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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.