DSHS rules and forms apply to every Webb County death certificate request, whether submitted locally or through the state office.

How to Get Webb County Death Records

In-person requests at the Webb County Clerk in Laredo are the fastest option. Bring a valid photo ID, complete a request form at the office, and pay the fee. For records that are in the clerk's system, same-day issuance is typically possible. This works best for Laredo residents and anyone who can visit the Laredo courthouse during office hours.

Mail requests are accepted at the clerk's office. Use the VS-142 Death Certificate Application from DSHS. Fill it out in full, enclose a copy of your photo ID, and include a check or money order payable to the Webb County Clerk. Mail the complete packet to the courthouse in Laredo. Any missing information will delay processing, so review the form before mailing.

Online orders are available through the Texas.gov vital records portal. This connects to the state DSHS system and results in a mailed certified copy. Processing time through the state averages 20-25 business days. If speed is a priority and you can get to Laredo, the county clerk is the better route.

Access to Webb County Death Index Records

Death records less than 25 years old are restricted under Texas law. Only immediate family members of the deceased can request certified copies during that window. Qualifying family members include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the person named on the certificate. A legal representative or guardian with supporting documentation also qualifies. After 25 years from the date of death, the record is public and anyone with valid ID can request a copy.

All requesters must present government-issued photo ID. See the DSHS acceptable ID list for what forms are accepted. Making a false statement to obtain a death certificate is a felony under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 195, carrying penalties of 2-10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. The Webb County Clerk keeps documentation of each transaction, including the requester's identity.

Verification letters are also available if you only need to confirm that a record exists. These are not full certified copies and are not accepted as substitutes for official certificates, but they can serve some research purposes. They are available for deaths since 1903.

Webb County Historical Death Records

Webb County death records go back to 1903. Free genealogy tools include the FamilySearch Texas Death Index covering 1903 to 2000 and the Ancestry Texas Death Index for the same range. Both are index-only databases that help you pinpoint records before requesting certified copies. The Texas State Library in Austin holds statewide death index microfilms through 1973. The Library of Congress Texas vital records guide is helpful for researchers who are new to Texas genealogy. Webb County's records reflect Laredo's long history as a border city, and the collection includes records in both English and Spanish given the region's demographics.

The Ancestry Texas Death Index 1903-2000 includes Webb County entries and allows name-based searches that can help identify a record before you contact the county clerk.

Searching this index is a smart first step before ordering a full certified copy from the Webb County Clerk in Laredo.

Cities in Webb County

Webb County includes Laredo and several smaller communities. Laredo is a qualifying city with its own dedicated page on this site.

Other communities in Webb County include Rio Bravo and El Cenizo. All death records for the county are processed at the Webb County Clerk's office in Laredo.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Webb County. If you are not sure which county a death was registered in, contact the neighboring clerk's office.

Zapata County • Jim Hogg County • Duval County • McMullen County • Dimmit County • Maverick County