Vital Statistics

The Office of the City Clerk Vital Statistics Division is open for walk-ins at the following times:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Upon arrival, please have your application completed and verify your identity and prove you’re a qualified applicant by providing your:

• State-issued driver’s license or ID card,
• AND stating your relationship to the individual listed on the record.

Acceptable Forms of Identification: click here

If you are attempting to obtain the birth certificate of a sibling, the applicant must provide their certified birth certificate.

Birth Certificates (Pharr births only)
$23.00 per certificate 

Death Certificates (Pharr deaths only)
$21.00 for one death certificate (1^st copy)

$4.00 for each additional certificate (if applicant purchases more than one copy of a death record in a single transaction) 

Plastic Cover
$2.00 per plastic protector

Burial transit permits
$ 5.00   During regular business day hours
$10.00   After regular business day hours, weekends, and holidays
$ 2.00   Plastic cover fee
$10.00   The fee for a search to verify the existence of a birth record

Walk-In:

• Cash
• Checks
• Money Orders or Cashier’s Check
• Debit/Credit Card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express)

Mail-In:

• Money Orders or Cashier’s Checks

All documents proving qualified applicant must be original documents; copies are not accepted. If you are mailing in a request, please refer to the tab entitled “How To Apply” for more detailed information.

Parent

• A picture ID from a list of primary identification
• The parent’s name must be listed on the birth certificate

Self

• A picture ID from the list of Primary identification

Grandparent

• A picture ID from the list of Primary identification
• Must provide the birth certificate of Mother/Father of the child

• Related parent must be listed on requested birth certificate

Spouse

• Picture ID from list of Primary identification

• Marriage License 

Son/Daughter

• Picture ID from list of Primary identification
• Must provide his/her birth certificate
• Related parent must be listed on requested birth certificate

Brother/Sister

• Picture ID from list of Primary identification
• Birth Certificate of Applicant that associates them to the person on the record (showing name of same parent)

Legal Guardian

• Picture ID from list of Primary identification
• Certified Court Order showing legal custody

Funeral Home or Attorney

• Picture ID from list of Primary identification
• Certified copy of a court issued document that establishes legal interest

Birth and Death Certificate(s) can be obtained by applying in person or through the mail. 

In person: The Vital Statistics Office of the City Clerk is in Pharr City Hall, located at 118 S. Cage Blvd., 4th floor.  The hours of operation for walk-ins are:
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Birth or Death application (In Person): click here

By Mail:

You may request the certificate by completing the application, having the application sworn by a notary public, and including a copy of your photo ID, proof of relationship, and money order payable to the City of Pharr. You may then mail the application to the PO Box 1729, Pharr, Texas, 78577 with the completed required ID(s), documents, and money order.

Birth or Death application (By Mail): click here
Birth or Death application (By Mail)(Spanish): click here

NOTE: Senate Bill 200, Article 5 amended Section 19131 of the Texas Health and Safety Code (HSC) to state that the state registrar or a local registrar may not issue a certified copy of a record to a person who has applied for the record by mail unless the person has provided notarized proof of identity. In accordance with HSC §19131, the City’s application has been amended to provide the sworn statement form and to require that applicants provide a notarized proof of identity.

Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP)
City Clerk’s Office processes Acknowledgment of Paternity’s (AOP) by appointments only. The AOP process establishes legal paternity for a child born to unmarried parents. The AOP is a legal document under Texas Law and has the same effect as a court order establishing paternity. Both parents must be present and provide valid identification for notarization.

The fee for a certified copy of the updated birth certificate based on paternity is $25.00. Fees are paid directly to the State Vital Statistics Office at P.O. Box 12040, Austin, Texas, 78711-2040.  Further information can be obtained online directly from the Texas Department of Health State Vital Statistics  website.

Amendment of a Birth and/or Death Certificate
An amended certificate may be filed to complete or correct a record that is incomplete or proved by satisfactory evidence to be inaccurate. The fee to file an amendment is $15.00. The additional fee for a certified copy of the updated birth record is $22, and death record is $20. Fees are paid directly to the State Vital Statistics Office at P.O. box 12040, Austin, Texas, 78711-2040. Further information can be obtained online directly from the  Texas Department of Health Services website.

Apostille: Authenticating Birth or Death Certificates
For instruction please visit the  Texas Secretary of State website. 
Call 512-463-5705 for additional information. 

If you would like to request vital records from other states, visit the National Center for Health Statistics website for more information.

For more information, please contact Maritza Gutierrez, Local Registrar, at (956) 402-4100 ext. 1008. Email: [email protected]