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1. Where do I obtain a birth certificate copy for someone born in Port Arthur?

You can obtain a birth certificate copy at the City of Port Arthur Health Department, 449 Austin Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77641. To contact the Division of Vital Statistics by phone, please call 409-983-8850 or 409-983-8853. Office Hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. For mail order copies, please contact the Health Department directly at 409-983-8850 or 409-983-8853.

2. Who is eligible to obtain a birth certificate copy?

The person named on the birth certificate

A parent of the person named on the certificate (requesting parent's name must be on the birth certificate)

A spouse, child, or other persons, by order of a Texas State Court

3. What are the identification requirements to obtain a birth certificate copy?

To obtain a copy of a birth certificate, the requester must have a state-issued drivers license, a state-issued I.D. card, or a current passport.

4. What is the fee for a birth certificate copy?

The fee is $22 per certificate. Payments for mail order copies may be by check or money order made payable to the City of Port Arthur Health Department (Do not send cash). Payments for mail order copies submitted from foreign countries must be drawn on a U.S. bank, or by international money order (Do not send cash).

5. How long will obtaining a birth certificate copy take?

- Request made in person will be processed immediately
- Requests made by mail will be processed and mailed withing 3 days.

For expedited service (overnight), you must contact the Texas Department of Health in Austin, Texas at 512-458-7111.

Note: Processing times are approximate and may vary depending on workload as well as circumstances beyond our control.

6. Where do I obtain a death certificate copy for someone who died in Port Arthur?

You can obtain a death certificate copy at:
City of Port Arthur Health Department
449 Austin Avenue
Port Arthur, TX
Phone: 409-983-8850 or 409-983-8853
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

7. Who is eligible to obtain a death certificate copy?

- The spouse, parent/guardian or child of the deceased
- Other persons who have a:
- Documented lawful right or claim
- Documented medical need
- State of Texas Court

8. What is a lawful right or claim?

If the applicant is not the spouse, parent of child of the deceased, a lawful right or claim must be documented. An example of lawful right or claim would be a death record needed by the applicant to claim a benefit. Documentation would consist of an official letter from the agency verifying that to process the claim they require a copy of the requested death record.

9. What is the fee for a death certificate copy?

The fee is $20 for the first copy and $3 for any additional copies. Additional copies must be in your initial request to qualify for the $3 additional copy fee.

10. How long will it take to obtain a death certificate copy?

- Requests made in person will be processed immediately.
- Requests made by mail will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Port Arthur Health Department at 409-983-8850 or 409-983-8853.

Note: Processing times are approximate and may vary depending on workload as well as circumstances beyond our control.