Starr County Obituary Records

Starr County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Rio Grande City, Texas. Located on the Rio Grande in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Starr County has vital records dating from 1903.

Starr County Clerk Death Records

The Starr County Clerk's office in Rio Grande City is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Starr 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.

Starr County lies along the Rio Grande between Laredo and McAllen. Rio Grande City is the county seat, facing the Mexican city of Camargo across the river. The county is one of the most economically distressed in Texas and has a population that is nearly entirely Hispanic. Agriculture -- citrus, onions, and other crops -- along with some ranching are the main economic activities. The international trade crossing at Roma connects the county to northeastern Mexico. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests.

Searching Starr County Obituaries

Order Starr County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Starr 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 Rio Grande Herald and area papers.

Requesting Starr County Death Certificates

Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Starr County Clerk, P.O. Box 1089, Rio Grande City, TX 78582. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.

Historical Starr County Obituary Records

Starr County death records from the early 1900s document one of the oldest continuously settled parts of Texas. The area was part of the Spanish colonial land grant system, and Rio Grande City was established as a trading post and military garrison in the 1840s after the Mexican-American War. Many families in the county trace their ancestry to colonial land grants from the Spanish and Mexican periods. The county remained relatively unchanged for decades, with extended families farming and ranching the same land for generations. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Starr County entries. Catholic church records, often predating 1903 state registration, are essential for genealogy in this predominately Catholic county.

The Starr County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Rio Grande City.

The Starr County Clerk in Rio Grande City maintains death certificates and vital records for this Rio Grande border county from 1903 forward.

Texas Law and Starr 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 Starr County.

Starr County Obituary Resources

Contact the clerk at (956) 487-2601, 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

Starr County is located on the Rio Grande between Laredo and the McAllen metro area.