You may order a certified copy of a birth or death record or a certified copy of a marriage license online using your credit card through our only approved official Internet business partner of the Fort Bend County Clerk's office, VitalChek Network, Inc.

Processing times are estimated at 1 to 14 business days. Delivery times are overnight, if you select express delivery through UPS,  and 7 to 10 business days using regular mail (based on average US domestic delivery times).

If you need additional assistance from VitalChek concerning records that you have ordered specific to Fort Bend County, they may be reached at:

Phone: 1-877-817-7362

Fax:      1-844-941-0763

Personal or business checks are not accepted for Vital Records. Payment may be made by cash (in person only), Money Order, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express), or cashier's check.

You may order a certified copy of a birth or death record online using your credit card through our only approved official Internet business partner of the Fort Bend County Clerk's office, VitalChek Network, Inc. Birth occurring in Texas prior to 1900 are not available for purchase through VitalChek.

 General Information

• The County Clerk is the registrar of births occurring in Fort Bend County as far back as 1838.
• Birth records are confidential for 75 years from the date of the event. All births recorded in Fort Bend County from the late 1800s to the present are available.
• Death records are confidential for 25 years from the date of the event. All deaths recorded in Fort Bend County from 1903 to the present are available.
• Birth certificates are issued in two forms – full copies or abstract copies. Full copies will always be issued if the County Clerk's Office is the holder of the record. For persons born in Texas between 1926 to the present, but not born in Fort Bend County, birth certificates can be obtained in abstract form only.
• A certified copy of a birth or death certificate can be obtained in person or by mail request. 

Home Birth Registration

For assistance with filing a birth record of an infant born outside of a licensed institution (Texas Administrative Code 181.26) that occurred in Fort Bend County, please contact us at (281) 341-8652 or email the Records Division  (cclerkrecords@fortbendcountytx.gov) for more details and to schedule an appointment to visit the Richmond Office.
 
We offer 2-hour appointment times, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 11 AM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Checklist to Apply for Birth or Death Certificate

1. To apply for a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, click on the link below and follow the instructions therein.
   • Application for Copy of Birth/Death Certificate   (English) [PDF]
   • Application for Copy of Birth/Death Certificate   (Spanish) [PDF]
2. A birth or death certificate may be issued to a qualified applicant including:
   • Registrant
   • Immediate family member (parent, child, brother, sister, spouse, or grandparent)
   • Legal guardian
   • Managing conservator
   • Legal representative
   • Agent or other person acting under contract for the registrant
3. Current government issued picture identification is required to obtain a certified copy.
   • Acceptable Identification to Process a Birth or Death Application (English) [PDF]
   • Acceptable Identification to Process a Birth or Death Application (Spanish) [PDF]
4. The applicant must provide the following information and show proper identification:

*Search Fee is non-refundable for Birth & Death Records (TAC 25 Chapter 181)

Certificate by Mail

To obtain a birth or death certificate by mail, complete the application form and sworn, notarized statement (attached within), include a legible copy of the applicant's valid driver's license or other valid picture identification along with a cashier's check or money order payable to FORT BEND COUNTY CLERK. Please provide a legible return address and daytime telephone number. You may also order a birth or death certificate online through our only approved official Internet business partner of the Fort Bend County Clerk's office, VitalChek Network, Inc. and select your mailing preference.

We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for issuance of cremation and burial transit permits. We submit monthly, quarterly, and annual activity reports to the county and state. 

Search Records

You may order a certified copy of a birth or death record or a certified copy of a marriage license online using your credit card through our only approved official Internet business partner of the Fort Bend County Clerk's office, VitalChek Network, Inc.

Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) is only provided to the general public through the Office of the Attorney General.  Please visit the Office of the Attorney General or the local office in  your area for assistance.

For Active Military

• Sign up for Property Fraud Alert should any document be recorded in the property records of Fort Bend County;
• Seventy-two hour waiver when applying for a marriage license;
• The following service fees are waived if being deployed to hostile fire zone: (1) certified copy of birth certificate; (2) issuance of a marriage license; (3) certified copy of marriage license; (4) fees for transferring title to real or personal property (Government Code 437.217).

| Trifold Brochure PDF  |  Flyer PDF  | List of Participating Businesses | Business Enrollment Form ( PDF ) |

The Fort Bend County Clerk, Honorable Laura Richard, would like to invite the county to join the More Than Words - Thank a Veteran Program. The Thank a Veteran Program is a way of giving back within the county to the veterans who have served our country through the armed forces. This program extends to all branches of the military and offers our service men and women an opportunity to receive our thanks through discounts at participating merchants.

The benefits are rewarding for both merchant and veteran:

•    Participating merchants will be listed here, on the County Clerk’s website and provided with a Thank a Veteran Decal.
•    Merchants are given an opportunity to give back to our veterans. Did you know that there are 27,085 veterans (and growing) in Fort Bend County alone?
•    Veterans are shown gratitude for their sacrifices and service to our country through a discount from participating merchants.

For Veterans

The Veteran ID Card is issued at the County Clerk’s office after the veteran records his or her DD-214 separation papers. Both the recording and ID card are free of charge to the veteran. DD-214 documents are non-public records, recorded with the County Clerk’s office, and are only viewable by the veteran and his or her immediately family. If the veteran has previously recorded their DD-214 with the County Clerk, they need only present the instrument number and verify recording with a clerk to receive their ID card. 

Veterans can record their DD-214 at any of our Fort Bend County Clerk locations.

Why record your DD-214?
Military discharge papers are officially known as DD Form 214, or just DD-214. All veterans receive this certificate of release or discharge from active duty once they are out of the military. It is essentially proof of military service and all branches of the military use the same form for benefit claims. 

The separation documents contain information needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veteran organizations. This form also gives civil and government agencies the information needed to apply any federal state laws relevant to members who separate from the military. Please visit this website, for more information on DD214 paperwork and what these documents are used for.

Special Veteran Services through the County Clerk:
•    Free DD-214 recording;
•    Free certified copies of DD-214 to qualified applicants;
•    Discounted DBA (Assumed Name Certificate) filing fees;
•    Thank a Veteran ID Card issued by the County Clerk’s office can be presented at participating merchants for a discount.

Get Involved

Saying “Thank You” is easy and completely voluntary with the Thank a Veteran Program.

The chances are high that you know someone who has served in the military. It may be a family member, neighbor, friend, or a co-worker. These heroes have selflessly sacrificed many freedoms to protect ours. Each year, they are thanked many times over on November 11th - Veteran's Day. However, showing thanks should not be limited to this one day. If financially possible, why not honor them throughout the rest of the year? The County Clerk’s Thank a Veteran decal offers businesses and veterans a way to reconnect, show thanks, and be honored by small businesses across the county. 

To enroll, businesses need to:

•    Fill out and submit the  Merchant Participation Form . Forms are available online and in person at all County Clerk offices.

There are several ways to submit your form for review:

Mail:
Fort Bend County Clerk, Laura Richard
301 Jackson Street, STE 101
Richmond, TX 77469

Email: 
cclerkrecords@fortbendcountytx.gov, Subject: More Than Words – Merchant Participation Form 

In Person:
Drop off the form at any of the County Clerk locations. 

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Property Fraud Alert is a FREE notification service to the citizens of Fort Bend County. Sign up online to receive an alert when documents containing your name, business name, or trust name are recorded in the Official Public Records of Fort Bend County. This allows you to respond to a possible fraudulent document in a timely fashion. 

All information provided by the subscriber is held at the highest level of security protection, and is not nor will ever be sold or disclosed to any entity.  

Property Fraud Alert Flyer [ PDF ]

The County Clerk recommends consulting an attorney if you have evidence that your property has been stolen.

​Fraudulent Records Summary of Remedy Steps from Texas Government Code

Texas Government Code: Chapter 51 - Certain Fraudulent Records 

Payment Information

Personal checks (as of October 28, 2024) and business checks (as of January 1, 2025) will no longer be accepted in Official Public Records. Payment may be made by cash (in person only), Money Order, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express), or cashier's check.

The Fort Bend County Clerk's Office and website contains a library of records, such as deeds, maps, plats, and other records pertaining to property located within the county. These records are open to the public and most are available online. 

Search Official Public Records

Photo I.D. is required per Texas Local Government Code Section 191.010 (b)(c)

• (b) A county clerk may require a person presenting a document in person for filing in real property records to present a photo identification to the clerk. The clerk may copy the photo identification or record information from the photo identification. The clerk shall copy the photo identification or record information from the photo identification. The clerk may not charge a person a fee to copy or record the information from a photo identification. 
• (c) Information copied or recorded from the photo identification is confidential. 

The County Clerk's oversight responsibilities as County Recorder are four fold:

1. Process, file, and record all real and personal property records, assumed names (DBA), liens, abstracts, bonds, livestock marks and brands, county and school district budgets, subdivision plats, and hundreds of other document types in a safe, secure archival manner. 
2. Provide public access to and an index of all public records. 
3. Issue a certified and non-certified copy of any public records. 
4. Assess, collect, and report fees and costs. 

The filing of most non-judicial documents are governed by Sections 191 through 195 of the Texas Local Government Code. 

Payment Information

Personal checks (as of October 28, 2024) and business checks (as of January 1, 2025) will no longer be accepted in Official Public Records except for plats. Businesses may pay by check to record plats. Payment may be made by cash (in person only), Money Order, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express), cashier's check or business check (plats only).

Filing Fee for Plats

There is a $154.00 filing fee for the first page and $144.00 for each additional page. 

• For Subdivision Plat fees, please see the Fees page.
• See the Engineering page for any other applicable fees.

Note: Plat recording cut off time is 3:00 PM.

Items required to file a plat in order to comply with state statutes and ensure quality plat records:

• 24" x 36" plat size
• Drawings, printing, and signatures must be in permanent black ink camera positive
• Ink may be on Mylar or bond paper with image on top
• Three (3) mil or greater matte finish Mylar material or bond paper that does not exceed 24 lb.
• An engineering or surveying firm must prepare the plat.
  • Architectural plans are not accepted. 
• The engineering or surveying firms' name, address, signature, and seal
• Owner's printed name and notarized signature
• Key Map reference
• Provide one or more originals of each plat page.
  • The clerk will retain one original and return it to the filer within five (5) business days after recording and scanning. 
• Provide adequate space for the Clerk's certificate information including: "Filed in Plat No. ________ of the Plat Records of Fort Bend County, Texas".

This must be preprinted on the plat:

I, LAURA, RICHARD, COUNTY CLERK IN AND FOR FORT BEND COUNTY, HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING INSTRUMENT WITH ITS CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION WAS FILED FOR RECORDATION IN MY OFFICE ON ______, 20__, AT _____O'CLOCK __M. IN PLAT NUMBER ____ OF FORT BEND COUNTY

• Provide adequate space for the clerk's recording label which is 3 ½" by 4".
• Municipal approved plats must include the following or similar wording: "All of the property subdivided in the foregoing plat is within the incorporated boundaries of the City of _________________, Texas".
• Current original tax certificates from all the property's tax entities.
  • A letter on letterhead from the person or company filing that lists all taxing entities and states it is a complete list.
  • The signer must print their name and title under their signature.
• Per Property Code 12.002(e), plats filed after September 1st of a year must be submitted with a current year tax receipt issued by each taxing unit with jurisdiction or statement indicating taxes have not been calculated.
  • If tax certificate does not cover the preceding year, a tax receipt indicating the previous year's tax has been paid must be attached. 

Note: A plat will be rejected if any of the requirements listed above are not met. If you have any questions prior to submitting, please contact the Recording Department of the County Clerk.