Vital Statistics

General Information

General Information about Requesting a Birth or Death Certificate

  • You must provide proof of identity. Visit Acceptable Forms of Identification for more information.
  • You must be a qualified applicant to obtain certified copies. Visit Persons Qualified to Request Records for more information.
  • Non-qualified applicants must provide tangible interest to obtain certified copies.
  • Requested information on application must reflect information on birth or death record.
  • Application and instructions can be found under the Mail tab.

Birth Certificates

Birth Certificate Information

  • We only issue certified copies of birth certificates for Texas births from 1926-present. Out of state birth records must be obtained from that state of birth.
  • Long form birth certificates can be issued for Waco births only.
  • Short or abstract birth certificates can be issued for most Texas births.
  • Local records are available from 1910-present
  • Certified copies of birth certificates - $23 each.

Death Certificates

Death Certificate Information

  • Certified copies of death certificates are available only for deaths that occur within the city limits of Waco.
  • Local records are available from 1910-present.
  • Certified copies of death certificates - $21 for first copy and $4 for each additional copy.

In Person

Please bring the following to our office:

  • Proof of Identification
  • Form of payment

Office location:
225 W. Waco Drive
Waco, Texas 76707

By Mail

All mail-in applications must provide a notarized proof of identity to be approved. A notarized proof of identity is on page 2 of the birth or death application. (Senate Bill 200, article 5.) Make checks or money orders payable to "The City of Waco" or abbreviated C.O.W.

We do NOT accept faxed or emailed applications.

Application for a Birth or Death Certificate(PDF, 622KB)

Solicitud Para Acta de Nacimiento o Defunción(PDF, 623KB)

Instructions for Completing the Birth /Death Certificate Application

Please print clearly and complete the application in its entirety. Original signatures are required. A copy of your valid state issued identification, driver’s license, or government issued identification along with the application is required for processing.

Failure to comply may result in the application being denied and not processed. Birth certificates are available in two types of form, abstract and long form. Long form birth certificates are required for passports and are available for Waco births only. The fee for each birth certificate, regardless of type of form, is $23.00. There is only one type for death certificates; the first copy is $21.00, and each additional copy is $4.00 during the same transaction. Please make checks/money orders payable to: The City of Waco.

Application

Certificate Being Requested

  • Select birth or death certificate.
  • If requesting a birth certificate, identify which type of form.
  • Provide the quantity of certificates requested.

Information on Birth or Death Certificate

  • Name of the individual. For birth certificates, please provide name at birth (maiden name of females). For death certificates, please provide the name at the time of death.
  • Date of birth for birth certificates and date of death for death certificates. Circle the Gender/Sex of the person on record at the time of birth.
  • City, county, and state for place of birth or place of death.
  • Parents name of the individual’s record requested. The order in which you provide parent’s name does not matter. Please provide mother’s maiden name.

Applicant’s Information

  • Print YOUR name as it appears on your identification as the one requesting the record.
  • Provide your current address or address for the record to be mailed to.
  • Provide a telephone number you may be contacted for any questions.
  • Circle YOUR relationship to the individual on the record requested.
  • Circle the purpose of the record so we provide you with the appropriate type of form. If your reason is not listed, please circle other and write the reason in the blank space provided.
  • Please sign and date the document for application processing.

Notarized Proof of Identification

This form must be completed entirely and in the presence of a Notary for mail requests.
Electronic signatures are not accepted.

Part I: To be completed by applicant

  • Print the individual’s full name as it appears on the record requested.
  • Print the date of birth for birth certificates and date of death for death certificates.
  • Provide the city or county where the birth or death occurred.
  • Provide the sex of the individual at the time of birth.
  • Provide the full name of the parents of the individual for which the record is being requested.

Part II: To be completed by applicant

  • Provide YOUR relationship to the individual of the record requested.
  • Provide the type of identification provided to the notary. A copy must be mailed with your application.

Part III: To be completed by and in the presence of a Notary

Once both pages are complete, mail it to:
Waco McLennan County Public Health District
Vital Statistics Department
225 W. Waco Dr. Room 110
Waco, Texas 76707

Make checks/money orders payable to: The City of Waco (abbreviated C.O.W.) Failure to do so may result in a returned application.

Questions:

Phone: (254)750-5462
Email: registrar@wacotx.gov.

Please note that we do not accept any applications by fax or email.

Online

Receive in 3 to 10 business days

  • Website link: www.VitalChek.com.
  • Payment: You must use a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover). There are processing and shipping fees.
  • Processing and shipping: Order processing takes 1-3 business days. UPS shipping within 2 business days OR regular US mail within 7 business days.
  • Proof of identity: VitalChek may be able to verify your identity for you. If not, you will upload a copy of your current government-issued identification and proof of shipping address. Once received, your application can be processed. Note: This will delay the processing and delivery time.

By Phone

Receive in 3 to 10 business days

  • Call: VitalChek, our secure online agent, at 1-800-457-7586.
  • Payment: You must use a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover). There are processing and shipping fees.
  • Processing and shipping: Order processing takes 2-3 business days. UPS shipping within 2 business days OR regular US mail within 7 business days.
  • Proof of identity: VitalChek may be able to verify your identity for you. If not, you will send a copy of your current government-issued identification and proof of shipping address. Once received, your application can be processed. Note: This will delay the processing and delivery time.