Willacy County Obituary Records
Willacy County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Raymondville, Texas. Located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Willacy County has vital records dating from 1903.
Willacy County Overview
Willacy County Clerk Death Records
The Willacy County Clerk's office in Raymondville is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Willacy 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.
Willacy County lies at the northern edge of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Raymondville is the county seat. The county is bordered on the east by the Laguna Madre and Padre Island National Seashore. Agriculture -- primarily citrus, cotton, grain sorghum, and vegetable crops -- is the dominant economic activity, supported by a largely Hispanic agricultural workforce. The county is one of the less populous in the Valley. The DSHS online system is the practical option for most death certificate requests.
| Office | Willacy County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 209, Raymondville, TX 78580 |
| Phone | (956) 689-2713 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.willacy.tx.us |
Searching Willacy County Obituaries
Order Willacy County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Willacy 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 area Rio Grande Valley papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Willacy County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Raymondville courthouse.
Requesting Willacy County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Willacy County Clerk, P.O. Box 209, Raymondville, TX 78580. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Willacy County Obituary Records
Willacy County death records from the early 1900s reflect the agricultural development of the lower coastal plains. The county was organized in 1911 from parts of Cameron and Hidalgo counties, making it one of the newer Texas counties. The arrival of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway opened the area to large-scale farming, and land companies promoted the region heavily to Midwestern buyers. Early settlers included both Anglo farmers and the longtime Hispanic families who had worked the land under Spanish and Mexican grants. Agricultural labor records and church records from the area's Catholic parishes supplement the civil death records. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Willacy County entries.
The Willacy County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Raymondville.
The Willacy County Clerk in Raymondville maintains death certificates and vital records for this South Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Willacy 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 Willacy County.
Willacy County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (956) 689-2713, 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
Willacy County is located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.