Vital records office in Texas
How to obtain certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from Texas for immigration filings, USCIS evidence, school enrollment, or any other purpose.
Texas
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Birth Event: Birth Remarks: State office has records since 1903. Request for certified copies of birth certificates can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.gov . A Mail Application for Birth Record (see Form VS-140 .pdf) can also be completed and sent by regular mail to the address on the application. Expedited requests can also be sent using an overnight service or by USPS Express Mail, with a check or money order, to the address on the application if selecting Expedited Processing . Current processing times can be located on the Texas Department of State Health Services website . Mail-in requests must be paid by check or money order made payable to: DSHS – Vital Statistics. To verify current fees or status of a request, contact VSS by telephone at: (888) 963-7111. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the website at the Texas Department of State Health Services website . Death Event: Death Cost of copy: $20.00 for 1 st copy. Additional copies of the same death record ordered at the same time are $3.00 each . Address: Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section P.O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040 Remarks: State office has recorded death records since 1903. Requests for certified copies of death certificates can be made via the internet, with a credit card, through Texas.gov . A Mail Application for Death Record (see Form VS-142.pdf) can also be completed and sent by regular mail to the address on the application. Expedited requests can also be sent using an overnight service or by USPS Express Mail, with a check or money order, to the address on the application if selecting Expedited Processing . Current processing times can be located on the Texas Department of State Health Services website . Mail-in requests must be paid by check or money order made payable to: DSHS – Vital Statistics. To verify current fees or status of a request, contact VSS by telephone at: (888) 963-7111. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the website at Texas Department of State Health Services . Marriage Event: Marriage (State) Cost of copy: $20.00 per individual marriage application. Address: Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section P.O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040 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.gov . Marriage verification requests can also be completed and sent by regular mail to the address on the Mail Application for Marriage or Divorce Record (see Form VS-142.9 .pdf). Expedited requests can also be sent using an overnight service or by USPS Express Mail and paid with a check or money order to the a
Texas vital records office details
- CDC W2W (Where to Write) page: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/texas.htm
Why immigrants need certified vital records
USCIS, courts, schools, and many other US agencies require certified vital records (not photocopies) for:
- I-130 family petition — birth certificate proves family relationship
- I-485 adjustment of status — birth certificate of applicant and beneficiaries
- N-400 naturalization — marriage certificate if applying under spouse-of-USC 3-year rule
- Apostille — for use of US documents in foreign countries (your home country may require US apostille)
- School enrollment — proof of date of birth
- Real ID applications — proof of identity
Apostille and authentication
If you need to use a Texas vital record OUTSIDE the United States (e.g., for use at your home country’s consulate), you typically need an apostille from the Texas Secretary of State’s office. See /procedures/apostille-document/ for the process.
Related procedural information
- Consulate of your country in the US — your home country’s transcription/legalization of US records
- Translate documents for USCIS — certified-translation standard
- Apostille (document legalization) — for use abroad
- USCIS Form I-130 — family petition — uses vital records as evidence
- USCIS Form N-400 — naturalization — vital records for marriage-based 3-year rule
Last verified: 2026-05-27. General procedural information — not legal advice. Fees and processing times change; verify with the Texas office.
Order vital records in Texas
Birth, death, and marriage certificates are issued by each state. Use your state's official guide:
- Texas — how to order birth, death & marriage certificates (official CDC guide)
Birth certificate copy: about $20.00 (verify current fee)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a US birth certificate from Texas?
How do I get a marriage certificate from Texas?
What if my certificate is in Spanish or another language?
Can I order vital records for someone else?
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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.