Medina County Birth Records

Medina County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in Hondo. Certified birth certificates for births in this South Texas county are available from 1903. You can request records by visiting the County Clerk in person or by sending a mail request.

Medina County Clerk

The Medina County Clerk is the official keeper of birth records for the county. The office is in Hondo, the county seat. Medina County sits west of San Antonio in South Texas. It has grown in recent decades as residents from the San Antonio metro area have moved to the county's outer communities. The clerk's office holds birth records for all communities within county borders.

Birth records in Medina County go back to 1903 when Texas established its statewide birth registration system. Delayed Birth Certificates, which are records filed more than a year after birth, are also held by the county clerk. This is especially relevant for older records or births that may have occurred at home without a hospital filing the initial paperwork.

Requesting Medina County Birth Certificates

To get a birth certificate from Medina County, visit the County Clerk in Hondo or submit a written mail request. Your request must include the full name at birth, date and place of birth, both parents' names (mother's maiden name), your relationship to the person on the record, a copy of your valid ID, and the required payment.

For mail requests, send to Medina County Clerk, 1100 16th Street, Hondo, TX 78861. Include a check or money order. Do not send cash. The clerk will process your request and mail the certified certificate to you. Allow adequate time for mail processing.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin holds Medina County birth records from 1926 onward. You can order online at dshs.texas.gov or through VitalChek. For births before 1926, only the Medina County Clerk has original records.

Texas limits who can get a certified birth certificate under Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Eligible requestors are the registrant, parents, siblings, grandparents, a spouse, and authorized legal representatives. Photo ID is required.

Medina County Birth Certificate Fees

Certified birth certificates in Medina County cost $22 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Texas state law sets these fees uniformly. Both the county clerk and state DSHS charge the same base amount.

Pay by check or money order for mail requests. Online orders through VitalChek or the DSHS portal accept credit and debit cards. Expedited options are available at the state level. Check the DSHS website for current processing times before submitting your application.

Texas Vital Records

Texas birth records are managed at both the county and state levels. The Medina County Clerk holds original birth records. The DSHS Vital Statistics office in Austin keeps copies from 1926 forward. For births before 1926, only the county clerk has the original documents.

The birth registration system in Texas is governed by Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Births must be registered within five days. Once filed, the county clerk is the official local custodian.

Genealogy researchers looking for Medina County births can also check the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at tsl.texas.gov. Their holdings include early vital records and indexes for South Texas counties. Some records from the early 1900s are indexed and can be accessed through their genealogy catalog.

Texas Birth Records Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics section at dshs.texas.gov is the official state portal for ordering Medina County birth certificates. It covers eligible applicants, ordering methods, and fee information.

The Texas.gov vital records portal provides ordering links and guidance for getting Medina County birth certificates through the DSHS and VitalChek systems.

Both resources are available for Medina County residents requesting birth records online or by mail through the state system.

Cities in Medina County

Hondo is the county seat and main city in Medina County. All birth records for the county are managed through the County Clerk in Hondo.

Other communities in Medina County include Castroville, Devine, Natalia, and Lytle. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Medina County is in South Texas west of San Antonio. Check the county of birth when requesting records from nearby areas.