Search Limestone County Birth Records

Limestone County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in Groesbeck, Texas. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in Limestone County, the Clerk's office is where you start. The county has kept birth and death records since 1903, and other vital records go back to 1846 when the county was organized.

Limestone County Clerk

The Limestone County Clerk serves as the local registrar for vital statistics. The office keeps birth and death records, marriage licenses, land filings, and probate documents. The Clerk is the go-to office for certified copies of birth certificates for people born in Limestone County.

Limestone County was created from Robertson County in 1846 and named for the limestone deposits along the Navasota River. Records held by the County Clerk go back to the year of organization. Marriage records date from 1846, land records from 1846, and probate records from 1846 as well. Birth and death records in the modern statewide system begin in 1903.

Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records are restricted for 75 years from the date of birth. Qualified applicants include the person named on the certificate, their spouse, parents, children, grandparents, siblings, and authorized legal representatives. Everyone else must wait until the 75-year mark for the record to become public.

How to Get a Limestone County Birth Certificate

You can request a Limestone County birth certificate from the local County Clerk or from the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin. Both are valid sources for certified copies. For most people, contacting the state office is convenient since they offer online and mail ordering.

To order online, go to Texas.gov. You will need a valid ID and be prepared to pay the fee by credit or debit card. Online orders typically ship in 20 to 25 business days. Mail-in orders go to DSHS-VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040 and take about 6 to 8 weeks. The state DSHS office at 1100 West 49th Street in Austin also takes walk-in requests Monday through Friday with same-day service in most cases.

All requests require the Texas Birth Certificate Application (Form VS-140). Sections 1, 2, 5, and 6 must be completed. Section 6 requires a notary signature. Attach a copy of your valid photo ID. The form must be an original. No altered forms are accepted.

Note: Always call the Limestone County Clerk first if you want to request directly at the local level. They can confirm current fees, hours, and what documents to bring.

Birth Certificate Fees

The state fee for a certified Texas birth certificate is $22.00 per copy. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $22.00 each. Local county clerk fees may differ, so confirm with the Limestone County Clerk before you send payment.

Different certificate types serve different purposes. The long form birth certificate is a full copy of the original record and includes any correction history. It is needed for passports and official identity documents. The short form is an abstract of current information. It works for school enrollment, insurance, and most everyday purposes. A verification letter is the most basic option. It confirms a birth is on file in Texas but is not a substitute for a certified copy in legal contexts.

Correction fees under the state schedule are $15 for most amendments and $25 when a new certificate must be issued. Use Form VS-170 for correction requests sent to the state DSHS office.

Limestone County Vital Records

Limestone County has a long record history. Marriage, land, and probate records date back to 1846. Birth and death records in the statewide system start from 1903. For family research, records older than 75 years are public and open to anyone.

The FamilySearch Limestone County genealogy page gives an overview of what records are available, which archives hold them, and how to access historical documents. This is a good starting point if you are working on family history going back to the mid-1800s.

Texas also has delayed birth registration records from roughly 1939 to 1975. These were filed by people born before 1903 to establish their birth for Social Security and other benefits. Some Limestone County residents may have delayed records on file at the state or county level.

Texas Birth Records Law

Birth registration in Texas is governed by the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. The law requires that every birth in Texas be registered. Section 192.003 places the filing duty on the attending physician or midwife, who must file within five days of the birth. Hospitals may also file on behalf of patients. If no medical professional was present, the parent or householder where the birth occurred must report it.

The DSHS Vital Statistics Section manages all Texas birth records at the state level. Their main site at dshs.texas.gov has the application forms, fee schedules, and contact information. For Limestone County, both the local clerk and state office can issue certified copies.

Texas state vital records resources cover Limestone County births and are managed through the DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin.

Nearby Counties

Limestone County borders several Central Texas counties. Each has its own County Clerk handling birth records locally.