Dallas County Birth Records

Dallas County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk, with certified copies available to qualified applicants for births going back to 1903. The clerk's office has multiple service locations throughout the county and can issue both long-form and short-form birth certificates. Dallas County is the second most populous county in Texas and serves millions of residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Dallas County Clerk - Birth Records

The Dallas County Clerk maintains vital records for the county, including birth certificates for events occurring in Dallas County from 1903 to the present. The office has multiple service locations to accommodate the county's large population. The main location is the Dallas County Records Building at 509 Main Street in downtown Dallas. The clerk issues both long-form and short-form birth certificates to qualified applicants.

Dallas County serves the city of Dallas and surrounding communities including Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, and many others. If a birth occurred anywhere within Dallas County, the county clerk's office holds the official birth record. Requests can be made in person at any county service location or by mail.

How to Request Dallas County Birth Records

You can get a Dallas County birth certificate in person, by mail, or online through an authorized vendor. The county clerk's office at dallascounty.org has application forms, eligibility information, and service location details. In-person visits are processed the same day. Mail requests take longer depending on volume.

Texas law restricts who may receive a certified copy of a birth record. Under Health and Safety Code Chapter 191, qualified applicants include the person named on the record, parents listed on the certificate, a spouse, adult children, adult siblings, grandparents, and legal guardians. Attorneys and court-appointed representatives may also request records with documentation. After 75 years from the birth date, the record is public.

For online orders, Dallas County participates in the VitalChek system. You can also request records through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics at dshs.texas.gov for statewide access.

When requesting a Dallas County birth certificate, have the following:

• Full legal name on the birth record
• Date of birth
• Names of both parents if requesting the long form
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of your relationship if requesting for another person
• Payment for the fee

Note: Dallas County birth certificates issued for births occurring outside of Dallas County will be in short-form (abstract) format only. For long-form certificates, the request must go to the county where the birth occurred.

Dallas County Birth Certificate Fees

The fee for a certified birth certificate from Dallas County is $23 for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $4 each. There may be a processing fee for credit or debit card payments. Check with the Dallas County Clerk's office for the current fee schedule before submitting your request. Cash, check, and money order are generally accepted for in-person requests.

For mail requests, make checks or money orders payable to the Dallas County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail. If ordering through VitalChek, there is an additional service fee on top of the county fee. The total online cost will be higher than ordering directly.

Fee waivers may be available for people who cannot afford the cost. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 allows courts to waive fees based on financial need. Contact the clerk's office for guidance on the process. Current fee information is available at dallascounty.org.

Dallas County Birth Certificate Types

Dallas County issues two forms of birth certificates. The long-form certificate is a full-size copy of the original birth registration. It includes the child's complete legal name, date and exact location of birth, the full names and birthplaces of both parents, the attending physician or midwife, and the hospital or place of birth. The document carries the county registrar's raised seal and signature, making it legally valid for passports, Social Security cards, school enrollment, and driver's license applications.

Long-form Dallas County birth certificates carry the registrar's raised, embossed, or multicolored seal along with the registrar's signature and the date filed. Any corrections made to the original record are reflected in this version. This is the document required for federal passport applications and most official identity purposes.

The short-form certificate is an abstract of the birth record. It shows the individual's name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and names of parents. It carries the message "Informational, not a valid document to establish identity" printed across the face. Short-form certificates from Dallas County are available for out-of-county births in Texas. They are not accepted for passports or as primary identity documents but can work for some other purposes.

For historical records and genealogy, Dallas County birth records go back to 1903. The county's courthouse fire records from 1850 and 1860 may affect the availability of some very early vital records. Check FamilySearch - Dallas County Genealogy for resources on older records.

Legal Help in Dallas County

Several organizations offer legal help for vital records matters in Dallas County. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas serves low-income residents and handles cases involving vital records, name changes, and identity documents. Call (888) 529-5277 for more information or visit their website. The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a Dallas-area attorney.

TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has self-help guides on birth certificates, name changes, and vital records requests. All official Texas court forms are available at txcourts.gov. For immigration-related vital records needs, many Dallas nonprofits can assist, including Catholic Charities Dallas.

Cities in Dallas County

Dallas County includes the city of Dallas and many surrounding municipalities. All births occurring within the county are on file with the Dallas County Clerk.

Other cities in Dallas County include Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, Richardson, and many more. All birth records for these communities are held by the Dallas County Clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

Dallas County is in the heart of the DFW metroplex. These neighboring counties also maintain their own vital records offices.