Martin County Birth Records

Martin County birth records are kept by the County Clerk in Stanton, Texas. The Clerk serves as the local registrar for vital statistics and can provide certified birth certificates to qualified applicants. Birth records in the statewide system start from 1903, and county records date back to 1884 when Martin County was organized.

Martin County Clerk

The Martin County Clerk handles vital records for this West Texas county. The office keeps birth and death records, marriage licenses, land filings, and probate documents. The Clerk's office is located at the Martin County Courthouse in Stanton.

Martin County was created from Bexar County in 1876 and named for Wylie Martin, a Texas soldier and legislator. The county was organized in 1884. Marriage records date from 1884, land records from 1884, and probate records from 1884 as well. Birth and death records in the formal statewide system begin in 1903.

Access to birth records less than 75 years old is restricted under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Qualified applicants include the registrant, their spouse, parents, children, grandparents, siblings, and legal representatives.

Requesting a Martin County Birth Certificate

You can request a Martin County birth certificate from the local County Clerk in Stanton or from the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section. The state office handles requests for all 254 Texas counties. Online ordering is at Texas.gov.

For mail requests to the state, complete Form VS-140 and send it to DSHS-VSS, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. Online orders take about 20 to 25 business days. Walk-in service is available at the DSHS office at 1100 West 49th Street in Austin, Monday through Friday.

Complete Sections 1, 2, 5, and 6 of the application form. Sign Section 6 before a notary. Attach a copy of your valid photo ID. Use only the original form.

Note: Martin County is a small West Texas county. If visiting the local courthouse in Stanton, call ahead to confirm office hours and local fee amounts before making the trip.

Birth Certificate Fees

Certified Texas birth certificates cost $22.00 per copy through the state DSHS. Extra copies at the same time are also $22.00 each. Check with the Martin County Clerk for their local rate, which may differ.

Long form certificates are full copies of the original including any corrections. They are required for passports. Short form certificates are abstracts of current data and are accepted for most general purposes. A verification letter is the most basic document and is not a legal substitute for a certified copy.

For record corrections, use Form VS-170 from the state DSHS. Most corrections cost $15. Corrections that need a new certificate cost $25.

Martin County Birth Records History

Martin County was organized in 1884. All key record types, including marriage, land, and probate records, date from that year. Birth and death records in the statewide system begin in 1903. Records older than 75 years are public under Texas law.

The FamilySearch Martin County genealogy page provides an overview of what records are available and how to access them. This is a good starting point for family research in this West Texas county.

Delayed birth registrations from roughly 1939 to 1975 may include some Martin County residents born before 1903. These were filed to establish birth records for people who needed them for Social Security and other legal purposes. Contact the DSHS Vital Statistics Section for information on these records.

Texas State Vital Records

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section at dshs.texas.gov is the main state agency for all Texas birth records including Martin County. The site has forms, processing times, fees, and contact details.

Texas birth registration rules come from the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. The 75-year privacy rule is in Texas Government Code Section 552.115.

Texas.gov vital records portal allows online ordering of certified birth certificates for Martin County and all other Texas counties.

Nearby Counties

Martin County is in the Permian Basin area of West Texas. Surrounding counties have their own clerks for local birth records.