How to get my birth certificate from texas

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Page last reviewed: November 10, 2022

The Houston Health Department Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains records of births, deaths, and fetal deaths that occur in the incorporated city limits of Houston. Our core functions include records retention, serving as a liaison to the state, funeral home relations, and providing birth and death certificates to the general public. Birth records are available from 1882, death records from 1874, and fetal death records from 1906.

Location

Bureau of Vital Statistics
8000 North Stadium Drive
Houston, Texas 77054

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Walk-in customers must arrive one hour prior to lobby closing.

Ways to Order

Outside of Harris County

  • For records outside of Harris County but inside Texas, visit Texas Health and Human Services.
  • For records outside of Texas, visit the National Center for Health Statistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your questions on ordering online, birth certificates and birth-verification letters, death certificates and death-verification letters, marriage-verification and divorce-verification letters.

How to Order Vital Records From Texas Health and Human Resources

  • Order vital records online from Texas.gov — Birth certificates and death certificates, birth-verification and death-verification letters, and marriage-verification and divorce-verification letters.
  • Download vital statistics forms at Texas Health and Human Services — Birth or death record forms, birth or death record amendment forms, marriage or divorce record forms, adoption forms, and paternity or parentage forms.

Payment Methods

  • Cash, Mastercard, Visa, or Discovery (checks not accepted)

Parking

  • Parking is available in the adjacent garage at 8059 Stadium Drive
  • Parking fee: $4
  • We are not responsible if you receive a parking ticket or are towed for parking illegally on the street or in the hotel parking lot next door.

Texas

Birth

Event: Birth

Cost of copy: $22.00

Address:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

Remarks: State office has records since 1903. Additional copies of the birth record ordered at the same time are $22.00 each.

Request for certified copies of birth certificates can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.govexternal icon. An Expedited Application for Birth and Death Recordexternal icon (see Form VS142.21.pdf)can also be completed and sent by an overnight service or by USPS Express Mail, with a check or money order, to the address on the application. Most Texas.gov and Expedited mail requests will be processed within 10 to 15 business days.

Mail-in requests must be made by personal check or money order made payable to the DSHS. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (512) 776-7111. This is a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at the Texas Department of State Health Services websiteexternal icon.

Death

Event: Death

Cost of copy: $20.00 for 1st copy. $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record.

Address:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

Remarks: State office has records since 1903. Additional copies of the death record ordered at the same time are $3.00 each.

Request for certified copies of death certificates can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.govexternal icon. An Expedited Application for Birth and Death Recordexternal icon (see Form VS142.21.pdf) can also be completed and sent by an overnight service or by USPS Express Mail, with a check or money order, to the address on the application. Most Texas.gov and Expedited mail requests will be processed within 10 to 15 business days.

Mail-in requests must be made by personal check or money order made payable to the DSHS. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (512) 776-5625. This is a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at Texas Department of State Health Servicesexternal icon.

Marriage

Event: Marriage (State)

Cost of copy: $20.00

Remarks: Records since January 1966. Certified copies are not available from State office. Fee for search and verification of essential facts of marriage is $20.00 each.

Request for marriage verification can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.govexternal icon.

Marriage verification requests may also be sent via mail and paid with a check or money order by completing the Mail Application for Marriage and Divorce Verificationexternal icon. Personal checks or money orders should be made payable to DSHS.


Event: Marriage (County)

Cost of copy: Varies

Address: See remarks

Remarks: County Clerk in county where license was issued.

Divorce

Event: Divorce (State)

Cost of copy: $20.00

Remarks: Records since January 1968. Certified copies are not available from State office. Fee for search and verification of essential facts of divorce is $20.00 each.

Request for divorce verification can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.govexternal icon.

Divorce verification requests may also be sent via mail and paid with a check or money order by completing the Mail Application for Marriage and Divorce Verificationexternal icon. Personal checks or money orders should be made payable to Vital Statistics Unit.


Event: Divorce (County)

Cost of copy: Varies

Address: See remarks

Remarks: Clerk of District Court in county where divorce was granted. Texas County contact information can be found at the Texas Department of State Health Services websiteexternal icon.

What is the fastest way to get a birth certificate in Texas?

What is the quickest way to order my birth certificate? The quickest way is to order online at Texas.gov. How do I purchase a long form birth certificate for my passport? Long-form or full-size birth certificates may be requested online, by mail or in-person.

Can I get a copy of my birth certificate online in Texas?

Ordering Birth Certificates Online Be a person qualified to order a birth certificate online: If you are a Texas resident, you can order your own certificate or those of immediate family members.

What do I need to bring to get my birth certificate in Texas?

To request a birth certificate, you must be the person named on the certificate, his/her legal representative, or immediate family member. Immediate family members include the person's child, parent/guardian, brother/sister, grandparent, or spouse. You must present acceptable identification (ID)*.

Where can I pick up my Texas birth certificate?

Getting a Birth or Death Certificate.
Where we are: The Office of Vital Records is at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C, Austin, TX, 78702. ... .
Our hours: The office is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday..
Current government-issued photo identification is required..