Arlington Birth Records
Arlington birth records are maintained by the Tarrant County Clerk, which handles vital records for all of Tarrant County. Arlington residents have a local subcourthouse option so you don't always have to drive to Fort Worth to get a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Arlington Overview
Tarrant County Clerk - Arlington Location
Arlington is in Tarrant County, and the Tarrant County Clerk manages all birth certificates for the county. The Arlington Subcourthouse is the most convenient location for Arlington residents. It is at 700 E. Abram St., Arlington, Texas 76010. Phone is 817-884-1550. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Arlington subcourthouse handles the same requests as the main Fort Worth office. Staff can look up records, issue certified copies, and process mail-in request information. Birth records for Tarrant County go back to 1903. The Tarrant County Clerk's vital records page is at tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-clerk/vital-records.html.
If you prefer to go to the main office, it is at the Tarrant County Plaza Building, 200 Taylor Street, 3rd Floor, Fort Worth, Texas 76196-2000. Additional subcourthouse locations are available in Mansfield, Hurst, and other areas of Tarrant County. The full list is on the county's locations page at tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-clerk/vital-records/locations.html.
| Arlington Subcourthouse | 700 E. Abram St., Arlington, Texas 76010 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 817-884-1550 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Main Fort Worth Office | 200 Taylor Street, 3rd Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Website | tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-clerk/vital-records.html |
Requesting an Arlington Birth Certificate
You can get a birth certificate at the Arlington subcourthouse in person, or you can request one by mail or online. Walk-in is the easiest and fastest method. Bring your photo ID and payment, and staff can issue a copy the same day.
Access to birth records is restricted by Texas Government Code Section 552.115 until 75 years after the birth date. You must be a qualified applicant: the person named on the certificate, their parent, sibling, spouse, child, grandparent, legal guardian, or legal representative.
For mail requests, complete Texas Form VS-140 from the DSHS, available at dshs.texas.gov. Notarize your signature on the form and attach a copy of your photo ID. Send the completed form with your payment to the Tarrant County Clerk. Confirm the mailing address and acceptable payment methods on the county website before sending.
Online orders go through the Texas DSHS at texas.gov. These take 15 to 25 business days to arrive by mail. Expedited options are available but require sending requests by overnight courier to the Austin state office. Even expedited orders take 20 to 25 business days to process.
Information you need to provide:
- Full name on the birth record
- Date of birth
- County of birth
- Full name of father if listed
- Full maiden name of mother
- Your relationship to the person
- Valid photo ID copy
- Payment of the fee
Note: Mail-in requests require notarization. In-person requests only need a valid ID at the counter.
Arlington Birth Certificate Fees
Certified birth certificates cost $22.00 per copy in Tarrant County. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $22.00. These fees match the statewide standard. There is no separate fee for using the Arlington subcourthouse versus the Fort Worth main office.
If you order online through an authorized vendor or through the Texas DSHS portal, an added service fee applies. This is a vendor fee, not a government fee. It varies by provider. To avoid it, go in person or mail your request directly to the county clerk.
Birth Certificate Types Available in Arlington
Tarrant County issues the same birth certificate types as the rest of Texas. The long form is a copy of the original record. It includes the hospital, attending doctor, full parent details, and any corrections on file. You need the long form for a U.S. passport. The short form shows only the basic information: name, birth date, place, sex, and parent names. Most purposes accept the short form.
The heirloom certificate is a decorative version for display only. It cannot be used as legal identification. If you are unsure which form to get, request the long form. It works for every situation the short form covers and more besides.
For corrections to an Arlington area birth record, use Form VS-170 from the Texas DSHS. Get it at dshs.texas.gov. Corrections to child or parent information cost $15 each. A new certificate due to a change in sex or race costs $25. Supporting documents and a notarized signature are required.
Texas Laws Governing Birth Records
Birth registration in Texas is required under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Births must be registered within five days by the attending physician, midwife, or hospital. Records go to the local registrar and then to the state.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains records for all Texas births since 1903. Their office is at 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756. Walk-in service is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For questions or order status, call 888-963-7111 or visit dshs.texas.gov/vs.
For births not registered in the first year, a delayed certificate can be filed under Texas Administrative Code Rule 181.60. Historical records from 1903 to 1935 are available through FamilySearch for genealogy purposes.
Tarrant County Birth Records
Arlington is in Tarrant County. The Tarrant County Clerk manages birth records for Arlington and all other communities in the county. For county-wide details on office locations and how to request records, see the Tarrant County birth records page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities close to Arlington include Fort Worth in Tarrant County, and Dallas, Irving, and Garland in Dallas County. Each page has local office details for birth certificate requests.