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How to order a Texas birth certificate

Who holds it: DSHS Vital Statistics Section (state); also local registrars/county clerks in the county or city of the event (some offices issue statewide).1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Who may order and what is restricted
  3. Older records and indexes
  4. Related records in Texas
  5. How Texas handles it
  6. Birth certificates in Texas counties with a full guide
  7. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  8. Sources

Fee

$22.00 certified copy (long or short form) at DSHS; verification $22.00; heirloom $60.00; expedited processing $25.00 plus overnight return shipping.2

Who may order

The registrant, immediate family (child, parent/guardian, sibling, grandparent, spouse), guardian, or legal agent/representative; others need documentation of a direct, tangible interest (25 TAC §181.1(21)).3

Processing time

Texas.gov orders 20-25 business days; mail-in 25-30 business days (averages, excluding shipping).4

How to search and order

How to order
Online at Texas.gov, by mail (standard or expedited), in person at local offices or DSHS in Austin.5

Who may order and what is restricted

Restrictions
Restricted to qualified applicants for 75 years from the date of birth; acceptable ID required.6

Older records and indexes

Index
Digital birth indexes 1925 and later, $10 per year (microfiche from 1903).7
Death certificates: who holds it
DSHS Vital Statistics Section; local registrars/county clerks where the death occurred.8
Death certificates: fee
$20.00 first certified copy; $3.00 each additional copy ordered at the same time; verification $20.00 (DSHS).2
Older records: vital record indexes
TSLAC holds indexes to statewide births, deaths, marriages and divorces, not certificates.9

How Texas handles it

  • Local registrars of births and deaths are justices of the peace (by precinct) or municipal clerks in cities of 2,500+10
  • Voter registrar is the tax assessor-collector by default (or elections administrator / county clerk)11

Birth certificates in Texas counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Anderson CountyAnderson County Clerk12—$23.00 certified birth certificate13
Angelina CountyAngelina County Clerk14—$23.00 first certified copy (short form only if born outside Angelina County)15
Atascosa CountyCounty Clerk16—$23.00 each17
Bastrop CountyBastrop County Clerk18—$23.00 per certified copy19
Bell CountyBell County Clerk - Vital Statistics20—$23.00 per certified copy21
Bexar CountyBexar County Clerk - Vital Statistics Department22——
Bowie CountyDSHS or local registrar where the event occurred23——
Brazoria CountyCounty Clerk - Recording and Vitals Department24——
Brazos CountyBrazos County Clerk25—$23 per certified copy26
Burnet CountyBurnet County Clerk27——
Caldwell CountyCaldwell County Clerk28—$23.00 (clerk fee $20.20 + vital statistics fee $1.80 + preservation fee $1.00)29
Cameron CountyCameron County Clerk – Vital Statistics Department30—$23.00 birth certificate31
Chambers CountyChambers County Clerk, Vital Records32—$23 per certified copy33
Cherokee CountyCherokee County Clerk34——
Collin CountyCollin County Clerk35—$23.00 per certified copy (Collin County Clerk)36
Comal CountyComal County Clerk37—$23.00 certified copy (County Clerk)38
Coryell CountyCoryell County Clerk - Vital Statistics Registrar39—$23.0040
Dallas CountyDallas County Clerk – Vital Records Division41—$23.00 (search and/or certified copy); fee applies to unsuccessful searches42
Denton CountyDenton County Clerk - Vital Statistics43—$23 search and copy; $23 each additional copy44
Ector CountyCounty Clerk Birth & Death Records45—$23.00 per certified birth certificate ordered online through the County Clerk's request portal; additional certified copies $4.00 each; non-refundable $5 service and credit card processing fee on all online orders46
El Paso CountyEl Paso County Clerk - Vitals Division47—$23 birth certificate (El Paso County or State of Texas); delayed birth $4848
Ellis CountyEllis County Clerk – Vitals Division49—$23.00 per certified copy50
Fort Bend CountyCounty Clerk, Vital Records51——
Galveston CountyGalveston County Health District54Search5253$23 (Health District)55
Grayson CountyCounty Clerk Vital Statistics: birth certificates $23.00 each56——
Gregg CountyGregg County Clerk - Birth and Death57—$23.00 certified birth certificate58
Guadalupe CountyGuadalupe County Clerk, Vital Statistics Division59—$23.00 per birth certificate; verification of birth $22.0060
Hardin CountyHardin County Clerk61—$23 per certified birth certificate; issued for in-county and out-of-county Texas births to the registrant or immediate family62
Harris CountyHarris County Clerk – Personal Records Department63—$23.00 each63
Harrison CountyHarrison County Clerk, Vital Statistics64—$23.00 birth certificate or verification letter65
Hays CountyHays County Clerk, Records Division66——
Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County Clerk - Vitals Department67——
Hood CountyHood County Clerk - Birth, Death and Marriage Records68—$23 per certified copy (additional copies $23)69
Hunt CountyCounty Clerk: certified birth certificate $23.0070——
Jefferson CountyJefferson County Clerk71——
Johnson CountyCounty Clerk: long-form for Johnson County births, short-form for any Texas hospital birth72——
Kaufman CountyKaufman County Clerk – Vital Statistics73——
Kendall CountyKendall County Clerk74——
Kerr CountyKerr County Clerk75—$23 per birth certificate (anyone Texas-born)75
Lamar CountyCounty Clerk76——
Liberty CountyLiberty County Clerk - Vital Records77—Birth Certificate $23.00; Verification of Birth $22.0078
Lubbock CountyCity of Lubbock Vital Records79—County Clerk: $23.00 per birth certificate80
Maverick CountyMaverick County Vital Records Office81——
McLennan CountyMcLennan County Clerk82—$22.00 certified copy (County Clerk)83
Medina CountyMedina County Clerk84—$23.00 walk-in ($20 search/certificate + $2 state + $1 preservation)85
Midland CountyCounty Clerk issues Texas birth certificates (statewide access): $23 each86——
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County Clerk87——
Nacogdoches CountyNacogdoches County Clerk88——
Navarro CountyNavarro County Clerk - Birth and Death Records89—$23.00 per birth certificate (additional processing fees may apply for remote orders)90
Nueces CountyCounty Clerk issues short-form birth certificates only, $23.00 each, in person or by mail application91——
Orange CountyOrange County Clerk92—$23.00 per certified copy92
Parker CountyParker County Clerk, Vital Statistics93—$23 certified copy (local or remote); $1 postage by mail94
Polk CountyPolk County Clerk95—State fee: $22.00 certified copy (long or short form) at DSHS; verification $22.00; heirloom $60.00; expedited processing $25.00 plus overnight return shipping.96
Potter CountyCity of Amarillo Vital Statistics97—$23.0098
Randall County———
Rockwall CountyRockwall County Clerk - Vitals Department99—$23.00 certified copy (State of Texas birth certificate, includes search fee)100
Rusk CountyRusk County Clerk — Vital Records101——
San Patricio CountySan Patricio County Clerk, Vital Statistics102—State fee: $22.00 certified copy (long or short form) at DSHS; verification $22.00; heirloom $60.00; expedited processing $25.00 plus overnight return shipping.103
Smith CountySmith County Clerk104—$23 per certified copy; max 10 birth records per person per lifetime105
Starr CountyStarr County Clerk106——
Tarrant CountyTarrant County Clerk107—$23 each copy108
Taylor CountyTaylor County Clerk109——
Tom Green CountyTom Green County Clerk, Vital Statistics Department110—$23.00110
Travis CountyTravis County Clerk - Recording Division111—$22.00 certified birth (County Clerk)112
Val Verde County———
Van Zandt CountyVan Zandt County Clerk - Birth/Death Records113—$23.00 per birth certificate114
Victoria CountyCity of Victoria, City Secretary115——
Walker CountyWalker County Clerk - Birth & Death Records / Marriage Licenses116—$23.00 birth certificate (each copy); verification letter $18.00; search by clerk $6.00117
Waller CountyWaller County Clerk - Vital Records118—$23.00 certified copy119
Webb CountyWebb County Clerk120—State fee: $22.00 certified copy (long or short form) at DSHS; verification $22.00; heirloom $60.00; expedited processing $25.00 plus overnight return shipping.121
Williamson CountyWilliamson County Clerk as Local Registrar122—$23 certified birth certificate ($20.20 + $1.80 + $1 VPF)123
Wilson CountyCounty Clerk124—Certified copy fee: $23.00 each125
Wise CountyWise County Clerk / Local Registrar126—$23126
Wood CountyWood County Clerk127—$23.00 per certified copy128

For any other county, see the county list on the Texas guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Texas office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: birth certificates in every state. Everything else in Texas: Texas public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Order Records LocallyTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  2. Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Persons Qualified to Request or Change RecordsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  4. Processing TimesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  5. Birth RecordsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  6. Birth Record FAQsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  7. Birth and Death IndexesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  8. Death RecordsTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  9. Genealogy research at TSLACTexas State Library and Archives Commissionchecked November 4, 2026
  10. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, Administration of Vital Statistics RecordsTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  11. Texas Election Code Chapter 12, Voter RegistrarTexas Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  12. Anderson County ClerkAnderson County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
  13. Vitals Fee Schedule (County Clerk)Anderson County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
  14. County ClerkAngelina Countychecked November 7, 2026
  15. Angelina County Clerk Fee Schedule: Recordings / Marriage / Vitals (PDF)Angelina County Clerkchecked November 7, 2026
  16. Atascosa County homepageAtascosa Countychecked November 7, 2026
  17. Application for Birth Certificate (PDF)Atascosa County Clerkchecked November 7, 2026
  18. County ClerkBastrop Countychecked November 5, 2026
  19. County Clerk FeesBastrop Countychecked November 5, 2026
  20. Bell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Bell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  22. County Clerk ServicesBexar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  23. Order Records LocallyTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  24. Birth RecordsBrazoria County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  25. County Clerk – Brazos County, TXBrazos County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  26. Documents & Filing Fees (County Clerk; fees effective January 1, 2024)Brazos County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Site Map | Burnet County, TXBurnet Countychecked November 4, 2026
  28. Birth & Death CertificatesCaldwell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  29. County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF, scanned)Caldwell County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  30. Birth and Death CertificatesCameron County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  31. Fee Schedule 2026Cameron County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  32. County ClerkChambers County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  33. Vital RecordsChambers County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  34. County ClerkCherokee Countychecked November 7, 2026
  35. County ClerkCollin County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  36. County Clerk: Birth CertificatesCollin Countychecked November 4, 2026
  37. County Offices | Comal County, TXComal Countychecked November 4, 2026
  38. Comal County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)Comal County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  39. Coryell County Clerk homeCoryell County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
  40. County Clerk's Office Fee Schedule (PDF)Coryell County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
  41. Dallas County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  42. Dallas County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  43. County ClerkDenton County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  44. Vital Records Fee ScheduleDenton County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  45. County Clerk | Ector County, TXwww.ectorcountytx.govchecked November 4, 2026
  46. Ector County Clerk Online Birth/Death Certificate Requestsectortxvitals.permitium.comchecked November 4, 2026
  47. County ClerkEl Paso County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  48. Birth & Death CertificatesEl Paso County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  49. Birth CertificatesEllis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  50. Vitals Fee Schedule (PDF)Ellis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  51. Birth/Death Certificates | Fort Bend CountyFort Bend County Clerkarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  52. Birth and Death Records InformationGalveston County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
  53. Birth and Death Records Information | Galveston County, TXGalveston County, TXchecked November 8, 2026
  54. Galveston County Health District homeGalveston County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  55. Birth & Death Records feesGalveston County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  56. County Clerk: Birth/Death CertificatesGrayson Countychecked November 4, 2026
  57. Gregg County home pageGregg Countychecked November 4, 2026
  58. Gregg County Clerk Fee Schedule (Vitals and Recording)Gregg County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  59. Vital - Birth and Death RecordsGuadalupe County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  60. Guadalupe County Clerk Fee Schedules (PDF)Guadalupe County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  61. Home | Hardin County, TexasHardin County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  62. County ClerkHardin County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  63. Personal RecordsHarris County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  64. County ClerkHarrison County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  65. Vital records fees, forms and exceptionsHarrison County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  66. County ClerkHays County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  67. Site MapCounty of Hidalgochecked November 4, 2026
  68. Birth CertificatesHood County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
  69. County Clerk - Filing FeesHood County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
  70. Birth and Death RecordsHunt Countychecked November 4, 2026
  71. Jefferson Countychecked November 4, 2026
  72. Birth RecordsJohnson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  73. Birth CertificatesKaufman Countychecked November 4, 2026
  74. Remote Birth AccessKendall County Clerkchecked November 7, 2026
  75. Kerr County ClerkKerr Countychecked November 4, 2026
  76. County Clerk Forms | Lamar County, TexasLamar County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  77. Liberty County, Texas home pageLiberty Countychecked November 4, 2026
  78. Liberty County Clerk Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2026)Liberty County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  79. Birth Certificate (service)Lubbock Countychecked November 4, 2026
  80. County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)Lubbock County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  81. Vital RecordsMaverick County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
  82. McLennan County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  83. McLennan County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  84. County Clerk | Medina County TXMedina County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  85. Medina County Clerk Fee Schedule (PDF)Medina County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  86. Birth or Death CertificateMidland Countychecked November 4, 2026
  87. Montgomery County, Texas (home)Montgomery County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  88. Nacogdoches County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
  89. Navarro County, Texas - HomeNavarro Countychecked November 4, 2026
  90. Navarro County Clerk Notice of Fees Effective 01/01/2024 (Probate and Civil Fees)Navarro County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  91. County Clerk - Filing DepartmentNueces County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  92. County Clerk: Birth CertificatesOrange Countychecked November 4, 2026
  93. Birth, Death & Marriage RecordsParker County, TXchecked November 4, 2026
  94. Birth/Death Certificate ApplicationParker County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  95. Elected OfficialsPolk County, Texaschecked November 7, 2026
  96. Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 7, 2026
  97. Open RecordsPotter Countychecked November 4, 2026
  98. Vital Stats - City of AmarilloCity of Amarillochecked November 4, 2026
  99. County OfficesRockwall Countychecked November 4, 2026
  100. Birth/Death CertificatesRockwall Countychecked November 4, 2026
  101. County ClerkRusk Countychecked November 4, 2026
  102. County ClerkSan Patricio County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  103. Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  104. Smith Countychecked November 4, 2026
  105. Smith County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  106. Starr County, Texas homeStarr County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  107. Tarrant County - HomeTarrant County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  108. Birth and Death RecordsTarrant County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  109. Site MapTaylor Countychecked November 4, 2026
  110. County Clerk: Vital StatisticsTom Green Countychecked November 4, 2026
  111. DepartmentsTravis County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  112. Birth and Death Records (Vital Stats)Travis County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  113. Van Zandt County, Texas - HomeVan Zandt County, Texaschecked November 6, 2026
  114. County Clerk Real Property & Vital Records Fee ScheduleVan Zandt County, Texaschecked November 6, 2026
  115. Local Vital Record Offices - VTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 7, 2026
  116. Birth & Death RecordsWalker County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
  117. Vital Records Fee Schedule (PDF, document center id=3601)Walker County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
  118. County ClerkWaller County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  119. Vital RecordsWaller County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  120. Elected GovernmentWebb Countyarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  121. Vital Statistics Costs and FeesTexas Department of State Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  122. Williamson County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  123. Williamson County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  124. Wilson County homeWilson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  125. County ClerkWilson County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026
  126. Birth & Death CertificatesWise County Clerkchecked November 5, 2026
  127. Local Vital Record Offices - WTexas DSHSchecked November 4, 2026
  128. County Clerk: Birth RecordsWood County, Texaschecked November 4, 2026