Texas Vital Records: Order Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Certificates in 2026
Texas vital records are handled by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section (VSS).
If you need a certified copy of a TX birth, death, marriage, or divorce record, you need to submit an application. On this page, we explain how to request your vital record, including eligibility requirements, fees, and processing times.
DISCLAIMER: Vital Forms Direct is an independent third-party document preparation service and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. You can also request TX vital records directly through state services, such as local offices and county clerks.
What TX Vital Record Do You Need?
Need help applying for Texas vital records? Vital Forms Direct supports you through the process for a hassle-free application.
Texas Birth Certificates
Birth certificate copies can be requested from Texas VSS for births filed in Texas from 1903 to the present. There are several different types of birth documents available.
- Certified long-form birth certificates — The most complete record, required for U.S. passport applications or other official processes
- Certified short-form birth certificates — Abstract showing key details, usually accepted for school enrollment, employment, or insurance
- Heirloom birth certificates — Decorative keepsake, not for official identification or legal use
- Birth certificates for election identification certificate purposes — Issued specifically to support an application for a Texas Election Identification Certificate
- Birth verifications — Confirms that a birth was registered in Texas, not a legal substitute for a certified birth certificate
It's important to understand which type of record you need before starting the application process.
A long-form birth certificate is usually the safest option if you need the record for official identity or citizenship-related purposes, such as a passport application. A birth verification should not be ordered as a replacement for a certified birth certificate.
How to get a birth certificate in Texas
To submit a Texas birth certificate application, follow these steps:
- Fill out an application and select the type of birth record you need
- Submit a copy of your ID and notarized signature if applying by mail.
- Pay the correct fee and provide any supporting documents required for your request.
If applying by mail, your application must be signed in front of a notary and include a front and back photocopy of a valid photo ID.
You can also submit your request in person at a local vital records office or at the Texas Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin. Some local offices can issue birth records from anywhere in Texas, but others issue only local records, so you should confirm availability before visiting.
How to replace a lost or damaged Texas birth certificate
To order a Texas birth certificate replacement, follow the same process as requesting a certified copy. The state maintains the official birth record, so you can request a new certified copy even if the original document has been lost, damaged, or is no longer available.
You'll need to provide enough birth details for the record to be located, choose the correct certificate type, provide your ID, and pay the required fee.
How to order a Texas birth certificate online
Vital Forms Direct helps you prepare your vital record request through a guided process.
Our platform is designed to walk you through the application form preparation stage, understand which information is required, and reduce avoidable delays caused by missing details. We also explain the next steps for submission.
Our service fee is charged separately from state fees. You can also submit your request online through state providers or in person.
Who can request a Texas birth certificate?
Texas birth certificates are restricted records. To request a certified copy, you must be:
- The person named on the record
- Immediate family members by blood, marriage, or adoption
- The person's guardian
- The person's legal agent or representative
Immediate family includes children, parents or guardians, siblings, grandparents, and spouses. Other applicants must provide legal documentation showing a direct, tangible interest in the record.
Texas birth certificate cost and processing time
The Texas fee for a certified long-form or short-form birth certificate is $22. A birth verification record is charged at the same fee.
Birth certificates issued to request an election identification certificate don't have a state fee. Fee waivers for other types of birth records are available for certain military personnel and homeless youth.
Mail-in Texas birth certificate orders average 25 to 30 business days. Processing time starts when VSS receives the application and payment and does not include shipping time. If you need your vital record urgently, an in person order is usually faster.
How fast can you get a Texas birth certificate?
The fastest way to get a birth certificate in Texas is usually to request it in person at a local office or at the Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin. In most cases, records are issued the same day, although some applications require 24 hours or more.
Online orders of TX vital records average 20 to 25 business days, not including shipping time. Mail-in birth and death certificate orders usually take 25 to 30 business days.
Texas Death Certificates
Texas VSS maintains death records for the State of Texas from 1903 to the present.
A certified Texas death certificate is the most complete type of death record available from Texas Vital Statistics.
It’s a certified copy of the original death certificate and is typically the document needed for official matters after someone passes. This is usually the document you need for estate-related tasks involving banks, insurance companies, or similar institutions.
A Texas death verification letter includes the deceased person’s name, date of death, and place of death, but it’s not a legal substitute for a certified death certificate. Instead, it serves as proof that the death was registered.
How to get a death certificate in Texas
To request a certified copy of a death certificate in Texas, follow these steps:
- Fill out the key details of the application form, sharing as much information as possible about the deceased person.
- Choose the type of document you need: a certified death certificate or a death verification.
- Submit a copy of your ID. You may also need extra documents to prove you're an eligible requester.
- If applying by mail, sign the completed application in front of a notary and include payment by check or money order made out to DSHS Vital Statistics.
You can submit your order online, by mail to Texas VSS, in person at the Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin, or through an available local office.
To get additional copies or a replacement death certificate in Texas, the process is the same. If you need the record for official matters, request a certified death certificate instead of a death verification letter.
Who can request a Texas death certificate?
Texas death certificates are restricted records. Only eligible people can order a certified copy, including immediate family members by blood, marriage, or adoption.
This covers children, parents or guardians, siblings, grandparents, or the spouse of the deceased person. The person's legal agent or representative is also able to request copies of a death certificate.
Other applicants must provide legal documentation showing a direct, tangible interest.
Texas death certificate cost and processing time
The Texas fee for the first death certificate is $20, with additional copies ordered at the same time charged at $3. A death verification costs $20.
Mail-in orders average 25 to 30 business days from the time your application is received. Online Texas death certificate applications are usually processed in 20 to 25 business days.
In-person death record requests may be available at local offices or at the Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin. In most cases, records are issued the same day, but some applications require 24 hours or more.
How fast can you get a Texas death certificate?
If you need a copy of a death certificate urgently, it's often faster to request it in person at a local office or at the Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin. You may get your certificate the same day or in 24 hours.
If you order online, it usually takes around 20 to 25 business days, not including shipping time. Death certificate orders usually take 25 to 30 business days by mail.
Texas Marriage Certificates
Texas VSS doesn’t issue certified copies of marriage licenses. Instead, it issues marriage verification letters based on marriage applications sent to the state by local clerks.
VSS maintains public indexes of Texas marriages since 1966. For earlier marriages, contact the county where the marriage license was issued.
Certified copies of Texas marriage licenses are available only from the county clerk in the county or district where the license was originally filed. You can’t apply for this type of document through VSS.
How to get a marriage certificate in Texas
To get a Texas marriage record, first confirm what type of document you need: a marriage verification letter or a certified copy of the original marriage license.
A Texas marriage verification letter includes the names of both spouses, marriage date, and place of marriage. It's useful for confirming that a marriage appears in the state index, but it's not a legal substitute for a certified marriage license.
A certified marriage license is the official county-issued record used as legal proof of marriage for name changes, benefits, immigration, insurance, banking, court matters, and other official purposes.
To request a Texas marriage record, follow these steps:
- Confirm the type of document you need. For a verification letter from 1966 onward, request it from Texas VSS. For a certified copy of the marriage license, contact the county clerk where the license was originally filed.
- Prepare the application form, fee, and any required identification or supporting documents.
- Submit the request online, by mail, or in person if the correct office provides that service.
The rules for a replacement marriage certificate in Texas depend on the document you need. For an official certified copy of the original marriage license, apply to the county clerk where the license was filed. You need to supply sufficient details so the record can be located.
Who can request a Texas marriage certificate?
For Texas VSS marriage verification letters, there are no standard eligibility requirements other than providing valid photo identification.
If you need a certified Texas marriage license copy from the county clerk, you'll usually need to provide valid ID. Requirements vary from county to county, but generally, marriage licenses are treated as public records.
Texas marriage certificate cost and processing time
A Texas marriage verification letter costs $20. Certified marriage license copy fees are set by the county clerk's office and vary by county.
Mail-in marriage verification orders usually take 25 to 30 business days to be processed, not including mailing time. Online orders average 20 to 25 business days.
County processing times for certified marriage license copies vary by county. If you're applying at a county clerk's office, ask about current wait times, accepted payment methods, and whether in-person or expedited options are available.
Vital Forms Direct helps you prepare a Texas marriage record request online, with guided support and personalized submission instructions. Our service fee is charged separately from state or county costs.
Texas Divorce Records
Texas VSS doesn’t issue certified copies of divorce decrees. Instead, it issues divorce verification letters based on reports sent to the state by local clerks for separations from 1968 onwards.
A Texas divorce verification letter includes the names of both spouses, divorce date, and place of divorce. It can help confirm that the divorce appears in the state index, but it’s not a legal substitute for a divorce decree.
A divorce decree is the official court-issued record that proves the divorce was granted. It usually includes the judge’s orders on property division, child custody, child support, spousal support, name restoration, and other case terms.
Certified copies of Texas divorce decrees are available only from the district clerk in the county or district where they were originally filed.
How to get a divorce verification in Texas
To get divorce records in Texas, follow these steps:
- Confirm which document you need: a Texas divorce verification or a decree. For a verification letter from 1968 onward, request it from Texas VSS. For a divorce decree, contact the district clerk where the divorce was filed.
- Fill out an application with as many details as possible and provide ID and any required supporting documents.
- Submit the request online, by mail, or in person, as permitted by the issuing office.
County clerks and county recorders handle some other vital records, but certified Texas divorce decree copy requests are handled by the district clerk, not Texas VSS.
Who can request a Texas divorce verification?
For Texas VSS divorce verification letters, you must provide a valid ID and pay the required fee. Depending on the circumstances, you may be asked to provide additional documents.
Certified divorce decrees are issued by the district clerk where the divorce was filed. Access rules, copy options, certification, fees, and local requirements vary by county or district. It may be possible to get Texas divorce records online if the relevant district clerk accepts digital requests.
Texas divorce verification cost and processing time
A Texas divorce or annulment verification letter costs $20. Mail-in and online divorce verification orders for the VSS are typically processed in 20 to 30 business days, not including shipping time.
Certified divorce decree copy fees vary as they're set by the district clerk's office. Contact the relevant district clerk for local wait times, payment rules, certification options, and expedited service availability.
Frequently Asked Questions: Texas Vital Records
What's the difference between a long-form and a short-form Texas birth certificate?
A long-form Texas birth certificate is a full certified birth record that can be used as citizenship and identity evidence. Short-form certificates provide a certified abstract showing the key information. These are sometimes accepted for school enrollment or employment.
Can I order a Texas birth certificate online?
Yes. Texas birth certificates can be ordered online. Vital Forms Direct helps you prepare your Texas birth certificate application through a guided process. The official record is issued by the appropriate government office.
You can get a Texas birth certificate overnight by using the expedited processing service. Standard processing usually takes around 20 to 25 business days.
What are the rush and same-day options for Texas vital records?
Mail-in birth, death, marriage verification, and divorce verification orders can be processed with expedited service by paying two separate shipping costs: one paid to the mail carrier when you send your packet to Texas DSHS, and one paid to DSHS if you want overnight return delivery.
Expedited processing moves your application ahead in the processing queue, but it doesn't guarantee the record will be issued if the application is incomplete or you're not eligible to request a copy.
To make sure your application is right the first time around, Vital Forms Direct's guided process is clear, thorough, and convenient. We provide the key information you need to know in a way that's easy to understand, including personalized submission instructions.
Where do I mail Texas vital records requests?
For regular processing, use:
Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
For expedited processing, use:
Texas Vital Statistics
MC 2096
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756
You can use these addresses to order certified birth certificates, death certificates, marriage verification letters, and divorce verification letters.
For certified marriage license copies, order from the county clerk where the marriage license was obtained. Certified divorce decree copies can only be issued by the district clerk where the divorce was filed or granted.
Is a Texas divorce verification letter the same as a divorce decree?
No. A Texas divorce verification letter is not the same as a divorce decree and is not a certified legal substitute. It includes the names of both spouses, divorce date, and place of divorce, and proves that the divorce was registered.
Certified divorce decree copies are available only from the district clerk where the divorce was filed. They have more information about the separation, including details like custody and financial agreements.
How do I get a certified copy of a Texas marriage license?
Certified copies of Texas marriage licenses are available only from the county clerk in the county or district where the license was originally filed. Texas VSS can issue a marriage verification letter for indexed marriages from 1966 onward, but this is not a legal substitute for the marriage license.
How long does it take to get a Texas vital record?
Mail-in Texas birth, death, marriage verification, and divorce verification orders average 25 to 30 business days. Online orders are usually processed within 20 to 25 business days. Same-day Texas birth certificates and death certificates are usually available when you apply in person.
Can I get an expedited Texas birth certificate?
Requesting an expedited birth certificate in Texas by mail involves sending your application packet by overnight mail with overnight return shipping. You'll also need to pay an additional fee for rush processing.
For a simpler process, many applicants choose Vital Forms Direct. We walk you through the process step by step, helping you avoid errors, so your request can be processed efficiently.
Who can request a Texas birth or death certificate?
Texas birth and death certificates are restricted records. Qualified requesters include the person named on the record, immediate family members by blood, marriage, or adoption, a guardian, or a legal representative. Other applicants must have legal documentation showing a direct, tangible interest.
How much does a Texas birth or death certificate cost?
A certified Texas long form or short form birth certificate costs $22. A Texas birth verification also costs $22. The first Texas death certificate costs $20, and each additional death certificate ordered at the same time costs $3. A death verification costs $20.
What's the fastest way to get a Texas birth certificate?
The fastest way to get a Texas birth certificate is usually to apply in person at a local office or at the Vital Statistics headquarters in Austin. Some applications need up to 1 day to process, but in most cases, you get your document on the same day.