Find Birth Records in Stephens County

Stephens County birth records are maintained by the County Clerk in Breckenridge, Texas. The Clerk keeps birth certificates for all births that occurred in the county from 1903 onward and serves as the local registrar for vital statistics. Certified copies are available to qualified applicants by request in person or by mail. Under Texas law, records under 75 years old are restricted to eligible applicants.

Stephens County Clerk

The Stephens County Clerk maintains all vital records for the county including birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses. The office is located in Breckenridge at the county courthouse. Birth records from 1903 are on file. The Clerk receives and stores original birth certificate filings from medical providers in the county and issues certified copies to qualified applicants.

Certified copies of birth certificates cost $23.00 each. The office handles in-person requests during regular business hours. Mail requests are also accepted when you include all required items: a written request, notarized signature, copy of your ID, and the fee. Contact the Stephens County Clerk's office directly if you have questions about a specific record or the request process.

How to Request a Stephens County Birth Certificate

Visit the Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge for same-day in-person service. Bring valid photo ID, know the name and birth date on the record, and pay the $23.00 fee. Staff will search for the record and issue your certified copy while you wait.

For mail requests, write out your request including the full name on the birth certificate, the date of birth, the city or location of the birth, both parents' names as shown on the certificate, your name and return address, and your relationship to the person on the record. Have your signature notarized. Attach a photocopy of your ID. Send a check or money order for $23.00 payable to the Stephens County Clerk.

Online ordering through the state is also available. Visit Texas.gov or contact the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin. State-ordered certificates cost $22.00 and deliver in approximately 20-25 business days for online orders.

Who Can Get Stephens County Birth Records

Under Texas Government Code Section 552.115, birth records are restricted for 75 years from the date of birth. After 75 years they become public. For records less than 75 years old, you must be a qualified applicant to receive a copy.

Qualified applicants are the registrant, their parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Governmental agencies with a direct need also qualify. Valid photo ID is required for all requests. Mail requests need a notarized signature. If you do not know whether you qualify, call the Clerk's office and explain your situation. Staff can help guide you on eligibility.

Birth registration law is in Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 192, which requires all births to be registered within five days. To amend a birth record, use Form VS-170 from the DSHS amendments page.

Texas State Birth Record Resources

If you need a Texas birth certificate and prefer to order through the state rather than the county, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section in Austin handles all state-level requests. The state system covers births from 1903 forward. The remote access system available to county clerks starts in 1926, so records before that year must come directly from the Stephens County Clerk.

Walk-in service at the DSHS office in Austin at 1100 West 49th Street processes requests the same day. Mail orders sent to P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040 take 6-8 weeks. Online orders at Texas.gov take 20-25 business days. Expedited mail orders sent via overnight courier to the physical address can be processed in about 20-25 business days as well.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section provides statewide birth record access for all 254 Texas counties, including Stephens County births from 1903 to present.

Qualified applicants can order Stephens County birth certificates through either the county clerk in Breckenridge or the state DSHS office in Austin.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Stephens County in West-Central Texas.