Fayette County Birth Records
Fayette County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in La Grange, Texas. Certified birth certificates are available for events that occurred in the county from 1903 forward, and the clerk's office handles various types of vital records requests.
Fayette County Overview
Fayette County Clerk
County Clerk Brenda Fietsam manages the Fayette County Clerk's office in La Grange. The office handles a wide variety of records including births and deaths, civil cases, marriage records, election records, and commissioners court minutes. It also maintains assumed name records and historical naturalization records.
The physical office is at 246 W. Colorado Street in La Grange, which is north of the courthouse. The mailing address is a P.O. Box. The office phone number is (979) 968-3251. Birth records go back to 1903 and land records in the county go back to 1838, making Fayette County a good resource for historical research.
The official website is at co.fayette.tx.us. The birth and death application form is at co.fayette.tx.us/forms.
| County Clerk | Brenda Fietsam |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 246 W. Colorado Street, La Grange, TX 78945 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 59, La Grange, TX 78945 |
| Phone | (979) 968-3251 |
| Fax | (979) 968-8531 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.fayette.tx.us |
How to Request Fayette County Birth Records
You can request a Fayette County birth certificate in person or by mail. The physical office is north of the courthouse on W. Colorado Street in La Grange. In-person requests are processed during your visit if the record is available.
For in-person requests, bring a valid photo ID and provide the full name on the birth record, the date of birth, and the parents' names. You will also need to state your relationship to the person named on the certificate.
Mail requests require a completed application form along with a photocopy of your valid photo ID and a sworn statement. Send a check or money order payable to the Fayette County Clerk to the P.O. Box address. Do not send cash. Processing by mail takes about one to two weeks after the office receives your complete request. Include a return envelope with postage.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit can issue Fayette County birth records for events from 1926 onward. Online ordering is available through VitalChek.
Warning: Falsifying information on a birth record request is a felony in Texas. Penalties include 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Who Can Get Fayette County Birth Records
To get a certified copy of a birth certificate less than 75 years old, you must be a qualified applicant. Texas law under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191 defines this as: the person on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a sibling, a child, a spouse, a grandparent, or a legal guardian or representative.
You must be an immediate family member to qualify. If you are a legal representative, bring documentation proving your authority. Legal guardians must provide court appointment papers. Attorneys must show they are acting for a client in a legal matter.
Records 75 years or older are public and accessible to anyone. The County Clerk also holds marriage records from 1838 and land records from the same year, which may be useful for deeper genealogical research beyond just birth records.
Fayette County Birth Certificate Fees
A certified copy of a birth certificate costs $23. Death certificates are $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy at the same time. Payment is by cash in person or check/money order by mail. Make checks payable to the Fayette County Clerk. No personal checks may be accepted at some offices, so call to confirm before mailing.
Texas Vital Records Resources
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit at dshs.texas.gov handles statewide requests. Phone: (512) 776-7111. For legal self-help, visit TexasLawHelp.org. Texas birth registration law is in Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. For genealogy research, the Texas State Library has historical records.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office handles birth certificate requests for all Texas counties, including Fayette County, for events that occurred from 1926 onward.
For births before 1926 in Fayette County, or if you need a long form certificate, contact the Fayette County Clerk in La Grange directly.
Cities in Fayette County
Fayette County includes La Grange, the county seat, and several smaller communities. All birth records for events in the county go through the Fayette County Clerk in La Grange.
No cities in Fayette County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Contact the county clerk for all birth record requests.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Fayette County in Southeast-Central Texas.