Find Birth Records in Harrison County

Harrison County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in Marshall. If you need a certified birth certificate from this East Texas county, you can go to the clerk's office in person or submit a mail request. Records have been on file since 1903 and are issued to qualified applicants only.

Harrison County Clerk

The Harrison County Clerk in Marshall is the local registrar for birth records. The office issues certified copies of birth certificates for births that occurred in Harrison County. Records are available from 1903 onward. Marshall is the county seat and the largest community in the county, located in East Texas near the Louisiana border.

If you need a birth certificate from another Texas county, the Harrison County Clerk can access records through the state remote system for births from 1926 forward. Births before 1926 in another county require you to contact the Texas DSHS or that county's clerk directly.

Requesting a Harrison County Birth Certificate

In-person requests are the fastest option. Visit the County Clerk's office in Marshall with a valid government-issued photo ID and $23.00 per copy. Staff can search the records and issue the certificate during your visit. Ordering multiple copies at the same time is more efficient than making separate requests.

For mail requests, complete and notarize the application form, include a copy of your photo ID, and send a check or money order payable to the Harrison County Clerk to the Marshall address. Do not mail cash. Mail requests take longer, so build in extra time if you have a deadline.

Texas law under Texas Government Code Section 552.115 keeps birth records confidential for 75 years. Only qualified applicants can request records within that window. These include the person on the record, parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, legal guardians, and legal representatives with documentation.

After 75 years, the record becomes public and anyone can request it. This automatic transition requires no special petition or legal action. It applies to all Texas birth records from 1903 onward once enough time has passed.

Texas State Vital Statistics

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin holds all Texas birth records from 1903 to the present. You can order online through Texas.gov, by mail using Form VS-140, the Texas Birth Certificate Application, or in person at the state office. The state fee is $22.00 per copy.

Online and expedited orders take about 20-25 business days. Standard mail orders take 6-8 weeks. Walk-in service is same-day at 1100 West 49th Street in Austin. Phone: 888-963-7111. You can check your order status on the DSHS website at any time.

The state is also the place to go for delayed birth registration and corrections. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192, the state manages the form and standards for all Texas birth certificates. Corrections to birth data cost $15.00 per item through the state using Form VS-170.

Texas Birth Records Reference

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics website is the main reference for ordering birth certificates from Harrison County and the rest of Texas.

The page covers the VS-140 application, accepted ID types, fee schedules, and instructions for in-person, mail, and online orders.

Nearby Counties

Harrison County is in East Texas. These bordering counties each handle their own vital records through their county clerks.