Search Houston County Birth Records

Houston County birth records are on file at the County Clerk's office in Crockett. Certified birth certificates for births in this East Texas county are available going back to 1903. The County Clerk handles all requests for certified copies, whether in person or by mail.

Houston County Clerk Office

The Houston County Clerk serves as the official keeper of vital records in this East Texas county. The office handles birth certificate requests for all births that took place within Houston County. Staff can help with record searches and provide certified copies to qualified applicants.

Note that Houston County is a separate county from the City of Houston. The city of Houston is in Harris County. Houston County is an East Texas county whose seat is Crockett. If you need a birth certificate for a birth that took place in the city of Houston, contact the Harris County Clerk or the Houston Health Department instead. All births in Houston County (Crockett area) are handled by the Houston County Clerk in Crockett.

How to Get Houston County Birth Certificates

Birth certificates from Houston County can be obtained in person at the County Clerk's office in Crockett or by mail. For mail requests, send a written request with your name, date of birth, parents' names, your relationship to the person on the record, a copy of your ID, and payment to the County Clerk.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office also maintains Houston County birth records for births from 1926 onward. Online ordering is available at dshs.texas.gov or through VitalChek. For births before 1926, only the County Clerk in Crockett has the records.

When applying, you need:

• Full name as it appears on the birth record
• Date and place of birth
• Father's full name and mother's maiden name
• Your name, address, and relationship to the registrant
• A copy of valid photo ID
• Payment for the required fee

Texas limits certified birth certificate access to qualified applicants under Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. This includes the person named, parents, siblings, grandparents, spouses, and legal representatives.

Fees for Houston County Birth Records

The fee for a certified birth certificate in Houston County is $22 per copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $3 each. These fees are consistent with state law. Mail requests require a check or money order payable to the Houston County Clerk.

The state DSHS charges the same base fee for certificates. Expedited processing costs more and is available at the Austin office for in-person and priority mail requests. Online orders through VitalChek may include a convenience fee on top of the base charge.

Texas Vital Records System

Texas requires births to be registered within five days of birth under Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Hospitals and birth attendants file registrations. The county clerk keeps original records for births in their county.

For Houston County births, the county maintains records from 1903. The state DSHS office in Austin has records from 1926 through their remote access system. Genealogy research involving Houston County births may also benefit from searching the Texas State Library and Archives at tsl.texas.gov, which holds historical vital records collections.

If a birth certificate needs to be corrected or amended, the process goes through DSHS using Form VS-170. Corrections can address errors in the name, date, or parents' information. Supporting documents vary by correction type. Some require court orders.

Texas Birth Record Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section at dshs.texas.gov covers all county birth records in Texas including Houston County. The page explains who can request records, the ordering process, and available forms.

The Texas.gov vital records portal provides links to all ordering options, including online requests through VitalChek for certified birth certificates from Houston County and statewide.

Both state portals serve residents requesting Houston County birth records through official channels.

Cities in Houston County

Crockett is the main city and county seat of Houston County. All birth records for the county are managed by the County Clerk in Crockett.

Other communities in Houston County include Grapeland, Crockett, Kennard, and Latexo. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Houston County is in East Texas. Check the county of birth when requesting records for nearby areas.