Austin Birth Records

Austin birth records are split between two offices based on where the birth took place. The City of Austin's Vital Records office handles births inside city limits, while Travis County Clerk manages older records and births outside the city. Knowing which office to contact will save you time when requesting a certified copy.

Which Office Has Your Austin Birth Record

Austin has an unusual setup. Unlike most Texas cities, Austin has its own city-level vital records office for births that happened within city limits. The Travis County Clerk handles births outside the city limits but within Travis County. The county also holds all Travis County birth and death records from 1903 through 1956.

If you were born inside the city of Austin, contact Austin Public Health - Vital Records. Their office is at the Austin Public Health facility. Phone is 512-972-5508. Their page is at austintexas.gov/department/vital-records. You can request in person or by mail from this office.

For births outside city limits but within Travis County, contact the Justice of the Peace court where the birth occurred, or go to the Travis County Clerk. The Travis County Clerk's Recording Division handles births and deaths. Their mailing address is: Recording Division, Travis County Clerk, P.O. Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714. Their vital statistics page is at countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov.

Note: The Travis County Clerk is not the local registrar for all birth records in Travis County. For births outside Austin city limits, contact the Justice of the Peace court in the precinct where the birth occurred.

How to Request an Austin Birth Certificate

The process differs slightly depending on which office you contact, but the basics are the same. You must be a qualified applicant, bring valid ID, and pay the fee.

Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records are not public until 75 years after the date of birth. Qualified applicants include the person named on the certificate, their parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, legal guardian, or legal representative with documentation.

For mail requests to the Travis County Clerk, send a cashier's check, money order, or personal check payable to Travis County Clerk. Include a completed application, a notarized signature, and a copy of your valid photo ID. The application form is Texas Form VS-140, available at dshs.texas.gov.

Certified copies of birth certificates cost $22.00 from Travis County. The state DSHS office charges the same rate. Additional copies ordered at the same time are also $22.00 each.

The state DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin is another option for all Texas births from 1903 onward. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756. This is useful if you are already in Austin and need a record quickly. Online orders at texas.gov take 15 to 25 business days.

Austin Birth Certificate Fees

Certified copies of birth certificates cost $22.00 each in Travis County. The city of Austin's vital records office follows the same fee structure. Each additional certified copy ordered at the same time also costs $22.00.

For birth record corrections, fees vary by type. Corrections to a child's information or a parent's information cost $15. A new certificate based on a change in sex or race costs $25. Use Form VS-170 from the DSHS to make corrections. That form is at dshs.texas.gov.

Texas also offers a verification letter at a lower cost. The letter confirms that a birth is on file and includes the name, birth date, and county. It is not a legal document and cannot be used for identification. If you need proof of birth for any official purpose, get a certified copy instead.

Austin Birth Certificate Types

Texas issues long-form and short-form birth certificates. The long form is a full copy of the original record. It includes the hospital, attending physician, full parent information, and any corrections on file. Use the long form for U.S. passport applications, driver's licenses, and dual citizenship requests. Short-form certificates show only the basics: name, birth date, place, sex, and parent names. Most uses accept the short form, but not all international documents will.

Texas also has a heirloom certificate for display purposes. It has no legal value and should not be submitted to any agency as proof of birth. If you aren't sure which type to order, get the long form. It works everywhere the short form does and then some.

For genealogical research, birth records from 1903 to 1935 are available through FamilySearch. Delayed birth registrations, which were filed after the fact for people born before regular statewide recordkeeping, are also available for some time periods. The Texas State Library and Archives has additional guidance on where to find older vital records.

Texas Birth Record Laws That Apply in Austin

Birth registration in Texas is required under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Every birth must be registered within five days by the attending physician, midwife, or hospital. The certificate goes to the local registrar, who sends a copy to the state.

Access is governed by Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Records stay restricted until 75 years after the birth date, then become public. Austin births follow this statewide rule. The same rule applies whether you request from the city, county, or state level. If the 75-year period has passed, anyone can request a copy and no ID or relationship is required.

Delayed birth registrations are available through the Texas DSHS for births not registered within the first year. The process is outlined in Texas Administrative Code Title 25, Rule 181.60. You must submit documentation supporting the birth date, place, and parentage. The State Registrar reviews the application and may deny it if documentation is insufficient.

Travis County Birth Records

Austin is the county seat of Travis County. The Travis County Clerk maintains birth records for the county going back to 1903. For county-level details, locations, and the full request process, visit the Travis County birth records page.

View Travis County Birth Records

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Texas cities with birth record pages include San Antonio and Laredo. Each page has the local office details and how to request a certified copy in that city.