Wichita County Birth Records

Wichita County birth records go back to 1903 and are maintained by the County Clerk in Wichita Falls. The office holds birth and death records, marriage records from 1882, and land records going back to 1873.

Wichita County Clerk Office

The Wichita County Clerk in Wichita Falls maintains a comprehensive set of vital and legal records. Birth and death records go back to 1903. Marriage records go back to 1882. Land records stretch back to 1873. This depth of historical records makes Wichita County a valuable resource for genealogical research in North Central Texas.

Wichita Falls is the largest city in the county and the county seat. The courthouse is located there. You can visit in person to request birth certificates or send a written request by mail. The clerk follows the standard Texas fee schedule, with birth certificates costing $23.00 per certified copy.

For genealogy researchers, the Regional Historical Resource Depository at Midwestern State University's University Library in Wichita Falls also holds related resources. The Texas State Archives in Austin can also support research requests for older Wichita County records.

How to Request a Wichita County Birth Certificate

You can request a Wichita County birth certificate in person at the courthouse in Wichita Falls or by mail. For in-person requests, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $23.00 per certified birth certificate copy, paid at the clerk's counter.

For mail requests, send a completed application, a notarized copy of your photo ID, and a cashier's check or money order for $23.00 to the Wichita County Clerk. Under Texas state requirements, mail requests must include notarized proof of identity. Personal checks are not accepted.

Qualified applicants who can request birth records under 75 years old include the registrant, their parents, siblings, children, grandparents, legal guardians, and authorized legal representatives. Any person may request records that are 75 or more years old, as those records are public under Texas law.

The Texas DSHS is also an option. Contact the DSHS Vital Statistics Unit in Austin at (888) 963-7111 or order through VitalChek if you cannot visit Wichita Falls in person.

Genealogy Research in Wichita County

Wichita County has one of the longer records collections in North Texas, with land records dating to 1873 and marriage records to 1882. For genealogists researching families in the Wichita Falls area, these records can help trace multiple generations. Birth records from 1903 are the official starting point for vital statistics, but older land and probate records can fill in earlier details.

The RAOGK Genealogy Guide for Wichita County provides a useful overview of what records are available and where to find them. The guide covers county clerk records, state archives, and regional resources like the Midwestern State University Library's regional depository in Wichita Falls.

The Texas DSHS at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756 is the central state repository. You can call them at (888) 963-7111 or (512) 458-7111 for questions about older birth records. The state holds copies of all county birth records from 1903.

The Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin maintains state-level copies of all Texas birth records, including those from Wichita County, dating back to 1903.

Birth Records Law in Texas

Texas birth records are governed by Health and Safety Code Chapter 192. The law requires registration of all births in the state. The county clerk acts as local registrar and forwards records to the DSHS. Certified copies may only be issued to qualified applicants for records under 75 years old.

After 75 years, birth records become public information. This means Wichita County birth records from before 1951 are now available to any researcher. If you are tracing family roots in the Wichita Falls area, records from the early 20th century are open for research at the county clerk's office or through the Texas state archives.

The 25-year confidentiality rule applies to death records. Death records become public after 25 years. That means Wichita County death records from before 2001 are now public. Both rules are set at the state level and apply uniformly across all 254 Texas counties.

Nearby Counties

Wichita County is in North Central Texas, near the Oklahoma border. These neighboring counties each maintain birth records through their county clerk offices.