You must include a photocopy of your valid photo ID issued by a governmental entity.
Orders must be sent to the Texas Department of State Health ServicesVital Statistics Unit via an overnight mail service, such as: Fedex, Lonestar, UPS. Note: Do not send via USPS Priority Mail.
You can apply online either with www.texas.gov or with external sources like www.vitalchek.com.
Texas.gov
Texas residents can order records of immediate family members. See Section 181.(13) of the Texas Family Code for what qualifies as an immediate family member.
Non-Texas residents must be:
the surviving spouse of the deceased;
the parent of the deceased; or
the funeral director of the funeral home on record.
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted. You will receive an e-mail notification once your certificate is shipped. If your shipment is via UPS, you will also receive the UPS tracking number.
For births within the past 75 years and deaths within the past 25 years, only the immediate family members to the person whose name is on the birth certificate or death certificate are eligible to request a copy. All those with any other relationship to this person must provide legal documentation, such as a court order establishing guardianship. If you are the legal representative of a qualified applicant, you must be able to present a release which documents a direct and tangible interest in the record you are requesting.
Immediate family member : Any of the following relationships by blood or marriage are considered to be immediate family members: self, child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, and spouse.
If you are not an immediate family member you must present a written, notarized statement signed by an immediate family member. The statement must give permission to Texas Vital Statistics to release a certified copy of the certificate to you. The statement must also identify you by your full name, and you must present a photocopy of your picture ID with the notarized statement.
Birth certificates and death certificates are not open records. Access to birth certificates is restricted to qualified applicants for 75 years from the date of birth, and access to death certificates is restricted for 25 years from the date of death. An ID is required to prove your identity and to prove that you are a qualified applicant.
Birth and Death Certificates can be obtained from 1903 to present.
Death Certificates with a date of death within the last 25 years are considered protected records. Online ordering of these records is restricted for security reasons. See below for details on who can order a protected record online.
Requests for certified copies of Death Records may be directed to the Local Registration Office of the county in which the event occurred. Since all death records are sent to the Local Registrar first and then sent to State Vital Statistics, you are encouraged to go to the Local Registrar for records of recent events (less than 6 months), especially if you need the death certificate immediately. Each Local Registrar sets its own hours of operation, fees, and procedures for requests. Please call the Local Registrar's Office directly for this information. Use the following link to obtain information about your local registrar http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/field/localremotedistrict.shtm#district
You must include a photocopy of your valid photo ID issued by a governmental entity.
Orders must be sent to the Texas Department of State Health ServicesVital Statistics Unit via an overnight mail service, such as: Fedex, Lonestar, UPS. Note: Do not send via USPS Priority Mail.
You can apply online either with www.texas.gov or with external sources like www.vitalchek.com.
Texas.gov
Texas residents can order records of immediate family members. See Section 181.(13) of the Texas Family Code for what qualifies as an immediate family member.
Non-Texas residents must be:
the surviving spouse of the deceased;
the parent of the deceased; or
the funeral director of the funeral home on record.
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted. You will receive an e-mail notification once your certificate is shipped. If your shipment is via UPS, you will also receive the UPS tracking number.
For births within the past 75 years and deaths within the past 25 years, only the immediate family members to the person whose name is on the birth certificate or death certificate are eligible to request a copy. All those with any other relationship to this person must provide legal documentation, such as a court order establishing guardianship. If you are the legal representative of a qualified applicant, you must be able to present a release which documents a direct and tangible interest in the record you are requesting.
Immediate family member : Any of the following relationships by blood or marriage are considered to be immediate family members: self, child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, and spouse.
If you are not an immediate family member you must present a written, notarized statement signed by an immediate family member. The statement must give permission to Texas Vital Statistics to release a certified copy of the certificate to you. The statement must also identify you by your full name, and you must present a photocopy of your picture ID with the notarized statement.
Birth certificates and death certificates are not open records. Access to birth certificates is restricted to qualified applicants for 75 years from the date of birth, and access to death certificates is restricted for 25 years from the date of death. An ID is required to prove your identity and to prove that you are a qualified applicant.
Birth and Death Certificates can be obtained from 1903 to present.
Death Certificates with a date of death within the last 25 years are considered protected records. Online ordering of these records is restricted for security reasons. See below for details on who can order a protected record online.
Requests for certified copies of Death Records may be directed to the Local Registration Office of the county in which the event occurred. Since all death records are sent to the Local Registrar first and then sent to State Vital Statistics, you are encouraged to go to the Local Registrar for records of recent events (less than 6 months), especially if you need the death certificate immediately. Each Local Registrar sets its own hours of operation, fees, and procedures for requests. Please call the Local Registrar's Office directly for this information. Use the following link to obtain information about your local registrar http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/field/localremotedistrict.shtm#district