Cottle County Birth Records

Cottle County birth records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Paducah. The clerk maintains vital records from 1903 and can issue certified copies to eligible applicants. Cottle County is a small, rural county in northwest Texas with a very low population.

Cottle County Clerk Office

The Cottle County Clerk in Paducah holds all vital records for the county. Birth and death records go back to 1903. Marriage records, probate records, and land records date from 1892. The courthouse is at 811 9th Street in Paducah. Because of the county's small size, calling ahead before visiting is always a good idea.

Cottle County was named for George Washington Cottle, a defender of the Alamo. It is one of the smaller and more remote Texas counties. The county clerk handles all records requests, and mail-in requests are a practical option for people who live far from Paducah.

Getting a Cottle County Birth Certificate

You can get a birth certificate from Cottle County by visiting the courthouse in Paducah or sending a mail request. Include a copy of your photo ID and a completed application. Mail payments should be by check or money order made out to the Cottle County Clerk. Due to the small staff, calling ahead at (806) 492-3823 before visiting or sending a request is strongly recommended.

Texas law limits who can receive a certified birth certificate. Under Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, eligible requestors include the person on the record, parents listed on the certificate, a spouse, adult children, adult siblings, grandparents, and legal guardians. After 75 years, the record is public.

If you cannot get the record from Cottle County directly, try Texas DSHS Vital Statistics at dshs.texas.gov. Online orders are handled through VitalChek. The state office holds records for all Texas births from 1903 and may be a more convenient option for remote requests.

When requesting a Cottle County birth certificate, have ready:

• Full name on the birth record
• Date of birth and county
• Parents' names for the long-form certificate
• Copy of a valid photo ID
• Your relationship to the registrant if not the person named
• Correct fee payment

Note: Cottle County is a very small county with limited staff. The state DSHS office or VitalChek may provide faster service for urgent requests.

Cottle County Birth Certificate Fees

The standard fee for a certified birth certificate in Texas is $23 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies at the same time. Cottle County follows this schedule. Mail payments should be by check or money order. State DSHS charges $22 for the first copy. VitalChek adds a service fee. For the most current information, call the county clerk at (806) 492-3823.

Cottle County Birth Certificate Details

The long-form birth certificate from Cottle County shows the registrant's full legal name, date and location of birth, parents' names and birthplaces, the attending physician or midwife, and the delivery location. The document carries the official seal and signature and is valid for passports and other official purposes.

The short-form abstract shows only basic facts and is not valid for establishing identity. Most purposes require the long form. For genealogy research, FamilySearch - Cottle County Genealogy has resources. Land and marriage records from 1892 provide a base for tracing families in this northwest Texas region.

Older records from Cottle County may also be available through the Texas State Library and Archives at tsl.texas.gov. Genealogy researchers should check multiple sources when looking for early 20th-century records from this area.

Texas Birth Records

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office manages birth record requests for all 254 Texas counties, including Cottle County.

For small rural counties like Cottle, the state office can be a practical alternative when local staff availability is limited or when you need to order from out of state.

Nearby Counties

Cottle County borders several northwest Texas counties. Check these if you need records from the surrounding area.