How to Find Texas Birth Records

How to Find United States Birth Records Texas Births

Statewide registration of births began in 1903 in Texas.

Next Step: When did the birth occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record: Births before 1873 Births from 1873 thru 1902 Births after 1902 I don't know when the birth is

Learn more about U.S. Birth Records

Births before 1873

Before 1873, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Records that give birth information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers Bible Records	Church Records Census Military Records Tax Records

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Births from 1873 thru 1902

As early as 1873, some counties and towns began recording births in Texas. Delayed birth records aka "probate births" also exist. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.

For births that exist during the time period, try the following database:

Includes Index Only
	Texas Births, 1840-1981	FamilySearch - Free; index only; incomplete
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

Obtain the Record

With approximate birth years and places, write to the appropriate county recorder to obtain birth records during this period. A list of Texas counties is available.

Delayed birth records are available at the Texas State Library and Archives.

There are no restrictions on these records.

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Births after 1902

Statewide registration of births began in 1903 in Texas.

For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases:

Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935	FamilySearch - Free
Includes Index Only
Try 2nd:
	Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997	FamilySearch - Free
Try 3rd:
At FamilySearch Centers/Libraries:
	Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997	Ancestry Library edition - free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
Use Your Ancestry subscription:
	Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997	Ancestry subscription version - $, to sign up for a subscription; Obtain a subscription to Ancestry
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

Obtain the Certificate

With full names, dates and places of an event, you can order a copy of the birth certificate for a fee from the Texas Department of State Health Services or VitalChek.

Restrictions for persons born within the last 75 years:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 75 years, you must be:

• The person on the certificate
• The parent of the person on the certificate
• An immediate family member
• The legal guardian of the person on the certificate
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the birth certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 75 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.

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Related Wiki Articles

• Learn more about U.S. Birth Records
• United States Record Selection Table
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Death Records
• United States Marriage Records

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