Birth and Death Certificates
The following birth and death records may be obtained from the Cameron County Clerk’s Office – Vital Statistics Department:
All Births or Deaths occurring outside the city limits of Brownsville, Harlingen, and San Benito, but within the County’s boundaries, are registered with the County Clerk, who serves as the Local Registrar as of January 1, 2009. Birth records maintained by our office include the towns/cities of:
Port Isabel, Rancho Viejo, South Padre Island, Rio Hondo, La Feria, Santa Rosa, Los Fresnos, Laguna Heights, Laguna Vista, Bayview, Laureles, Indian Lake, Lozano, Las Yescas, Arroyo City, Cameron Park, Combes, Primera, Palm Valley, Santa Maria, Rangerville, Las Rusias, El Ranchito, El Calabozo, Villa Cavazos, San Pedro, La Paloma, Carricitos, Bluetown, Los Indios, Ratamosa, Solis, Stuart Place, Arroyo Alto, Landrum, and Villa Nueva.
A Birth record is closed information and becomes available to the public after the 75th anniversary of the date of birth. A Death Record is closed information and becomes available to the public after the 25th anniversary of the date of death.
Copies of Birth and Death Certificates may be purchased from the County Clerk by mail by filling out the Mail Application for Birth and Death Record, having it notarized, including a photocopy of a valid ID and mailing it to:
Cameron County Clerk,
Attn: Vital Statistics Dept.
P.O. Box 2178
Brownsville, TX 78520
956-544-0817
Only a qualified applicant may obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate:
Qualified applicants are: The registrant or an immediate family member, either by blood, marriage or adoption, his or her guardian, or his or her legal agent or representative, with paperwork that proves the relationship. Local, state and federal law enforcement, or government agencies and persons, may be designated as properly qualified applicants by demonstrating a direct and tangible interest in the record. Other persons may request the record when the information in the record is necessary to implement a statutory provision or to protect a personal legal property right. A properly qualified applicant may also be a person who has submitted an application for a request to release personal information and has been approved as outlined in Texas Administrative Code (T.A.C.) 181.1(21).
Birth/Death Records NOT Held by the County Clerk:
- Hospital and home births that occurred within the city limits of Brownsville, Harlingen, & San Benito
- All deaths in Cameron County that occurred within the city limits of Brownsville, Harlingen & San Benito
Contact the City Hall in which birth or death occurred:
City of Brownsville – Vital Statistics
(956) 548-6042
(Vital Statistics)
City of Harlingen –Vital Statistics
(956) 216-5140
(http://myharlingen.us/page/health.vitalstatistics)
City of San Benito – Vital Statistics
(956) 361-3804 ext. 210
(https://www.cityofsanbenito.com/384/Vital-Statistics)
Birth and Death Record Amendments
Corrections to a Birth or Death Record are done with the Texas Department of State Health Services-Vital Statistics office. Please, click on the link below for complete instructions and the required application.
Texas Dept of State Health Services
1100 W 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756
512-458-7111 or 888-963-7111
https://dshs.texas.gov/vs/reqproc/amendment.shtm
Midwives
Follow link for updated midwife licensing information: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/midwives/midwives.htm
Acknowledgment of Paternity
Follow the link: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support/paternity#videos