Refugio County Obituary Records
Refugio County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Refugio, Texas. Located on the South Texas coastal plain, Refugio County has vital records dating from 1903.
Refugio County Overview
Refugio County Clerk Death Records
The Refugio County Clerk's office in Refugio is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Refugio 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.
Refugio County sits on the South Texas coastal plain between Corpus Christi and Victoria. The county seat, Refugio, is one of the oldest towns in Texas and was founded as a Spanish mission in 1795. Oil and gas production has been the dominant industry since the 1920s. Ranching and some agriculture also contribute to the local economy. The county has a significant Hispanic population with roots going back to the Spanish colonial period. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Refugio County.
| Office | Refugio County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 736, Refugio, TX 78377 |
| Phone | (361) 526-2233 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Refugio County Obituaries
Order Refugio County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Refugio 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 Refugio County Press and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Refugio County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Refugio courthouse.
Requesting Refugio County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Refugio County Clerk, P.O. Box 736, Refugio, TX 78377. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Refugio County Obituary Records
Refugio County death records from the early 1900s reflect a community with centuries of history. Mission Nuestra Senora del Refugio was founded in 1795, and the area was a battlefield during the Texas Revolution. The county was created in 1836 at Texas independence. Early records document families of Irish and Mexican descent who settled under Mexican land grants, as well as later Anglo arrivals. Oil discovered in the 1920s brought major change to the county's economy. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Refugio County entries. Researchers interested in pre-1903 records should look to mission and church records held at the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Refugio County entries from 1903 to the present.
The Refugio County Clerk in Refugio maintains death certificates and vital records for this historically significant South Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Refugio 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 Refugio County.
Refugio County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (361) 526-2233, 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
Refugio County is located on the South Texas coastal plain between Corpus Christi and Victoria.