Kaufman County Birth Records

Kaufman County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in Kaufman. The clerk holds certified copies of birth certificates for people born in the county from 1903 to the present and processes requests from qualified applicants. You can also request records through the Texas DSHS state system.

Kaufman County Clerk - Vital Records

The Kaufman County Clerk is the local registrar for birth records in Kaufman County. The county seat is Kaufman, and the clerk's office is at the county courthouse there. Kaufman County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and has grown rapidly in recent years, with many residents in Forney, Terrell, Mesquite, and other communities spread across the county.

The clerk's office at kaufmancounty.net has separate pages for birth and death certificate requests. The site provides instructions and links to the application forms you need. For abstract records of births in other Texas counties, the clerk uses the state remote system which goes back to 1926.

The Kaufman County Government website provides a dedicated page for birth certificate requests, listing requirements and contact information.

Using the county's official site ensures you have the most current instructions before submitting your birth record request to the Kaufman County Clerk.

The Texas Court Records page for Kaufman County provides additional information on accessing public records in Kaufman County.

This site can help provide context on where different types of records are held and how to navigate Kaufman County's record systems.

How to Get Kaufman County Birth Records

In-person service at the Kaufman County Courthouse is the fastest way to get a certified copy. Go to the clerk's office, bring your valid photo ID, fill out the request, and pay. The clerk searches the records and issues your copy the same day.

Mail requests work too. Complete Form VS-140. Have it notarized. Attach a photocopy of your valid ID. Send a money order or check payable to Kaufman County Clerk. Mail to the courthouse address. Allow several weeks for the request to be processed.

Online orders through Texas.gov are also available. These are typically mailed within 15-25 business days. The state in Austin accepts mail and walk-in requests as well.

Texas restricts birth records less than 75 years old to qualified applicants. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, only the person named on the record, their parent, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, or legal representative can obtain a certified copy. Valid ID is required.

Kaufman County Birth Certificate Fees

A certified copy costs $22.00. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $22.00. The fee is the same at the county and state levels. Third-party services add their own charges on top.

Foster and homeless youth and active military with deployment orders may qualify for fee waivers. Military exemptions are covered under Texas Government Code 437.217. Contact the Kaufman County Clerk to ask about exemptions before mailing.

Types of Birth Certificates Available

Texas issues Long Form and Short Form birth certificates, plus Heirloom Certificates and Verification Letters. The Long Form is a full certified copy of the original and is needed for passports and many federal purposes. It includes correction history. The Short Form is an abstract with current information and works for most uses like schools and employment.

The Heirloom Certificate has the same information as the short form but is decorative and has no legal standing. The Verification Letter confirms a record is on file but is not a certified copy. Kaufman County's clerk office handles requests for all of these formats.

Texas Birth Record Law

Texas requires birth registration within five days under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. The doctor or hospital files with the local registrar, who forwards it to the county clerk and then to the DSHS. The state has maintained records since 1903.

Delayed birth certificates, for births registered more than a year late, are covered by Texas Administrative Code Rule 181.60. To correct a record, use Form VS-170. Information at the DSHS amendment page. Fees for corrections range from $15 to $25.

The state DSHS is at 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756 for walk-in service. Mail goes to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Online orders at Texas.gov.

Nearby Counties

Kaufman County is southeast of Dallas. These bordering counties each have a County Clerk that handles local birth records.