Search Kenedy County Obituary Records
Kenedy County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Sarita, Texas. One of the least populated counties in Texas, Kenedy County has vital records dating from 1903.
Kenedy County Overview
Kenedy County Clerk Death Records
The Kenedy County Clerk's office in Sarita is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Kenedy 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.
Kenedy County is one of the most sparsely populated counties in the United States. Much of its land is part of the vast King Ranch holdings. Sarita is a tiny community that serves as the county seat. The county lies between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley along US Highway 77. For records researchers, the DSHS online system is highly recommended over the long drive to Sarita.
| Office | Kenedy County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 37, Sarita, TX 78385 |
| Phone | (361) 294-5220 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Kenedy County Obituaries
Order Kenedy County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Kenedy 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 for Kenedy County residents. Given the county's small population, online ordering is strongly recommended over visiting Sarita in person.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Kenedy County death records from 1903. Online ordering is strongly recommended for this remote county.
Requesting Kenedy County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Kenedy County Clerk, P.O. Box 37, Sarita, TX 78385. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Kenedy County Obituary Records
Kenedy County was one of the last counties organized in Texas, created in 1921 from portions of Hidalgo, Starr, and Cameron counties. Its history is closely tied to the King Ranch, which dominates much of the county's land area. Early death records from the 1920s onward reflect a population of ranch workers, many of Hispanic heritage, as well as ranch managers and their families. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections that include Kenedy County entries. Local research in this area often requires checking records in neighboring Kleberg and Brooks counties as well.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Kenedy County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Kenedy County Clerk in Sarita maintains death certificates and vital records for this remote South Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Kenedy 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 Kenedy County.
Kenedy County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (361) 294-5220, 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
Kenedy County is located in South Texas between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley.