How to order a birth certificate
Need to order a Texas birth certificate for yourself or a family member? Follow these steps to request one.
Understand who can request a birth certificate
Texas birth records are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). State law limits access to these records to protect the privacy of the person named on the record. This means not everyone can order a Texas birth certificate. To request a record, you must be:
- Authorized requestor, such as the person named on the certificate (if 18 or older)
- Parent or legal guardian listed on the record
- Legal representative or attorney acting on behalf of an eligible person
- Person with a court order
Please note: You must also have a valid photo ID when you place your order.
Choose the right certificate type
Texas offers several types of birth certificates depending on your situation. These include:
- Certified birth certificate - long form. This is a comprehensive copy of the original birth certificate. Long form birth certificates are required to obtain:
- U.S. Passport
- Driver's license (in most states)
- Dual citizenship
- Certified birth certificate - short form. This is a certified abstract of the birth record. It shows current information for the individual's name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and name of parent(s). Short form birth certificates can be used for:
- School and/or sports registration
- Employment requirements
- Insurance requirements
- Birth certificate for election identification. This is a free copy (for those who qualify) for Texans who need to apply for election identification certificate (EIC) from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
- Delayed birth certificate. This type is for Texans whose birth was never registered, which is most common for home births or births before hospital records were standard.
Order a birth certificate
You can order a Texas birth certificate online, by mail, or in person. Choose the option that works best for you.
Online
To order an official certified copy of a Texas birth certificate online, you must:
- 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.
- If you are a resident of another state, you can order your own certificate or the certificate of your child, if you are listed as a parent on the record. (Please note: If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to order by mail or in-person.)
- Verify your identity online by providing your:
- State-issued driver's license or ID number,
- Social Security Number, and
- Relationship to individual listed on the record.
- Provide the following required information:
- First and last name of individual listed on record
- Sex of individual listed on record
- City and/or county where birth occurred
- First and last name of father listed on record
- First and maiden name of mother listed on record
- Provide payment of all associated fees with credit or debit card.
Please note: All online orders are non-refundable and most orders are processed within 20-25 business days.
Review requirements for online orders
Order a Texas birth certificate online
To get an official certified copy of a birth certificate by mail, you must:
- Be a person qualified to get a certified copy of the record
- Complete the application (form VS-140) with no cross outs, no white out, and no correction tape
- Sign the application in front of a notary and get a notary seal
- Provide a photocopy of acceptable ID
- Provide a check or money order made out to DSHS Vital Statistics
- Be sure to mail your application to the correct location .
Review requirements for mail orders
Download application form VS-140
In person
To get an official certified copy of a Texas birth certificate in person, you must:
- Be a person qualified to get a certified copy of the record
- Visit a local office or the Vital Statistics central office during business hours
- Complete and sign the application with no cross outs, no white out, and no correction tape
- Present original acceptable ID
- Provide payment with a credit card or a check/money order made out to: DSHS Vital Statistics
Certificate fees
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
How to order marriage or divorce records
Follow these steps to search for and order Texas marriage and divorce records.
Understand who can request these records and what you need
Texas marriage and divorce records are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Only authorized individuals can access these certified documents. That's typically:
- Parties named on the record
- Their legal representatives
- People with a court order
Please note: You must also have a valid photo ID when you place your order.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issues marriage verification documents, not certified copies of marriage licenses. If you need an original marriage license or a copy, contact your county clerk's office.
Search for a marriage or divorce record
The statewide marriage and divorce index is searchable online by the public and does not require authorization. It includes records from 1966 to the present for marriages, and from 1968 to the present for divorces. The index is a reference tool. It confirms whether a record exists but is not a certified document.
If you need a certified marriage or divorce verification document for legal or official purposes, go to step 3.
Order your marriage or divorce verification document
You can order a Texas marriage or divorce verification document online, by mail, or in person. Choose the option that works best for you.
Online
The easiest way to get a marriage or divorce verification is to order it online. If you're celebrating a milestone anniversary, you can also order an heirloom anniversary certificate online.
Order a marriage or divorce verification document
Order an heirloom anniversary certificate
To order a marriage or divorce verification by mail, download and complete the form as instructed and mail it to the address listed on the form.
Download the Mail Application for Marriage or Divorce Record form
In person
You can get marriage or divorce verifications in the county, city, or district where the event occurred. These places set their own hours of operation, fees, and procedures for requests. Contact your local office for more information.
See how to order records in person and find a local office near you
Fees
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
How to order a death certificate
Follow these steps to order a certified Texas death certificate.
Understand who can request a death certificate
Texas death records are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). State law limits access to these records to protect the privacy of the person named on the record. This means not everyone can order a Texas death certificate. To request a record, you must be:
- Immediate family member of the deceased (spouse, child, parent/guardian, brother/sister, grandparent)
- Legal representative or attorney acting on behalf of the deceased
- Person with a court order or documented legal right
Please note: You must also have a valid photo ID and provide information about your relationship to the deceased when you place your order.
Order a death certificate
You can order a Texas death certificate online, by mail, or in person. Choose the option that works best for you.
Online
To order an official certified copy of a Texas death certificate online, you must:
- Be a person qualified to order a death certificate online:
- If you are a Texas resident, you can order a death certificate of an immediate family member.
- If you are a resident of another state, you can order a death certificate if you are the surviving spouse, surviving parent, or funeral director listed on record.
- Verify your identity online by providing your:
- State-issued driver's license or ID number,
- Social Security Number, and
- Relationship to individual listed on the record.
- Provide the following required information:
- Date of death
- First and last name of deceased listed on record
- Sex of deceased listed on record
- City and/or county where death occurred
- Provide payment of all associated fees with credit or debit card.
Review requirements for online orders
Order a Texas death certificate online
To get an official certified copy of a death certificate by mail, you must:
- Be a person qualified to get a certified copy of the record
- Complete the application (form VS-142) with no cross outs, no white out, and no correction tape
- Sign the application in front of a notary and get a notary seal
- Provide a photocopy of acceptable ID
- Provide a check or money order made out to DSHS Vital Statistics
- Be sure to mail your application to the correct location .
Review requirements for mail orders
Download application form VS-142
In person
To get an official certified copy of a Texas death certificate in person, you must:
- Be a person qualified to get a certified copy of the record
- Visit a local office or the Vital Statistics central office during business hours
- Complete and sign the application with no cross outs, no white out, and no correction tape
- Present original acceptable ID
- Provide payment with a credit card or a check/money order made out to DSHS Vital Statistics
Certificate fees
- Step 1
- Step 2
How to change a vital record
Vital records, such as birth or death certificates, are legal documents that prove a person's identity. If there are errors, such as a misspelled name or wrong date, you can request changes to the official record if you're qualified to do so.
Confirm you are eligible to request a change
Who can request changes or corrections to vital records depends on the record type. See below for details on who qualifies for each.
Birth Records
Only these individuals can request changes or corrections to a birth record:
- Self (the child listed on the birth certificate)
- Parent(s)
- Legal guardian(s)
- Managing conservator
- Legal representative (proof required)
Death Records
Only these individuals can request changes or corrections to a death record:
- Funeral director named on the death certificate
- Informant named on the death certificate (i.e., the person who provided information to the funeral director)
- Surviving spouse named on the death certificate
- Surviving parent named on the death certificate
Important! You must also provide supporting documentation for the change or correction you are requesting.
Submit a request to change a record
You can apply for changes or amendments to a vital record by mail if you are a person qualified to make a change or correction. If so, follow the steps below:
- Complete the amendment form, with no cross outs, no white out, and no correction tape.
- Sign the application in front of a notary and get a notary seal.
- Provide a photocopy of acceptable ID with your mail-in application.
- Provide payment for all associated fees by check or money order made out to DSHS Vital Statistics.
- Provide the required supporting documentation.
- Submit your complete amendment application packet, containing all of the above, by mailing to the correct location.
- Step 1
- Step 2
Request records from other states
Texas only maintains vital records for events that took place in Texas. If you need a record from another state, contact that state directly.
Find vital records from another state
The National Center for Health Statistics maintains a directory with contact information, fees, and instructions for every U.S. state and territory. Each state has its own process, fees, and eligibility requirements - make sure to review the information for the specific state before submitting a request.
Foreign vital records
Need records from a foreign country? Contact that country’s vital records authority or the nearest embassy or consulate for more information.