Access Taylor County Birth Records

Taylor County birth records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Abilene, Texas. The office holds local birth records from 1926 and uses the state's remote access system to issue certificates for any Texas birth statewide.

Taylor County Clerk Office

The Taylor County Clerk is located at 300 Oak Street in Abilene, Texas. The office handles birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, property records, and court filings. For birth records, the clerk holds local records from 1926 to present. Death records are available from the early 1900s for events that occurred within Taylor County outside the city limits of Abilene.

One important feature of the Taylor County Clerk's office is its access to the state remote system. This means you can purchase any Texas birth certificate at this office, not just ones from Taylor County. If you live in Abilene but were born somewhere else in Texas, you can still get your certificate here. The remote access system starts from 1926 for most counties.

Requesting a Taylor County Birth Certificate

To get a birth certificate from Taylor County, you can visit the office at 300 Oak Street in Abilene or send a mail request. In-person requests are processed while you wait. Bring a valid photo ID with you. The clerk accepts payment at the counter for the $23.00 fee per copy.

For mail requests, include a completed application form, a copy of your photo ID (notarized), and payment by cashier's check or money order. Personal checks are generally not accepted for vital records requests sent by mail. The form must be filled out completely, including the relationship to the person named on the record.

Because Taylor County uses the state remote system, if you were born in another Texas county, the office may be able to help. This system goes back to 1926. If you were born before 1926, or if you need a long form certificate for passport purposes and were born before 1964, the clerk can tell you what options are available. You may need to contact the county of birth or the Texas DSHS for those older records.

Note: Any Texas birth certificate can be purchased at the Taylor County Clerk's office through the remote access system. The remote system is convenient for Abilene residents who were born in other counties.

Who May Request Taylor County Birth Records

Texas law limits access to birth records less than 75 years old. Qualified applicants include the person named on the record, their immediate family, and legal representatives. Birth records that are 75 years old or older are public and can be requested by anyone.

To prove you qualify, you must show a valid government-issued photo ID when requesting in person. For mail requests, you must have the application notarized. This requirement applies to all Texas county clerk offices and has been in effect since 2015.

Taylor County also holds death records from the early 1900s to present for deaths that occurred within the county and outside Abilene city limits. For deaths inside Abilene city limits, you may need to check with the city's records office. The clerk can direct you to the right office if you are unsure where to start.

Texas State Resources for Birth Records

For births outside the county or statewide searches, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit in Austin holds all Texas birth records. You can contact DSHS at (888) 963-7111 or order online through VitalChek, the state's approved online partner.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission also holds genealogical records including old vital statistics data. Records older than 75 years are generally open for research. For Taylor County and Abilene area births from the early 20th century, these archives can be a useful supplement to what the county clerk holds locally.

FamilySearch indexes many Texas county birth records and is a free resource for genealogy research. If you are trying to confirm a birth year or find a name before making a formal records request, searching there first can save time.

Nearby Counties

Taylor County is in West Central Texas. These neighboring counties each maintain birth records through their county clerk offices.