Loving County Birth Records

Loving County birth records are kept by the County Clerk in Mentone, Texas. Loving County is the least populous county in the contiguous United States. The Clerk's office handles vital records for the county and can provide certified copies of birth certificates to qualified applicants. State records begin from 1903.

Loving County Clerk

Loving County is unique in Texas and in the country. It has the lowest population of any county in the contiguous United States. The County Clerk in Mentone handles all official records for the county, including birth and death certificates, marriage records, land documents, and probate filings.

Loving County was created from Tom Green County in 1887 and named for Oliver Loving, a cattle rancher and pioneer. The county is located in far West Texas near the New Mexico border. Because of its small size, most people who need birth records from this county work through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section rather than making the trip to Mentone.

Marriage records in Loving County start from 1931 and land records from 1927. Birth records in the statewide system begin in 1903. Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records are restricted for 75 years. Only qualified applicants can access recent records.

How to Get a Birth Certificate from Loving County

Because Loving County has an extremely small staff and population, ordering through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section is the most practical approach for most people. The state holds all Texas birth records and can process requests regardless of which county the birth occurred in.

Order online at Texas.gov, or mail a completed Form VS-140 to DSHS-VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Mail orders take about 6 to 8 weeks. Online orders ship in about 20 to 25 business days. Walk-in service is available at the state DSHS office at 1100 West 49th Street in Austin, Monday through Friday, with same-day processing in most cases.

If you prefer to contact the Loving County Clerk directly, call ahead to confirm staff availability. The county is so small that hours and staffing can vary. Mail requests should include the completed application form, a copy of valid photo ID, and a check or money order for the applicable fee.

Note: Loving County is in a remote part of West Texas. Planning ahead and using the state ordering system will save time for most requesters.

Birth Certificate Fees

Certified Texas birth certificates cost $22.00 per copy through the state DSHS office. Additional copies at the same time are also $22.00 each. Call the Loving County Clerk to confirm their local fee, which may differ.

The long form birth certificate is a full copy of the original record and is required for passports and federal applications. The short form is an abstract of current information and works for most general needs. A verification letter is the most basic document. It only confirms that a birth is on file in Texas and is not accepted as a legal identity document in most situations.

For corrections to a Loving County birth record, submit Form VS-170 to the DSHS. Most corrections cost $15. Corrections requiring a new birth certificate cost $25.

Loving County Birth and Vital Records

Loving County was organized in 1887 but has records dating back only to that year due to its late settlement. Marriage records start from 1931 and land records from 1927. Probate records begin in 1931. Birth and death records in the statewide system date from 1903.

For family research, the FamilySearch Loving County genealogy page covers what records are available and where they are held. Given the very small population of Loving County, the volume of records is limited compared to larger counties.

Texas delayed birth registrations from 1939 to 1975 may include some Loving County residents. These were filed to help people born before 1903 prove their birth for Social Security and other legal purposes. Contact the DSHS Vital Statistics Section if you are looking for records from that period.

Texas Vital Records for Loving County

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section at dshs.texas.gov is the main state resource for birth records from all 254 counties in Texas, including Loving County. The site has forms, processing times, fee schedules, and contact details. Given the small size of Loving County, the state office is the most reliable and accessible source for birth records from this area.

The legal framework for birth registration is found in the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. The statute requires that every birth be registered and sets the duties of medical professionals and parents in reporting births to the local registrar.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section processes birth record requests from all Texas counties including Loving County, which has the smallest population of any county in the contiguous United States.

Nearby Counties

Loving County is in far West Texas. These neighboring counties have their own County Clerks for local birth records.