How to Get Your Birth Certificate

DFPS is supposed to give you a certified copy of your birth certificate before you turn 16. If you have not received it or you no longer have it and your caseworker has not helped you get a new certified copy, you can get one on your own if you were born in Texas. If you were born in another state, you will have to order it from that state and meet whatever requirements they have, which may include that CPS has to order it if you are under 18.

Step 1

The DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification filled out by your caseworker lets you get your birth certificate without a parent or guardian signature (only needed if you are under 18) and you won’t have to pay for the birth certificate. However, you will still need to provide documents that show you are the person listed on the birth certificate. Ask a caring, older adult to help you figure out what you need to take with you. Texas Vital Statistics has a helpful website with more information. Scroll down to the section titled HB 123: Foster or Homeless Youth. If you don’t have a DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification, but you or the caring adult that goes with you have other official documents from DFPS or the court that show you are in foster care, the birth certificate office may be willing to accept that document as proof you are in foster care.

Step 2

Gather needed documents to show who you are. Texas Vital Statistics has a long list of what you can use here. Remember, all documents must be originals, not photocopies! If you have a primary acceptable document, it is easy. Some examples of primary acceptable documents are:

  • Driver license from a U.S. state
  • Federal or state ID card
  • Military ID card
  • U.S. passport
  • A work permit or green card issued by USCIS
  • A border crossing card (BCC) or visa issued by the U.S. Department of State

If you have one of these documents, you are ready to go get your birth certificate.

Step 3

If you don’t have a primary acceptable document, you must have:

  • One secondary acceptable ID. The type of documents youth might have as a secondary acceptable ID are:
    • A primary acceptable document that is expired
    • Current school or work ID
    • Social Security card – must be signed
    • Medicaid or health insurance card
  • AND two supporting documents. These can include:
    • Library card
    • Social Security letter
    • Recent medical record or bill
    • Recent paycheck stub
    • Recent cell phone bill with current address
    • Official school transcript
    • Court order
    • Public benefits letters or applications (examples: SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, or TANF letters or applications); you can access your applications and letters on the Your Texas Benefits website or app – see Renewing Your Health Insurance for more information about accessing your account
    • Voter registration card (you must be 17 and 10 months old to register to vote)
    • Bank account statement
    • Lease agreement or recent rent receipt with your name and address on it
    • Tax records
    • Religious record with signature of religious official (example: Certificate of Baptism)
    • Letters or notices from immigration

Step 4

Find out where you can go to get your birth certificate. You can find a list of places on the Texas Vital Statistics website. Only people over the age of 18 who already have a valid Texas ID or driver license can request their birth certificate online. Even if you are 18 and have your ID or license, there may be additional questions to verify your identity that you don’t know. You can also request your birth certificate by mail from the Texas Vital Statistics office in Austin by using this form, but it will take much longer than going in person.

Some counties, cities, and district clerks in Texas can issue your birth certificate no matter where you were born in Texas. If you were not born in the county where you live, look for offices that show they provide TEXAS BIRTH RECORDS and not just local records. Look for this symbol on the Vital Statistics website:

When possible, you should order a long form birth certificate. It costs the same and has more information than a short form birth certificate, including any changes or corrections that were ever made to your birth record.

Step 5

Take your identification, supporting documents, and the completed DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification to your local birth certificate office. Having a caring, older adult go with you is also a good idea. You don’t need parental consent, but they can help you talk to the people at the office and assist if there are any problems.

Step 6

Give the office your identification and supporting documents and the completed DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification. If you have the DFPS Form 2042, you should not be charged a fee for the birth certificate and don’t need a parent to sign to apply for it.

Step 7

If there are problems, tell them to check the Texas Vital Statistics website for information about birth certificates for foster or homeless youth. If there are still problems, ask to speak to a supervisor and ask them to call the Texas Vital Statistics office. If you are still denied, ask them to write down why you were denied, the name of the person you talked to, and the date.

Step 8

If you think you were wrongly denied your birth certificate, you can contact the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project at (877) 313-3688 or info@texasfosteryouth.org for advice and possible free legal assistance from a lawyer.