Grayson County Birth Records
Grayson County birth records are managed by the County Clerk in Sherman. Certified birth certificates are available to qualified applicants in person at the courthouse or by mail. The county has a dedicated online application process that lets you start your request before coming in.
Grayson County Overview
Grayson County Clerk - Birth and Death Records
The Grayson County Clerk's office in Sherman handles birth and death certificates for this North Texas county. The office offers an electronic birth and death application on the county website, which lets you submit your information online before your in-person visit. This can speed things up. However, the qualified applicant must still visit the office in person within five days of submitting online.
Grayson County sits along the Texas-Oklahoma border just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. It includes Sherman, Denison, and several smaller communities. If you lived in Grayson County but were born in another county, the clerk can pull up those records through the state remote access system for births from 1926 onward.
| Office | Grayson County Clerk - Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address |
100 W. Houston Street, Suite 18 Sherman, TX 75090 |
| Phone | (903) 813-4243 |
| Website | co.grayson.tx.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Grayson County Online Application
The Grayson County Clerk's birth and death certificate page provides the electronic application and the current fee schedule for vital records requests.
The page shows the fee schedule effective January 2024 and explains the process for both in-county residents and those born outside Grayson County.
Fees and Process in Grayson County
Grayson County's fee schedule took effect January 1, 2024. Birth certificates cost $23.00 each. Death certificates cost $21.00, with additional copies at $4.00 each if ordered at the same time. These fees are set by the county clerk in line with state guidelines.
The county offers two ways to request a birth certificate. You can visit in person with your ID and payment. Or you can use the electronic application on the county website to start the process online. If you submit electronically, you still need to come to the office within five days. That visit is when you present your ID and pay the fee.
Out-of-county residents who were born in Grayson County must complete the mail-in request form. The form is available on the county's website or at the clerk's office. You need to notarize your application and include a copy of your ID. Mail everything with payment to the Sherman address. Residents who live in the county but were born elsewhere can use the county clerk's remote system access to get an abstract birth certificate.
Note: Birth certificates from Grayson County are issued in two forms. The Long Form is typically issued for in-county births. The Abstract (Short Form) is issued for out-of-county Texas births. The abstract is not suitable for passport applications.
Who Can Request Birth Records
Grayson County follows the same rules as all Texas counties. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records under 75 years old are restricted. Qualified applicants include the person named on the certificate, their parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, legal guardian, managing conservator, and legal representative. You must provide current government-issued photo ID when you request a copy.
Records 75 years or older are public. Anyone can get them without showing a relationship to the person on the record. This automatic release after 75 years applies statewide and does not require a separate petition or request to open the records.
For genealogical research, older Grayson County records going back to 1903 may be available through the county or through the Texas State Library and Archives. The state has maintained records since 1903, and some county-level records from the 1870s also exist.
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section is the statewide authority for birth records. If you prefer to order from the state rather than the county, use the Texas.gov portal or mail Form VS-140, the Texas Birth Certificate Application, to DSHS-VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.
State fees are $22.00 per copy. Online and mail orders take 20-25 business days after receipt. Walk-in service is available in Austin at 1100 West 49th Street, Monday through Friday. Phone: 888-963-7111. The state office also processes delayed registrations and corrections under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192.
Nearby Counties
Grayson County is in North Texas on the Oklahoma border. These neighboring counties each maintain their own vital records.