Present a valid/non-expired Primary identification (name/s must match) from the list below:

• Driver's license from a U.S. state
• Federal or state ID card
• Military ID card
• U.S. passport
• License to Carry a Handgun
• Pilot's license
• Law enforcement employment ID (federal, state, or city)
• Offender ID issued by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or an ID from a federal or U.S. state correctional facility or institution
• Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued:
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• Travel documents:
• Re-entry permit
• Refugee travel document
• Advance parole
• SENTRI card
• U.S. citizen ID card
• U.S. Department of State issued:
• Border Crossing Card (BCC) – B1 for business or pleasure or B2 medical purposes
• Visa 

Secondary and supporting documentation may be accepted if a primary identification is not available  See Full list of Acceptable Identification (ID) at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/acceptable-identification-id Per Title 25 Texas Administrative Code §181.28. 

 Note: All identification and supporting documents presented is subject to inspection and approval.  The Vital Statistics Registrar retains the right to reject identification deemed unacceptable or insufficient.  Due to the numerous possible types of identification and supporting documents the list of acceptable identification is not intended to be all-inclusive.  These guidelines are subject to be reviewed and revised without notice. 

Available for Texas births only

In the State of Texas, birth records are confidential with restricted access until 75 years after the file date.  As such, you must have proof of identity and be a qualified applicant.

Qualified Applicants

Birth certificates can only be issued to a properly qualified applicant. Per Title 25 Texas Administrative Code Subchapter A 181.1(21,13), a properly qualified applicant is

• Individual named on the certificate
• Immediate family member

• Parent – Parent’s name must be on birth certificate.
• Sibling – original birth certificate listing at least one parent
• Grandparent - Provide original birth certificate of parent related to
• Current Spouse - Certified marriage certificate
• Child – Original birth certificate with parent’s name listed
• Legal Guardian – Certified court order showing legal custody (“managing conservatorship”).
• Attorneys – Bar card and provide a certified copy of a court issued document explicitly demonstrating need for the record.

Birth Record Types

• Birth Certificate (Long Form)

  Only available to those born in the Laredo city limits. Accepted for all purposes including passports and immigration.

   

• Birth Certificate (Basic Form) State abstract record available for births in Texas after 1926.Not acceptable for genealogy, passports, or immigration.Most commonly used for school registration, youth sports, housing, employment, and state driver’s license or identification card.

   

  Cost of Certified Copies

• Certified Birth Certificate:

$23 each

Birth Certificate Search Fee is non-refundable or transferable.  If a record is not found, our office will issue a Not Found Letter.

Available for deaths within the city of Laredo city limits only.

In the State of Texas, death records are confidential with restricted access until 25 years after the file date. As such, you must have proof of identity and be a qualified applicant.

Qualified Applicants - Death

Proof of relationship or legal interest must be presented for requests by the following:

• Spouse – Your name must be listed as surviving spouse on the death certificate
• Parent - Your name must be listed on the death certificate
• Sibling - You must share at least one parent and provide your original birth certificate.
• Grandparent - You must provide your child's birth certificate to show the relationship to the grandchild.
• Child – The parent’s name must be on your birth certificate.
• Legal Guardian – You must provide a certified court order showing legal custody (“conservatorship”).

If you are not an immediate family member, you must be:

- the informant named on the death certificate;

- a beneficiary to an insurance policy or other survivor’s benefit and must provide documentation of such;

- named on the deceased's official will and must provide documentation of such; or

- an Attorney must have bar card and provide a certified copy of a court issued document explicitly demonstrating need for the record

Cost of Certified Copies

• Certified Death Certificate:

$21 first copy, $4 each additional copy purchased at the same time.

In-Person Request

Certificates Issued:   Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (No appointment required)

Location:

City of Laredo Public Health Department

2600 Cedar Avenue

1^st floor next to Immunization clinic

In person request Apply Here

Mail Request (available only for out-of-town requests)

Mail request form must be notarized and mailed to our office with a copy of a valid/non-expired identification. Incomplete applications or missing documentation will not be processed.

Accepted forms of payment: Credit Card or Money order payable to the City of Laredo

The search fee of $23.00 and processing fee of $10 is non-refundable or transferable.  If a record is not found, our office will issue a Not Found Letter.

Mailing Address:

City of Laredo Public Health Department
Vital Statistics Office
P.O. Box 2337 
Laredo, TX  78044-2337

Estimated processing time for mail requests is 5-7 business days from date of receipt. 

Certified copies of birth and death records can be obtained through our NEW online system.

Online order for birth certificate (records filed in Laredo only) Vitals Access

Online order for a death or fetal death (records filed in Laredo only) Vitals Access

The Ordering Process

New user will need to create an account on Vital Access

Complete the Online Application – Fill out the online form with name of person on record, date of birth or death, and parent(s) full legal names.

Upload Documents – Upload a valid government approved identification card and supporting documents, if applicable.

Make Payment – Pay using a secure payment method (Visa and Mastercard accepted).

Verify Identity – Identify verification will be processed through ID.me.  If you already have an account, there is no need to create a new one.  You may use the same ID.me account to sign-in.

Processing Request – The Laredo Vital Statistics office processes your request and verifies information.

Receive Certificate – The Laredo Vital Statistics office will mail the certified copies to you.  Delivery times vary depending by mail carrier (USPS).

Search for Birth and Death records filed with the City of Laredo.  Records are archived from 1925 to Present day.  Search results indicate the record is filed in our office displaying index information only and not record images.

Self-Service

In the State of Texas, birth records are confidential with restricted access until 75 years after the file date and death records are confidential with restricted access until 25 years after the file date.  As such, you must be a qualified applicant and provide proof of identity to apply for a certified copy of a record.

Birth Record Forms – used for Changes/Corrections/Amendments to Birth Records

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/birth-records\

Death Record Forms – used for Changes/Corrections/Amendments to Death Records

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/death-records

Need to apply for a birth or death record from the State of Texas visit 

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics or visit www.texas.gov  for online services

For additional information call: 512-776-7111 or 1-888-963-7111

Physical Address:

1100 W. 49th Street

Austin, TX

Mailing Address:

Texas Vital Statistics Section
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

Frequently Asked Questions – Texas DSHS VSS

Frequently Asked Questions | Texas DSHS   https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/frequently-asked-questions

Please visit National Center for Health Statistics at Where to Write for Vital Records - Homepage website for out-of-state records.

One of our most asked questions is how to add the father to their child’s birth certificate.  When a baby is born to parents who are not married to each other, the law does NOT recognize the biological father as a legal parent. Paternity must be established first.  This process is the Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) which is a legal document that allows parents who are not married to establish legal paternity. The AOP process can be done at the time of birth by the hospital birth registrar, as long as both parents are present.  If the father is not present at the time of birth and not registered by the hospital birth registrar, then the parents are responsible to do the AOP process at their local Attorney General’s Office, and submit the required forms to the Texas Vital Statistics Section and pay the required application fee.

Requirements for AOP Process

Please visit the Texas Secretary of State website at  Apostille/Authentication of D https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/birth.htmlocuments for detailed information and forms.

Phone: (512) 463-5705.

Email: authentications@sos.texas.gov

Physical Address:
Government and Public Filings Division
Secretary of State
1019 Brazos St.
Austin, TX 78701

Please visit the U.S. Department of State - Travel.State.Gov at https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/birth.html for information and forms

Please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at https://www.uscis.gov/n-565 for information and forms.

Office: 956-795-4929 

Fax: 956-795-2025

General Email: vitalstatistics@ci.laredo.tx.us

Vital Statistics Staff:

Marlene Riojas Luna, CMR, Deputy Registrar            mriojas@ci.laredo.tx.us

Carolina Montes-Garza, Sr. Office Assistant             cgarza2@ci.laredo.tx.us

Cynthia R. Garza, Office Assistant                             cgarza4@ci.laredo.tx.us

Deborah L. Salazar, Office Assistant                         dlsalazar@ci.laredo.tx.us

Evelyn Gomez, Office Assistant                                 eegomez@ci.laredo.tx.us