Record Types

Vital Statistics provides several types of birth and death records. Review the descriptions below to ensure you order the correct type of record to meet your needs.

Birth Records

Birth Certificates

Long Form Birth Certificate

Most comprehensive certified birth record. It is a copy of the original birth certificate. It will also show a history of corrections that have been made to the birth record.

Long form birth certificates are required to obtain:

• U.S. Passport
• Driver's license (in most U.S. states)
• Dual citizenship

Short Form Birth Certificate

A certified abstract of the birth record. This birth certificate will only show current information for the individual's name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and name of parent(s). This form will not show a history of corrections.

Short form birth certificates can be used for:

• School and/or sports registration
• Employment requirements
• Insurance requirements

Heirloom Birth Certificate

Heirloom birth certificates are abstracts of the birth certificate. They are primarily used for framing and display. The information on an heirloom birth certificate is similar to a "short form."

View the available formats and learn more about heirloom birth certificates.

Birth Certificate to Obtain Election Identification

Vital Statistics waives the fees charged to obtain a certified copy of a birth record used to request an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The birth record will be marked "For Election Identification Purposes Only."

The fee waiver does not apply to nor change any other requirements to obtain a non-EIC certified birth record.

Learn more about birth certificates issued for obtaining election identification. 

Birth Verification

A birth verification letter includes the individual's name, the date of birth, and the county where the birth occurred. Verification letters are available for births that have occurred since 1903. Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for certified copies of birth certificates. Vital Statistics strongly recommends that applicants ensure a verification will satisfy its intended use.

Death Records

Death Certificate

A death certificate is the most comprehensive death record. It is a certified copy of the original death certificate. It will also show a history of corrections that have been made to the death record.

Death Verification

A death verification letter includes the deceased's name, the date of death, and the place of death. Verification letters are available for deaths that have occurred since 1903. Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for certified copies of death certificates. Vital Statistics strongly recommends that applicants ensure a verification will satisfy its intended use.

Marriage/Divorce Record Types

Marriage Verification

A marriage verification letter includes names of both spouses, marriage date, and place of marriage. Verification letters of marriage are available for marriages that occurred for the years listed here – Marriage/Divorce Indexes (texas.gov)

Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for certified copies of marriage licenses. Vital Statistics strongly recommends that applicants ensure a verification will satisfy its intended use. Certified copies of marriage licenses are only available from the county clerk in the county or district in which they were originally filed. 

Divorce Verification

A divorce verification letter includes names of both spouses, divorce date, and place of divorce. Verification letters of divorce/annulment are available for divorces that occurred for the years listed here – Marriage/Divorce Indexes (texas.gov)

Verification letters are not considered legal substitutes for certified copies of divorce decrees. Vital Statistics strongly recommends that applicants ensure a verification will satisfy its intended use. Certified copies of divorce decrees and/or annulments are only available from the district clerk in the county or district in which they were originally filed.

Marriage License Application Index

Marriage License Application Indexes are a compilation of the marriage license applications that are sent to VS from the county clerk in which the marriage license was filed. Marriage License Application Indexes are not themselves legal documents and are prepared only as aids in locating the county where the marriage license was filed. Learn more about index formats, available years, and how to order Marriage/Divorce Indexes.

Report of Divorce or Annulment Index

Report of Divorce or Annulment Indexes are a compilation of the Reports of Divorce Decrees or Annulment to Marriage sent to Vital Statistics by the district clerk's office in the county where the court decree was filed. Report of Divorce or Annulment Indexes are not themselves legal documents and are prepared only as aids in locating the county where the original decree was filed. Learn more about index formats, available years, and how to order Marriage/Divorce Indexes. 

Heirloom Anniversary Certificate

Heirloom anniversary certificates are abstracts of the marriage license application. They are primarily used for framing and display. The information on an heirloom anniversary certificate is similar to a marriage verification. View the available formats and learn more about heirloom anniversary certificates.