Texas Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Researching in Vital Records - Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

Between 1873-6 some births were recorded by county's district clerks. Many of these were included in Early Texas Birth Records, 1838-1878 (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978) by Alice Duggan Gracy, Jane Duggan Sumner, and Emma Gene S. Gentry. Beginning in 1903 the county clerk began to register all births and deaths, although compliance was not universal at first. Large cities with vital records offices maintained their own series of birth and death records. Justices of Peace also recorded birth records.

Mandatory recording of births and deaths began in 1903 copies of records, registered in the counties, maintained at Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756. Statewide indexes were microfilmed by the Texas State Library (see Archives, Libraries and Societies), but are additionally available at many genealogical libraries. The birth index covers 1903-76 and is alphabetized by year. The death index is alphabetical within broader periods of time: 1903-40; 1940-5; 1946-55; then annually for 1956-73. The Genealogy Section of the Texas State Library provides limited correspondence service by checking indexes for a particular name for a small fee. If a birth or death record is not found at the state level, it is prudent to check the proper municipal or county office.

Probated, or delayed birth registrations were sometimes submitted to the respective county court for probate matters. These were then forwarded to the State Bureau of Vital Statistics. Microfilm indexes to delayed birth records may have included Texas residents born elsewhere, many of whom were seeking Social Security registration. The bureau ended delayed birth registration in 1959.

Marriage records prior to 1836, if extant, may be in custody of the Roman Catholic church. Beginning with the date of organization most counties maintain marriage records. These are presently in the jurisdiction of the respective county clerk where the license was issued. Statewide recording of marriages began in January 1966, but certified copies are not available through the state office. Black marriages were frequently recorded in separate volumes.

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution have compiled many marriage records for Texas. These are available in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C., and on microfilm through the FHL.

Consult the County Resource section in this chapter and the Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Texas, (N.p.: Historical Records Survey, 1941) to determine availability of vital records in municipal and county offices.

Divorce records have been maintained statewide by the Bureau of Vital Statistics since January 1968, but certified copies are not available from this facility. Divorce records are kept under the jurisdiction of the respective clerk of the district court. During the first years of the Republic of Texas, divorces were granted by special acts of Congress, but in 1841 district courts took over this responsibility, with some exceptions. After statehood, district courts had full jurisdiction over divorces.

Texas Department of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756; (888) 963-7111 or (512) 458-7111; Fax: (512) 458-7711. Please allow up to approximately 6-8 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail, or 2-5 Days when you order through VitalChek Express Certificate Services. The Vital Records Department has the following records:

---

• Birth Certificates: Birth records maintained by Bureau of Vital Statistics, Dept. of Health since 1903 through the present. For births that occurred within the past 75 years, copies can be requested only by the immediate family of the person whose name is on the birth certificate.
  • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $22.00. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $22.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Processing Time is 6-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
• Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Bureau of Vital Statistics, Dept. of Health since 1903 through the present. For deaths that occurred in the past 25 years, copies can be requested only by immediate family members of the deceased.
  • Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $20.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail. Processing Time is 6-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage Verifications from Jan 1966 and Divorce Verifications from Jan 1968. Certified copies of marriage licenses or divorce decrees are only available from the county clerk (marriage) or district clerk (divorce) in the county or district in which the event occurred. Marriage verification or divorce verification letters can now be ordered ELECTRONICALLY
  • Cost: $20 - Fee is for verification only. Processing Time is 6-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY

ORDERING

• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
• Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office.   If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The Texas Vital Statistics Office in Austin is located at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.
• Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Texas Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Texas Vital Records, Department of State Health Services, PO Box 12040.

---

Links For Birth Records

• Texas Birth Record Books at Amazon.com
• Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997: This database is an index to over 15 million births recorded in Texas between 1903 and 1997
• Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-10, 1926-29 - Browse by county, then year, then surname, beginning with the first letters of the last name of the person you seek. If you're unsure of the year or location, use the search box under the browse menu. These records can be searched by father's first and last names, mother's first and maiden names, year, county, and city. The certificates include the child and parents' full names, residence, occupations, age, time and date of the birth, and the name of the physician attending the birth.
• Search All U.S and Foriegn Birth, Marriage and Death Records
• Search County Birth Records
• Order Birth Certificates Online

Links For Marriage Records

• Texas Marriage Record Books at Amazon.com
• Order Marriage Certificates or Divorce Records Online
• TX Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 & 1966-2002: This database is a collection of Texas marriage indexes covering various years and counties. To see specifically what is included in this database (counties and years covered), please see the bottom of this page.
• Texas Divorce Index, 1968-2002: This database is an index to approximately 2.9 million divorces that were filed in Texas from 1968-2002.
• Search U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• Search County Marriage Records
• Search County Divorce Records

Links For Death Records

• Texas Death Record Books at Amazon.com
• Texas Death Certificates, 1890-1976 - These records are searchable by first and last name of the deceased, year, county, and city. A certificate may include the decedent's date, place, and cause of death; age; date of birth; last residence; and marital status. If known, it will also include occupation, birth place, parents' names, and place of burial. Browse by county, then year, then surname, beginning with the first letters of the last name of the person you seek. If unsure of the year or location, use the search box under the browse menu.
• Texas Deaths, 1964-98: This index lists persons who died in the state of Texas between 1964 and 1998 and was provided by the Texas Department of Health.
• Social Security Death Index
• Obituary Collection
• Search County Death Records
• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Arkansas obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Arkansas newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Arkansas.
• Search America's Obituaries (1977 to current) at Genealogybank.com - Obituaries contain helpful information such as names, dates, places of birth, death, marriage and family information. Over 28 million obituaries make this the most complete collection from the 20th and 21st centuries - includes over 1,100 U.S. newspapers. New content added daily!