Polk County Birth Records

Polk County birth records are on file at the County Clerk's office in Livingston, Texas. The clerk holds birth certificates for all births in the county beginning in 1903 and handles certified copy requests from qualified applicants. This page tells you how to get a Polk County birth record, what to bring or send, and what fees to expect.

Polk County Clerk

The Polk County Clerk serves as the local registrar for births and deaths. All vital records for the county are maintained in Livingston. Polk County was created from Liberty County in 1846 and named for James K. Polk, the eleventh president of the United States. Marriage records go back to 1846, land records from 1846, and birth and death records from 1903.

The county is located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas. The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is also within the county. You can request birth certificates in person at the courthouse or by mail. For mail, include a notarized application, copy of your ID, and payment by check or money order.

How to Request a Birth Certificate

Texas birth records under 75 years old are restricted to qualified applicants. Qualified applicants are the person named on the record, their parents, siblings, grandparents, spouse, legal guardian, or legal representative. You need to show a valid photo ID and any documents proving your relationship to the person on the record.

When applying, have the following ready: full legal name on the birth certificate, date and place of birth, father's full name, and mother's full maiden name. The clerk uses these details to search for the record. For in-person requests, you can often leave with the certified copy the same day.

Mail requests require a notarized application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order. The clerk processes the request and mails the certified copy back to you. Mail requests take longer.

The Texas DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics handles statewide orders online or by mail for all Texas counties. Call (888) 963-7111 for state-level help.

Polk County Birth Certificate Fees

Certified birth certificates in Polk County cost $23.00. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $4.00 each. Death certificates are $21.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy.

Mail payments must be check or money order payable to the Polk County Clerk. In person, cash, check, or money order are standard. Call ahead about card payments.

Texas Birth Record Access Rules

Texas birth records are protected for 75 years from the date of birth under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 191. This law applies in Polk County and all other Texas counties. Once the 75-year period passes, the record becomes public.

Certified copies are the official form used for legal purposes. They have a seal and are accepted for passports, government IDs, and legal proceedings. Abstract copies from the state remote system are a shortened version and may not work for all official uses. For passport applications, request a full certified copy from the county where the birth occurred.

Note: Delayed birth certificates filed after 1903 for earlier births may also be on file. If you are looking for a birth that happened before standard registration, ask the clerk about delayed filings.

Texas Vital Records Online

The Texas DSHS runs the statewide vital records portal at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics. You can order birth certificates from any Texas county, including Polk, online or by mail.

The portal links to online ordering and provides the VS-140 form for mail-in requests for all 254 Texas counties.

Cities in Polk County

Polk County includes Livingston and several smaller communities. All births in the county are registered with the County Clerk in Livingston.

Communities in Polk County include Livingston, Corrigan, Onalaska, and Goodrich. These cities do not have separate city pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Polk County is in Southeast Texas. These neighboring counties each hold their own birth records.