Access Lubbock County Birth Records

Lubbock County birth records are kept by the County Clerk in Lubbock, Texas. The Clerk's office handles vital records for one of the most populous counties in West Texas. Certified birth certificates are available to qualified applicants in person, by mail, or through the state vital records system. Records start from 1903 in the statewide system.

Lubbock County Clerk

The Lubbock County Clerk serves as the local registrar for vital statistics in the county. The office issues certified copies of birth and death certificates, maintains marriage records, and handles land filings and probate documents. Lubbock County is the regional hub for much of West Texas, and the Clerk's office is one of the busier ones in the region.

Lubbock County was created from Bexar County in 1876 and named for Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a Confederate officer and Texas Ranger. The county was organized in 1891. Marriage records date from 1891, land records from 1881, and probate records from 1891. Birth and death records in the statewide system begin in 1903.

Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records less than 75 years old are restricted. Only qualified applicants can receive certified copies. Those include the person named on the record, their spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and legal representatives.

How to Get a Lubbock County Birth Certificate

You can request a Lubbock County birth certificate from the County Clerk in person or through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section. The state office handles requests for certified copies from all Texas counties, including Lubbock. You can order online at Texas.gov, by mail, or by visiting the state DSHS office in Austin.

Mail requests go to DSHS-VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Processing takes about 6 to 8 weeks. Online orders take about 20 to 25 business days. Walk-in service at the DSHS office at 1100 West 49th Street in Austin is available Monday through Friday and usually provides same-day service.

To request a birth certificate, complete Form VS-140. You need to fill out Sections 1, 2, 5, and 6. Section 6 requires a notary signature. Attach a copy of your valid photo ID. Send the original form only.

You will need to provide:

• Full legal name as it appears on the birth record
• Date of birth
• County of birth (Lubbock County)
• Mother's full maiden name
• Father's full name if listed
• Your relationship to the person on the record
• A copy of your valid photo ID

Lubbock County Birth Certificate Costs

Certified Texas birth certificates cost $22.00 per copy through the state DSHS office. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $22.00. The Lubbock County Clerk may have a slightly different local fee schedule, so confirm with them before submitting a request directly.

Long form certificates are full copies of the original record and include correction history. They are required for passports and most federal identity purposes. Short form certificates show current information only and are accepted for school enrollment, insurance, and similar uses. Verification letters just confirm that a Texas birth record exists and are not a substitute for a certified copy in legal matters.

If you need to fix an error on a Lubbock County birth record, submit Form VS-170 to the DSHS office. Corrections to child or parent details cost $15. Corrections requiring a new certificate cost $25.

Lubbock County Vital Records

Lubbock County has maintained records since 1891 when it was organized. Marriage, land, and probate records date from that year. Birth records in the statewide system start from 1903. Lubbock is a major regional center, so the Clerk's office handles a high volume of records compared to rural West Texas counties.

For genealogical research, the FamilySearch Lubbock County genealogy page gives an overview of available records, where they are housed, and how to access them. Records older than 75 years are public under Texas law.

The District Clerk in Lubbock County handles divorce records. If you need marriage dissolution documents in addition to birth records, you will need to contact the District Clerk separately from the County Clerk.

Texas State Birth Records Law

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section at dshs.texas.gov maintains birth records for all 254 Texas counties. The site provides application forms, fee schedules, processing time estimates, and contact details for both the state and local county-level offices.

Birth registration in Texas is governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Under this law, every birth in the state must be registered. The attending physician or midwife is responsible for filing the certificate within five days of the birth. Hospitals may also file on behalf of patients.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section processes certified birth certificate requests for all Texas counties including Lubbock County, with records held from 1903 to the present.

Nearby Counties

Lubbock County is in the South Plains region of Texas. These surrounding counties have their own clerks for local birth records.