Lee County Birth Records

Lee County birth records are held by the County Clerk's office in Giddings. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in Lee County, the Clerk is your starting point. Records go back to 1903 when Texas began statewide registration, and some earlier county records exist from 1874 when the county was formed.

Lee County Clerk

The Lee County Clerk is the local registrar for vital statistics. The office handles birth and death records, along with marriage records, land filings, and probate documents. Birth records have been kept here since 1903. The clerk's office is located at the Lee County Courthouse in Giddings.

To get a certified copy of a birth certificate from Lee County, you need to contact the Clerk directly. You can go in person or send a written request by mail. Mail requests must include a completed application, a copy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee. The office follows state guidelines on who can request a birth record.

Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records are not public until 75 years after the date of birth. Only qualified applicants can get copies of recent records. That includes the person named on the record, close family members, and legal representatives with proper paperwork.

How to Get a Lee County Birth Certificate

There are a few ways to get a birth certificate in Lee County. The most direct way is to visit the County Clerk's office in person. You can also send a mail request. For online orders, the state offers a portal through Texas.gov.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Section also issues certified copies of birth certificates for births occurring anywhere in Texas, including Lee County. Their office is in Austin. You can order online through Texas.gov or mail a completed application to DSHS. Processing times differ by method. Online orders take about 20 to 25 business days. Mail orders can take 6 to 8 weeks.

The official application form is the Texas Birth Certificate Application (Form VS-140). You must fill it out completely. Section 1, 2, 5, and 6 need to be done. Everyone who signs Section 6 must sign before a notary public and send a copy of their valid photo ID. The form must be original. Photocopies are not accepted.

You need to provide:

• Full legal name of the person on the record
• Date of birth
• City or county where the birth happened
• Mother's full maiden name
• Father's full name if listed
• Your relationship to the person named
• Valid photo ID

Note: Walk-in service at the state DSHS office in Austin provides same-day service in most cases, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.

Birth Certificate Fees in Lee County

The standard fee for a certified copy of a Texas birth certificate is $22.00. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $22.00. Fees apply whether you order from the state office or the local county clerk. The county clerk may have a slightly different local fee schedule, so it is best to call ahead and confirm before you send payment.

There are several types of birth certificates you can request. The long form is a copy of the original and shows any corrections made to the record. It is often required for passports. The short form is an abstract that shows current information only. It works for most other purposes like school enrollment or insurance. A verification letter just confirms that a birth is on file in Texas. It is not a legal substitute for a full certified copy.

Correction fees are separate. If you need to fix information on a Lee County birth record, the state charges $15 for corrections to a child's or parent's information. Corrections that result in a new certificate cost $25. Send amendment requests using Form VS-170 to the DSHS Vital Statistics Section.

Birth Records in Lee County

Lee County has kept vital records since it was organized in 1874. The county was created from Bastrop, Burleson, Fayette, and Washington Counties. Early birth and death records from 1874 to 1876 exist at the county level. Statewide registration began in 1903, which is when continuous records became more reliable.

The Lee County Clerk holds the local copies of birth records. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section holds the state copies. Both can issue certified copies to qualified applicants. For genealogy work, records older than 75 years become public and can be accessed by anyone. The FamilySearch resource at familysearch.org has details on what Lee County records are available for research.

Other records the County Clerk maintains include:

• Marriage records from 1874
• Land records from 1874
• Probate records from 1879
• Death records from 1903

If you need records related to a birth that happened before 1903, check with the County Clerk directly. Some counties kept informal records before statewide registration started. Results vary by county and time period.

Note: Texas also has delayed birth registration records from roughly 1939 to 1975. These were filed to help people born before 1903 prove their birth for Social Security or other benefits. The county clerk may have copies of these as well.

Texas State Birth Records Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section is the main state agency for birth records. It has maintained records for all Texas counties since 1903. The office processes requests for certified copies, handles corrections, and issues verification letters. Their main website is at dshs.texas.gov.

The Texas Health and Safety Code governs how birth records work in this state. Chapter 192 sets out who must file birth certificates, what they must contain, and how they are managed. Under Section 192.003, the physician or midwife at a birth must file the certificate with the local registrar no later than five days after the birth. If the birth happens in a hospital, the hospital may file it. If no medical professional was present, the father or mother is responsible for reporting the birth.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission also holds historical vital records useful for research. County-level birth records are available from 1873 to 1876 and from 1903 to the present. You can learn more about Texas genealogy resources at the Library of Congress Texas guide.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section processes birth certificate requests for all 254 Texas counties, including Lee County.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders several other Texas counties. Birth records for those areas are held by their respective County Clerks.