Hays County Obituary Records
Hays County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in San Marcos, Texas. Located between Austin and San Antonio in the I-35 corridor, Hays County has vital records dating from 1903 and covers fast-growing communities including Kyle and Buda. Whether you need a certified death certificate, want to find obituary notices, or trace family history in this region, this page explains the county clerk process and the available resources.
Hays County Overview
Hays County Clerk Death Records
The Hays County Clerk's office in San Marcos is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Hays County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.
Hays County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. San Marcos is home to Texas State University, and the county encompasses Kyle, Buda, Wimberley, and other growing communities. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is available for ordering certified death certificates without a trip to San Marcos.
| Office | Hays County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 38, San Marcos, TX 78667 |
| Phone | (512) 393-7738 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Hays County Obituaries
Order Hays County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Hays County from 1903. For genealogy research, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the San Marcos Daily Record and surrounding area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide death index covers Hays County from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the San Marcos courthouse.
Requesting Hays County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Hays County Clerk, P.O. Box 38, San Marcos, TX 78667. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Hays County Obituary Records
Hays County death records from the early 1900s reflect the farming and ranching communities of the Edwards Plateau edge between Austin and the Hill Country. Early records document families of German and Anglo heritage who settled along the Blanco and San Marcos rivers. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Hays County entries. The San Marcos Public Library holds local newspaper archives useful for obituary research in this region.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Hays County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Hays County Clerk in San Marcos maintains death certificates and vital records for this Central Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Hays County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Hays County.
Hays County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (512) 393-7738, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Hays County is located in Central Texas along the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio.