Access Lamar County Birth Records

Lamar County birth records are held at the County Clerk's office in Paris. Certified birth certificates for births in this Northeast Texas county are available from 1903. You can request records in person at the courthouse or by mail.

Lamar County Clerk

The Lamar County Clerk is the official custodian of birth records for all births that occurred within Lamar County. The office is in Paris, the county seat. Paris is also the largest city in the county. Staff can search records going back over a century and issue certified copies to qualified applicants.

Lamar County is in Northeast Texas, bordering Oklahoma to the north. The county has a longer history than many Texas counties, and its birth records collection is among the older in the region. Records from 1903 forward are on file. Delayed Birth Certificates for births registered late are also held by the County Clerk and can be requested through the same process.

How to Get Lamar County Birth Certificates

To get a birth certificate from Lamar County, visit the County Clerk in Paris or send a mail request. Include your full name at birth, date of birth, parents' full names, your relationship to the registrant, a copy of your ID, and payment. The clerk will process the request and issue a certified copy.

For mail requests, send to Lamar County Clerk, 119 N. Main Street, Paris, TX 75460. Pay by check or money order made out to Lamar County Clerk. Cash is not accepted by mail. Processing time depends on current volume.

For births from 1926 onward, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office also holds Lamar County records through their statewide remote access system. You can order online at dshs.texas.gov or through VitalChek. The DSHS Form VS-140 is available on their website for mail applications.

Access to certified birth records is restricted under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Qualified applicants are the person named, their parents, siblings, grandparents, spouse, and authorized legal representatives.

Lamar County Birth Record Fees

Certified birth certificates in Lamar County cost $22 for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $3 each. Texas law sets these fees uniformly across counties. Both the county clerk and the state DSHS charge the same base fee.

Pay by check or money order for mail requests. Online orders accept credit and debit cards. Expedited processing at the state level is available for additional cost. Check the DSHS website for current turnaround times before you apply.

Texas State Vital Records

Texas birth records are maintained at both the county and state levels. The Lamar County Clerk holds original records for births in the county. The state DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin holds records from 1926 forward. For pre-1926 births, only the county clerk has originals.

The birth registration system is governed by Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Texas requires registration within five days of birth. The county clerk becomes the official local custodian once records are filed.

For genealogy research, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at tsl.texas.gov holds historical birth records and indexes for Northeast Texas counties including Lamar. Their collection includes early indexes that can help identify records from the early 1900s.

Birth Record Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section at dshs.texas.gov provides the state portal for Lamar County birth certificate requests. It covers ordering methods, fees, and who qualifies to request a copy.

The Texas.gov vital records portal links to state ordering options including VitalChek for online requests covering Lamar County births from 1926 onward.

Both state portals offer practical ways to request Lamar County birth records when a direct county visit is not possible.

Cities in Lamar County

Paris is the county seat and largest city in Lamar County. All birth records for the county are handled at the County Clerk's office in Paris.

Other communities include Blossom, Brookston, Deport, and Honey Grove. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Lamar County is in Northeast Texas near Oklahoma. Check the correct county when requesting birth records from the area.