Search Montague County Birth Records

Montague County birth records are held at the County Clerk's office in Montague. Certified birth certificates for births in this North Texas county are available from 1903. The County Clerk handles in-person requests and mail applications.

Montague County Clerk

The Montague County Clerk is the official keeper of birth records for all births in the county. The office is in Montague, the county seat. Note that the county seat shares the name of the county, which can be a point of confusion. The largest city in the county is Bowie, but all birth records are handled from the courthouse in Montague.

Montague County is in North Texas, just south of Oklahoma. The county has a rural character with a mix of farming, ranching, and suburban growth from the nearby Dallas-Fort Worth area. Birth records here go back to 1903. The clerk processes all requests from the Montague courthouse, whether for births in Bowie, Nocona, or any other part of the county.

How to Request Montague County Birth Certificates

To get a birth certificate from Montague County, visit the County Clerk's office in Montague or submit a mail request. Include the full name at birth, date and place of birth, parents' full names (mother's maiden name), your relationship to the registrant, a copy of your valid ID, and payment for the fee.

Mail requests go to Montague County Clerk, P.O. Box 77, Montague, TX 76251. Send a check or money order. Do not send cash. The clerk will process your request and return the certified certificate by mail.

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

Under Health and Safety Code Chapter 192, certified birth records are limited to eligible applicants: the registrant, parents, siblings, grandparents, a spouse, and authorized legal representatives. Photo ID is required.

Montague County Birth Certificate Fees

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

Pay by check or money order for mail requests. Online orders through VitalChek or DSHS accept cards. Expedited processing at the state level is available for an extra fee. Check the DSHS website for current processing times before applying.

Texas Vital Records

The Texas vital records system uses both county and state custodians. The Montague County Clerk holds original records. The DSHS in Austin holds copies from 1926 onward. For births before 1926, only the county clerk has originals.

Birth registration is governed by Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. All births in Texas must be registered within five days. The county clerk becomes the official local custodian once records are filed.

Genealogy researchers can also check the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at tsl.texas.gov. Their holdings include early vital records and indexes for North Texas counties including Montague County.

Birth Record Resources

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics page at dshs.texas.gov is the state portal for ordering Montague County birth certificates. It covers eligible applicants, ordering options, and fee information.

The Texas.gov vital records portal provides ordering links and guidance for getting Montague County birth certificates online or by mail through the DSHS system.

Both state portals are useful for requesting Montague County birth records from the state system.

Cities in Montague County

Montague is the county seat of Montague County. The largest city is Bowie. All birth records for the county are managed through the County Clerk in Montague regardless of where in the county the birth occurred.

Other communities include Nocona, Sunset, and Saint Jo. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Montague County is in North Texas near the Oklahoma border. Check the county of birth when requesting nearby records.