Moore County Birth Records

Moore County birth records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Dumas. Certified birth certificates for births in this Texas Panhandle county are available from 1903. The County Clerk handles in-person and mail requests for birth records.

Moore County Clerk

The Moore County Clerk is the official custodian of birth records for all births that occurred in Moore County. The office is in Dumas, the county seat. Moore County is located in the Texas Panhandle, the narrow northern strip of the state between New Mexico and Oklahoma. Dumas is the county seat and the primary population center.

Birth records in Moore County go back to 1903. The county includes a mix of agricultural and petrochemical industries, and its population has been relatively stable over the decades. The county clerk handles all requests for certified birth certificates for births in Dumas and all other parts of the county. Delayed Birth Certificates are also held by the clerk's office.

Requesting Moore County Birth Certificates

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

Mail requests go to Moore County Clerk, 715 Dumas Avenue, Dumas, TX 79029. Include a check or money order. Do not send cash. The clerk will process your request and mail back the certified certificate.

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

Moore County Birth Record Fees

Certified birth certificates in Moore County cost $22 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy at the same time. 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 credit and debit cards. Expedited processing at the state level costs extra. Check the DSHS website for current processing times.

Texas Birth Records

Texas manages birth records through both county and state offices. The Moore County Clerk holds original records. The DSHS in Austin holds copies from 1926 forward. For births before 1926, only the county clerk has originals.

Birth registration requirements are set by Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. Births must be registered within five days. The county clerk becomes the official local custodian of those records. Corrections go through DSHS Form VS-170.

Genealogy researchers can check the Texas State Library and Archives Commission at tsl.texas.gov for early Moore County birth records. Their Panhandle collections include indexes and historical records from the early 1900s.

Moore County Birth Record Portals

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics page at dshs.texas.gov is the state portal for ordering Moore County birth certificates from 1926 onward. It covers eligible applicants, ordering methods, and fees.

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

Both state portals are available for residents requesting Moore County birth records online or by mail.

Cities in Moore County

Dumas is the county seat and largest city in Moore County. All birth records for the county are managed through the County Clerk in Dumas.

Other communities in Moore County include Cactus and Stratford (the latter is in Sherman County). None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Moore County is in the Texas Panhandle. Check the county of birth when requesting records from nearby areas.