Henderson County Birth Records
Henderson County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in Athens. Certified birth certificates can be requested for births that occurred in this East Texas county. You can visit the clerk's office in person or submit a notarized mail application. Records date back to 1903 as required under Texas law.
Henderson County Overview
Henderson County Clerk Office
The Henderson County Clerk in Athens is the local registrar for birth certificates. The office maintains vital records and issues certified copies to qualified applicants. Athens is the county seat and largest city in the county, located southeast of Dallas in the Piney Woods region of East Texas.
If you were born in another Texas county, the Henderson County Clerk can access those records through the state remote system for births from 1926 forward. For births before 1926 from other counties, contact the Texas DSHS or the county where the birth occurred. Henderson County has a decent-sized population, so the office is staffed to handle requests efficiently.
| Office | Henderson County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
125 N. Prairieville Street, Suite 101 Athens, TX 75751 |
| Phone | (903) 675-6140 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Getting a Henderson County Birth Certificate
In-person requests are the fastest method. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and $23.00 per copy to the County Clerk's office in Athens. Staff can look up the record and issue the certificate during your visit. If you need several copies, order them all at once to avoid a separate trip.
Mail-in requests require a notarized application and a copy of your valid photo ID. Send a check or money order payable to the Henderson County Clerk. Do not send cash by mail. Include your contact information so staff can reach you if there is an issue with your application.
Texas law under Texas Government Code Section 552.115 restricts birth records under 75 years old to qualified applicants. These include the person on the record, parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. After 75 years, records are public and anyone can request them.
Note: For a long form birth certificate needed for a passport, request it from Henderson County if the birth occurred there. Abstract (short form) certificates are issued for out-of-county Texas births and are not accepted for passport purposes.
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin holds all Texas birth records from 1903 onward. Order online through Texas.gov or mail Form VS-140, the official Texas Birth Certificate Application, to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. The state fee is $22.00 per copy. Call 888-963-7111 for help.
Online orders take 20-25 business days. Mail orders take 6-8 weeks. Walk-in service in Austin is same-day at 1100 West 49th Street. The state office also handles corrections using Form VS-170 and delayed registrations under Texas Administrative Code Rule 181.60.
All Texas birth records operate under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. This chapter requires births to be registered within five days, sets the form and content standards, and establishes the role of local registrars. Henderson County follows the same requirements as all other Texas counties under this law.
Texas Vital Records Information
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics website provides comprehensive information for requesting birth certificates from Henderson County and across Texas.
The page covers the application process, fees, processing times, and acceptable forms of ID required for all birth certificate requests in Texas.
Nearby Counties
Henderson County is in East Texas southeast of Dallas. These bordering counties each maintain vital records through their county clerks.