Medina County Obituary Records
Medina County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Hondo, Texas. Located west of San Antonio along US Highway 90, Medina County has vital records dating from 1903.
Medina County Overview
Medina County Clerk Death Records
The Medina County Clerk's office in Hondo is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Medina 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.
Medina County lies west of San Antonio and has seen steady growth as a suburban extension of the San Antonio metro. Hondo is the county seat and the main commercial center. The county has farming, ranching, and growing residential development for commuters to San Antonio. The clerk's office handles property records, marriage records, and other county documents. The DSHS online system is a convenient option for certified death certificate requests without visiting Hondo.
| Office | Medina County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 339, Hondo, TX 78861 |
| Phone | (830) 741-6041 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | medinacountytexas.org |
Searching Medina County Obituaries
Order Medina County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Medina 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 Hondo Anvil Herald and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Medina County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Hondo courthouse.
Requesting Medina County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Medina County Clerk, P.O. Box 339, Hondo, TX 78861. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Medina County Obituary Records
Medina County death records from the early 1900s reflect the diverse communities west of San Antonio. The county was organized in 1848 and has long had a significant Alsatian settlement at Castroville, one of the oldest European ethnic colonies in Texas. Early records document Alsatian, German, and Hispanic families who farmed the area. The Castroville community maintained strong French-Alsatian traditions for generations, and early death records often show French and German surnames. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Medina County entries. The Castroville archives are a special resource for research in this area.
The Medina County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Hondo.
The Medina County Clerk in Hondo maintains death certificates and vital records for this Southwest Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Medina 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 Medina County.
Medina County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (830) 741-6041, 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
Medina County is located west of San Antonio along US Highway 90.