What You Need to Know About Obtaining Vital Records in Texas

Vital records document the birth, marriage, and death of individuals. In addition, the information contained in vital records is used to determine citizenship status, family relationships, and other essential facts about a person’s life.

Vital records are maintained by the county clerk’s office or a state agency. In Texas, the Vital Statistics Section (VSS) of the Department of State Health Services maintains birth, marriage, and death records. The following are some of the most common types of vital records requested in Texas:

Birth Certificates

Birth certificates contain basic information such as name, date of birth, place of birth, parents’ names, mother’s maiden name, father’s occupation, race, sex, etc. They also include a certificate number that can be used to verify that you have received a copy of your birth record.

Why Do You Need a Birth Certificate?

Birth certificates are available in two forms – long form and short form.

Long-form birth certificates are the most comprehensive birth records. They are copies of the original birth certificates. Moreover, the record will include a history of corrections made to it.

You need a long-form birth certificate to obtain: U.S. passport, driver’s license (in most U.S. states), and dual citizenship.

A short-form birth certificate is a certified abstract of the birth record. This birth certificate will only show current information for the individual’s name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and name of parent(s). This form will not show a history of corrections.

You can use a short-form birth certificate to meet requirements for: school and sports registration, employment, and insurance.

Who Can Order a Birth Certificate?

To order your birth certificate online, you must be a person qualified to order one online:

Texas residents can order their certificates or those of an immediate family member.

As a resident of another state, you can order your certificate or that of your child if your name appears on the record as parents. If your name does not appear on the record, you must order by mail or in person.

How to Order a Birth Certificate Online?

You will need to provide your:

• Driver’s license
• Social security number
• Relationship to the person listed on certificate (if ordering someone else’s)

You must provide the following information to order a certified birth certificate online:

• Individual’s first and last name
• Recorded date of birth
• Individual’s gender
• Location of birth

Death Certificates

A death certificate includes information about the deceased such as name, date of birth and date of death, cause of death, residence, age at death, gender, race, marital status, and other pertinent data. A copy of this document may be obtained from the county clerk’s office.

Why Do You Need a Death Certificate?

A death record contains all relevant information about a deceased person. It is an official copy of the original death certificate. The death record will also display a history of changes that have been made.

You might need a death certificate to claim insurance benefits, obtain death benefits from an employer, claim social security benefits, access bank accounts, cancel services like utilities, and so on. When a loved one passes, you’ll need several copies of their death certificate.

A death certificate can also be an essential part of your genealogy research. For example, it can help you identify ancestors who died before 1900. In addition, you can use a death certificate to locate other records concerning a deceased ancestor.

Death certificates might be helpful when searching for missing persons. They can assist with locating a lost loved one. Death certificates might provide vital clues to solving a mystery.

Who Can Order a Death Certificate?

To order your death certificate online, you must be a person qualified to order one online:

You can order death certificates for immediate family members as a Texas resident.

As the surviving spouse, surviving parent, or funeral director, you can request a death certificate if you are a resident of another state.

How to Order a Death Certificate Online?

You will need to provide your:

• Driver’s license
• Social security number
• Relationship to the person listed on the death certificate

You must provide the following information to order a death verification online:

• Death date or date range
• Deceased’s first and last names
• Deceased’s gender
• Location of death

Ordering Vital Documents Online

TX-DPS.com provides a convenient service for ordering vital documents online using our secure website. Our goal is to make ordering birth and death certificates easier. These documents can be ordered directly through our site.

As an American citizen, it is your right to obtain copies of your records for yourself or your descendants. If you are not sure which type of document you need, we recommend contacting us first to direct you to the correct form.

Contact TX-DPS Today for a Vital Record

Would you like a copy of a loved one’s birth or death certificate?

At TX-DPS Records, we can process your vital record request promptly. In addition, we offer fast delivery options and multiple payment options. You can reach TX-DPS online or by phone at 888-596-7307 to speak with an experienced team member.