Karnes County Obituary Records
Karnes County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Karnes City, Texas. Located southeast of San Antonio in the South Texas brush country, Karnes County has vital records dating from 1903. Whether you need a certified death certificate, want to find obituary notices from Karnes City, or trace family history in this region, this page covers the county clerk process and the available resources.
Karnes County Overview
Karnes County Clerk Death Records
The Karnes County Clerk's office in Karnes City is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Karnes 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.
Karnes County lies southeast of San Antonio along the San Antonio River. The county has a mix of ranching, oil production, and uranium mining history. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is a convenient alternative to visiting the Karnes City courthouse.
| Office | Karnes County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 110, Karnes City, TX 78118 |
| Phone | (830) 780-3938 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.karnes.tx.us |
Searching Karnes County Obituaries
Order Karnes County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Karnes County from 1903. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com may carry obituary notices from the Karnes Countywide and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Karnes County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Karnes City courthouse.
Requesting Karnes County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Karnes County Clerk, P.O. Box 110, Karnes City, TX 78118. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Karnes County Obituary Records
Karnes County death records from the early 1900s reflect the ranching and farming communities of the South Texas brush country. The county has a significant Czech and Polish heritage from late 19th-century immigrant settlers who came to farm the area. Early death certificates often document this European immigrant heritage alongside Hispanic families long established in the region. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Karnes County entries. Local genealogical societies hold records useful for research in this area.
The Karnes County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Karnes City.
The Karnes County Clerk in Karnes City maintains death certificates and vital records for this South Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Karnes 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 Karnes County.
Karnes County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (830) 780-3938, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Karnes County is located southeast of San Antonio in the South Texas brush country.