To get a birth certificate in Collin County, Texas, order a certified copy from the County Clerk in McKinney or Plano. You can walk in, mail your request, or order online through the Texas Department of State Health Services portal. Each certified copy is $23, and in-person orders are usually filled while you wait.
Who Can Order One
Texas keeps birth records restricted for 75 years, so not just anyone can request a copy.1Texas Department of State Health Services. Request Procedures for Vital Statistics Data You qualify if you are:
- The person named on the certificate, if you are at least 18.
- A parent listed on the certificate, regardless of the child’s age.
- An immediate family member: grandparent, adult child, sibling, or spouse of the person named.
- A legal guardian or court-appointed representative, with proof of authority such as a certified court order.
If someone else is picking up your certificate for you, they need an original notarized authorization letter signed by you, a copy of your government-issued ID, and their own original government-issued ID.
What You Need Before You Order
Fill out the birth certificate application, which you can get at the County Clerk’s office or download from the Texas DSHS website. It asks for the full name on the record, date of birth, county of birth, both parents’ full names (including the mother’s maiden name), your relationship to the person on the record, your mailing address, and the reason for the request.
You also need valid photo ID. Texas sorts acceptable IDs into three groups. One document from Group A is enough on its own, and the common ones are a U.S. state driver’s license, a state or federal ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID. If you don’t have anything from Group A, two documents from Group B will work (student ID, Social Security card, Medicaid or Medicare card, or an expired Group A document). A single Group B item can be paired with two Group C documents like utility bills, pay stubs, or bank statements.2Texas Department of State Health Services. Acceptable Identification for Birth Certificates Bring your original ID in person. For mail, include a notarized photocopy.
Order in Person
Walking into the County Clerk’s office is the fastest route. Requests are typically processed while you wait. Collin County has two locations:
- McKinney: 2300 Bloomdale Road, Suite 2104, McKinney, TX 75071
- Plano: 900 E. Park, Suite 140C, Plano, TX 75074
Bring your completed application, your original photo ID, and payment. Most county offices accept check, money order, credit, or debit at the counter.
Order by Mail
Send your request to the Collin County Clerk, 2300 Bloomdale Road, Suite 2106, McKinney, Texas 75071. Include the completed application with your signature notarized, a notarized photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order made out to the Collin County Clerk. Do not send cash. Mail orders generally take about 7 business days to process, and the certificate ships back by regular USPS at no extra charge.
Order Online
You can order through the Texas DSHS Order Vital Records Application (OVRA) portal. Online orders currently take 20 to 25 business days to process, not counting shipping.3Texas Department of State Health Services. Processing Times Third-party services like VitalChek are available too, but they add convenience and shipping fees on top of the base cost. If speed matters, go in person; if cost matters most, the state portal is cheaper than the third-party route.
Fees
A certified copy from the County Clerk is $23, and each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $23. There is no volume discount. Online orders through the state portal charge the same base fee plus processing and delivery surcharges. VitalChek and similar vendors tack on their own payment and shipping fees, which can push the total well above $23.
Long Form or Short Form
Texas issues two versions, and the wrong one can hold up whatever you need it for. The long form is a copy of the original record and shows the full history of any corrections. The short form is an abstract listing only current information: name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and parents’ names.
The long form is required for a U.S. passport, a driver’s license in most states, and dual citizenship applications. The short form is enough for school or sports registration, employment verification, and insurance.4Texas Department of State Health Services. Record Types When in doubt, order the long form. It works for every use the short form does and all the ones it doesn’t. Most orders default to the long form unless you specifically ask for the abstract.
Fixing a Mistake on the Certificate
If something on your birth certificate is wrong, like a misspelled name, incorrect date, or wrong parent information, you file a correction with Texas DSHS using form VS-170. The application must be an original with notarized signatures. Photocopies and forms with strikeouts or write-overs are rejected.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Correcting Birth Certificate VS-170
Only the person named on the certificate (if 18 or older), a listed parent of a child under 18, a legal guardian or managing conservator with proof, or the hospital where the birth occurred can file for a correction. You also have to attach supporting documents that show the correct information, and what those documents are depends on what you’re changing.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Correcting Birth Certificate VS-170
A standard correction is $15. Adding, removing, or replacing a parent is $25. A certified copy of the corrected certificate is an additional $22 per copy. Expedited processing adds $5, and overnight shipping within the U.S. adds $16.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Correcting Birth Certificate VS-170