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Where to mail your certificate application in Texas

Mail your completed Texas certificate application to DSHS – Vital Statistics Section, PO Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. This office issues certified copies of birth and death certificates registered in the state. Death certificates are $20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; current birth-certificate fees are posted on the DSHS site. Send the signed form, any required ID, and payment, and keep proof of mailing if your certificate is for a passport, estate, or other deadline.

Certificate applications — birth and death certificates

DSHS – Vital Statistics Section
Department of State Health Services
PO Box 12040
Austin, TX  78711-2040

Use this address for birth and death certificates for events registered in Texas.

Verified September 2026cdc.gov

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Your name
Your return address

DSHS – Vital Statistics SectionDepartment of State Health ServicesPO Box 12040Austin, TX 78711-2040

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Key facts

  • Texas's vital records office issues certificates only for events (births, deaths) registered in Texas — apply to the state where the event happened, not the state you live in now.
  • Death certificates are $20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; current birth-certificate fees are posted on the DSHS site.
  • Check or money order payable to "DSHS – Vital Statistics."
  • The state office can only verify that a marriage was recorded ($20) — certified copies come from the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued.
  • Mailed applications take longer than online orders because processing only starts once the envelope arrives — allow extra time if you need the certificate for a passport, estate, or other deadline.
  • PostPal prints your completed application and mails it to DSHS – Vital Statistics Section the next business day — no printer, envelope, or trip to the post office.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Confirm the event was registered in Texas

    Certificates come from the state where the birth, death was registered. If the event happened in Texas, DSHS – Vital Statistics Section is the right office; if it happened elsewhere, apply there instead.

  2. 2

    Fill out and sign the application

    Download the current application from Texas's vital records website (linked in the sources below), complete it, and sign it. Attach a copy of the ID the form asks for. Include your payment: Check or money order payable to "DSHS – Vital Statistics."

  3. 3

    Address the envelope to the vital records office

    Mail it to DSHS – Vital Statistics Section, PO Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Put your own return address on the envelope so anything undeliverable comes back to you. Note: The state office can only verify that a marriage was recorded ($20) — certified copies come from the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued.

  4. 4

    Send it without leaving home

    Upload your completed application to PostPal with this address prefilled. We print it, add it to a sealed envelope, and deposit it with USPS within one business day for $5 — postage included.

Common questions

Where do I mail my birth certificate application in Texas?

Mail it to DSHS – Vital Statistics Section, PO Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040. Death certificates are $20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; current birth-certificate fees are posted on the DSHS site.

Can I mail a vital records application instead of ordering online?

Yes. Texas accepts certificate applications by mail — send the signed form, any required ID, and payment to DSHS – Vital Statistics Section. Mail is a common choice when you can't order online or need to include documents the online system won't accept.

What do I need to include when I mail my application?

Include the completed and signed application form, and payment: Check or money order payable to "DSHS – Vital Statistics."

How long does a mailed certificate take?

Longer than an online order, because processing only begins when your envelope arrives and the finished certificate is mailed back to you. If you're up against a passport, travel, or estate deadline, mail early and keep proof of the date you sent it.

Can I get a marriage certificate from this address?

The state office can only verify that a marriage was recorded ($20) — certified copies come from the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued.

Can PostPal mail my Texas vital records application for me?

Yes. Upload your completed, signed application and PostPal prints it and mails it to DSHS – Vital Statistics Section the next business day for $5, with a dated Confirmation of Mailing emailed to you. You still fill out and sign the form yourself — we handle the printing, envelope, and postage.

Sources

Addresses verified September 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

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