Runnels County Birth Records

Runnels County birth records are kept by the County Clerk in Ballinger, Texas, and go back to 1903. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate from Runnels County, you can request one by mail or in person at the courthouse. Birth records in Texas are restricted for 75 years under state law, so only qualified applicants can get a copy of a recent record.

Runnels County Clerk

The Runnels County Clerk is the local registrar for birth and death records in the county. The office maintains certified copies of birth certificates for births that occurred within Runnels County. Records go back to 1903, when Texas began statewide birth registration. If you need a birth record from before that year, older historical documents may be available through genealogical archives.

Birth certificates cost $23.00 per certified copy. If you need more than one copy, each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4.00. To get a record, you need to show you are a qualified applicant under Texas law. The clerk accepts mail requests as well as walk-in visits during regular business hours.

How to Get a Runnels County Birth Certificate

You can get a birth certificate from the Runnels County Clerk's office in person or by mail. For mail requests, you need to fill out an application, include a copy of your photo ID, and send a check or money order for the fee. The Clerk will process your request and mail the certified copy back to you. In-person visits let you get your copy the same day in most cases.

The Texas DSHS also maintains birth records at the state level through the Vital Statistics Section. You can order a Texas birth certificate online through Texas.gov. Online orders take about 20-25 business days. Mail orders sent directly to the state take longer, usually 6-8 weeks. If you need it faster, the state offers walk-in service in Austin at the DSHS office at 1100 West 49th Street.

To request a Runnels County birth record, you will need:

• Full name on the birth record
• Date and place of birth
• Names of both parents as shown on the record
• Your name, address, and relationship to the person on the record
• A copy of your valid photo ID
• Payment for the fee

Note: If requesting by mail, your signature on the application must be notarized before you send it in.

Who Can Get Runnels County Birth Records

Texas law restricts birth records for 75 years from the date of birth, under Texas Government Code Section 552.115. Records less than 75 years old are not open to the general public. They can only be released to qualified applicants. After 75 years, a birth record becomes public and anyone can view or copy it.

Qualified applicants under Texas law include the person named on the certificate, the person's parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, and legal guardians. A legal representative or agent acting on behalf of these parties may also qualify. Governmental agencies with a direct and tangible need for the record can also obtain copies. If you are not sure whether you qualify, contact the Runnels County Clerk or the Texas DSHS at 888-963-7111.

When you submit your request, you must show a valid government-issued photo ID. Acceptable IDs include a Texas driver's license, state ID card, US passport, or military ID. Mail requests must include a photocopy of your ID along with your notarized application.

Texas State Birth Record Resources

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section handles all state-level birth record requests and maintains records dating back to 1903. The state office is the best option if you were born in Texas but are unsure which county has your record, or if the county office cannot locate it. You can also use the state system to order an abstract copy of a birth certificate from any county using the remote access system, which covers records from 1926 onward.

The official application for a Texas birth certificate is Form VS-140, available on the DSHS website. The state charges $22.00 for a certified copy. Different types of certificates are available: a long form shows the full history of the record including any corrections; a short form is an abstract showing current information only. For passport applications, if you were born before 1964, you typically need the long form certificate from your county of birth.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission also has historical birth records available for genealogical research, as described at guides.loc.gov. County-level birth records go back to 1873-1876 in some areas, and consistently from 1903 onward.

Texas Birth Record Laws

Birth records in Texas are governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. This law requires that every birth in the state be registered. The physician, midwife, or hospital staff attending the birth must file a birth certificate with the local registrar within five days of the birth. In Runnels County, the County Clerk serves as the local registrar and receives these filings.

Corrections to a Texas birth certificate are handled through Form VS-170, the Application to Amend Certificate of Birth. Corrections to a child's or parent's information cost $15 each. Other types of changes have different fees. The form and full instructions are available through the DSHS website.

Delayed birth certificate registration is also available in Texas for births that were not registered within the first year. These records were typically created between 1939 and 1975, often to establish identity for Social Security or probate purposes. Both the state and county clerk may hold delayed birth records.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section processes birth record requests for all 254 Texas counties, including Runnels County.

The state office accepts mail, walk-in, and online requests for certified copies of Texas birth certificates.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Runnels County. Each has its own County Clerk who handles local birth records.