Ector County Birth Records

Ector County birth records are on file at the County Clerk's office in Odessa, Texas. Certified birth certificates are available for events that occurred in the county from 1903, and the office also has access to statewide Texas birth records from 1926 forward.

Ector County Clerk - Birth and Death Records

The Ector County Clerk keeps birth records for events that happened in Ector County, and the office also has access to birth records from all counties in Texas from 1926 forward. This broader access makes the Ector County office a useful resource for people born elsewhere in Texas who are currently living in Odessa.

The county also maintains probate and court-ordered birth records, as well as delayed birth records for people whose births were not registered at the time. Death records are available for deaths that occurred in Ector County from 1903 forward. Odessa is in the Permian Basin region of West Texas.

The county's birth and death records page is at co.ector.tx.us. That page explains who can request records, what documents to bring, and how to pay.

The Ector County Birth and Death Records page details who can request records, what identification to bring, how to pay, and what records are available through the county office.

The county office can issue certified copies for Ector County births and for any Texas birth from 1926 onward, making it convenient for Odessa residents who were born in other Texas counties.

Who Can Request Ector County Birth Records

A qualified applicant is required to get a certified copy of a birth certificate. The county defines a qualified applicant as the registrant or an immediate family member or legal representative of the registrant.

Immediate family members include a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child of the person named on the birth record. A legal representative is a court-appointed administrator, guardian, or power of attorney holder. If only the mother is listed on the birth certificate, access is limited to the mother or maternal grandmother unless the applicant is the registrant who is at least 18 years old.

All applicants must present a valid photo ID. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, state-issued ID card, or another valid photo identification. Legal representatives must bring documentation showing their authority. Under Texas law, birth records less than 75 years old are restricted to qualified applicants.

How to Get an Ector County Birth Certificate

You can request a birth certificate from the Ector County Clerk in person. Go to the courthouse at 300 N. Grant Avenue in Odessa. Bring your photo ID, the registrant's full name and date of birth, and payment. Staff can issue the certified copy during your visit.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a completed request form with a copy of your ID and payment by check or money order. Make the check payable to the Ector County Clerk. Processing time by mail is generally one to two weeks after the office receives everything. Do not send cash.

For statewide requests or online ordering, use VitalChek or contact the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office. The Ector County office itself has access to all Texas birth records from 1926 forward, so you may not need to contact another county if you live in Odessa.

Ector County Birth Certificate Fees

The fee for a certified birth certificate is $23. Death certificates cost $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These fees are set by county policy and Texas law.

Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. In-person requests can be paid by cash. Mail requests must use check or money order. The office may also accept credit or debit cards. Call (432) 498-4130 to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit.

Delayed and Court-Ordered Birth Records

The Ector County Clerk also holds probate and court-ordered birth records along with delayed birth records. Delayed birth records are for people whose births were not registered at the time they occurred. This was common in rural areas or home births in earlier decades.

If you cannot find a standard birth record, a delayed birth registration may have been filed later by the person or their family. Ask the clerk's office about delayed birth records if a regular search turns up nothing. Court-ordered records may require a petition to the probate court to establish a legal birth record.

The Texas DSHS can also help with delayed birth registration and has information on that process at dshs.texas.gov. The relevant statutory framework is in Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192.

Texas Vital Records Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics manages birth records statewide. Phone: (512) 776-7111. For legal help and self-help guides, visit TexasLawHelp.org.

Cities in Ector County

Ector County's main city is Odessa. All birth records for events that occurred in Ector County go through the county clerk office in Odessa.

No cities in Ector County currently have dedicated city pages. Contact the county clerk for birth record requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Ector County in the Permian Basin of West Texas.