Matagorda County Obituary Records
Matagorda County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Bay City, Texas. Located on the Texas Gulf Coast southwest of Houston, Matagorda County has vital records dating from 1903.
Matagorda County Overview
Matagorda County Clerk Death Records
The Matagorda County Clerk's office in Bay City is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Matagorda 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.
Matagorda County lies along the Texas Gulf Coast where the Colorado River empties into Matagorda Bay. Bay City serves as the county seat. The county has rice farming, oil production, and commercial fishing as key industries. The South Texas Nuclear Project plant is also located in the county. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests.
| Office | Matagorda County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 899, Bay City, TX 77404 |
| Phone | (979) 244-7680 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.matagorda.tx.us |
Searching Matagorda County Obituaries
Order Matagorda County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Matagorda 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 carries obituary notices from the Bay City Tribune and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Matagorda County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Bay City courthouse.
Requesting Matagorda County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Matagorda County Clerk, P.O. Box 899, Bay City, TX 77404. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Matagorda County Obituary Records
Matagorda County is one of the original Texas counties, with Anglo-American colonization beginning in the 1820s under Stephen F. Austin. Early death records from the 1900s document descendants of the original colonial families alongside newer arrivals. The county saw immigration from Czech, German, and other European communities who farmed the rich coastal prairie. Plantation-era history and the presence of enslaved people followed by Black Texan families after emancipation are also reflected in older records. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Matagorda County entries.
The Matagorda County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Bay City.
The Matagorda County Clerk in Bay City maintains death certificates and vital records for this Gulf Coast county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Matagorda 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 Matagorda County.
Matagorda County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (979) 244-7680, 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
Matagorda County is located on the Texas Gulf Coast southwest of Houston.