Orange County Birth Records

Orange County birth records are on file at the County Clerk's office in Orange, Texas. The County Clerk has served as the local registrar since Texas began statewide vital records registration in 1903. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate from Orange County, this page covers how to request one, what you need to bring, and what it costs.

Orange County Clerk

The Orange County Clerk maintains birth and death records for everyone born or who died within Orange County. The county was created from Jefferson County in 1852 and is named for the orange groves that once grew in the area. Marriage records are available from 1852, and birth records start in 1903 with statewide registration.

Orange County sits in the far southeastern corner of Texas, right on the Louisiana border. The county serves communities including Orange, Vidor, Bridge City, and others. All births in the county are registered with the County Clerk. In-person requests at the courthouse in Orange are the fastest way to get a certified copy. Mail requests are also handled.

Requesting an Orange County Birth Certificate

Texas birth records under 75 years old are closed records. You need to be a qualified applicant to receive a certified copy. Qualified applicants are the person named on the certificate, their parents, siblings, grandparents, spouse, legal guardian, or legal representative.

You must show a valid government-issued photo ID when you apply. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military card all work. If you are requesting the record for a relative, bring proof of your relationship. The clerk needs to confirm the connection before issuing the certificate.

For in-person requests, bring your ID and any relationship documents. Provide the full name on the birth certificate, date of birth, place of birth, father's full name, and mother's full maiden name. Having all these details ready speeds up the process. If you have the birth record number, bring that too.

For mail requests, include a notarized proof of identification, your completed application, and payment. Do not send cash. Mail requests take more time than in-person visits. You can also order through the Texas DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics or call (888) 963-7111.

Fees for Birth Certificates in Orange County

Certified birth certificate copies cost $23.00 each. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $4.00. Death certificates are $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy when ordered together.

For mail requests, pay by check or money order made out to the Orange County Clerk. Cash should not be mailed. For in-person visits, most offices accept cash, check, or money order. Some may accept credit or debit cards, but call ahead to confirm.

Birth Record Access Under Texas Law

Texas birth records are regulated by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. This law sets the 75-year confidentiality period, defines qualified applicants, and governs the fees the clerk can charge. The same rules apply to every county in Texas.

A certified copy is the full, official version of the birth record. It has a raised seal from the issuing clerk and is accepted for government purposes, legal proceedings, and identity verification. Abstract copies from the state remote system are a shortened form and may not be accepted for passports or some legal uses. Always confirm what type of copy you need before ordering.

Note: Orange County borders Louisiana. If a person was born just across the state line, that record is held by Louisiana, not Texas. Contact the Louisiana Vital Records Office for births in Louisiana.

Texas Vital Records System

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section manages statewide birth records. Visit dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics to order online or find the mailing address for paper requests.

The state portal lets you order birth certificates from all Texas counties online with a credit card, or download the VS-140 form to mail your request.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County includes the city of Orange and several other communities. All birth records for births in the county are filed with the Orange County Clerk.

Communities in Orange County include Orange, Vidor, Bridge City, Groves, Port Arthur (partly), and others. None of these cities have separate city pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Orange County borders both Texas counties and Louisiana. These Texas counties each handle their own birth records.