Zapata County Obituary Records
Zapata County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Zapata, Texas. Located on the Rio Grande in South Texas, Zapata County has vital records dating from 1903.
Zapata County Overview
Zapata County Clerk Death Records
The Zapata County Clerk's office in Zapata is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Zapata 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.
Zapata County borders Mexico along the Rio Grande in South Texas. Zapata is the county seat. Falcon Reservoir, one of the larger lakes in Texas, straddles the U.S.-Mexico border and is jointly managed by the two countries. Bass fishing on Falcon Lake draws anglers from across the region. The county has a predominantly Hispanic population with deep roots in the area going back to Spanish colonial land grants. Ranching and natural gas production are the main economic activities. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests from Zapata County.
| Office | Zapata County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 789, Zapata, TX 78076 |
| Phone | (956) 765-9905 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.zapata.tx.us |
Searching Zapata County Obituaries
Order Zapata County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Zapata 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 South Texas papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Zapata County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Zapata courthouse.
Requesting Zapata County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Zapata County Clerk, P.O. Box 789, Zapata, TX 78076. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Zapata County Obituary Records
Zapata County death records from the early 1900s reflect one of the oldest continuously settled areas along the Rio Grande. The county was organized in 1858, but Hispanic families had lived along the river for well over a century before that under Spanish and Mexican governance. The original town of Zapata and several other communities were submerged when Falcon Reservoir was filled in 1953 -- a significant displacement that affected many longtime families. Before the flooding, communities like Lopeño, Falcón, and Old Zapata had deep genealogical histories. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Zapata County entries.
The Zapata County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Zapata.
The Zapata County Clerk in Zapata maintains death certificates and vital records for this Rio Grande border county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Zapata 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 Zapata County.
Zapata County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (956) 765-9905, 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
Zapata County is located on the Rio Grande in South Texas.