Houston County Birth Records

Houston County birth records are maintained at the County Recorder office in Caledonia, in the far southeastern corner of Minnesota along the Wisconsin border. The office holds birth certificates going back to 1870 and processes requests in person, by mail, or by email. Houston County is one of the smaller counties in the state, which means the office is typically accessible and requests are handled without long wait times. This page covers how to get a birth certificate from Houston County and what to expect.

Houston County Recorder Office

The Houston County Recorder office is at 304 South Marshall Street in Caledonia. It's open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office handles birth and death records for all of Houston County, including all towns and rural areas in the county. In-person requests are straightforward. Bring a valid photo ID, the name and date of birth of the person on the record, and your payment. Staff can look up the record and print a certified copy during your visit.

Houston County sits at the far southeast edge of Minnesota, bordered by Wisconsin to the east and Iowa to the south. Given its small size, the Recorder office sees fewer requests than metro-area offices. That usually means faster in-person service and faster turnaround on mail requests too. You can reach the office at 507-725-5813 or by email at recorder@co.houston.mn.us if you want to ask a question before making the trip.

Requesting Houston County Birth Records

In person at the Caledonia office is the quickest way to get a certified birth certificate from Houston County. Come in during business hours with your photo ID and payment. Give staff the full name on the record and the date of birth. Most requests are done on the spot. The office is small enough that you don't need an appointment for a standard request.

If you can't make the trip to Caledonia, mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with the person's name, date of birth, and your relationship to them. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for the fee. Send it to Houston County Recorder, 304 South Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921. You can also email recorder@co.houston.mn.us to ask about the process. Turnaround for mail requests is generally one to two weeks.

The Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office holds Houston County birth records as well and offers online ordering at health.state.mn.us for people who prefer not to send a mail request.

Houston County Birth Certificate Fees

The fee for a certified birth certificate from Houston County is $26 for the first copy and $19 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Minnesota statute Minn. Stat. § 144.225 sets these rates statewide, and Houston County follows them.

Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, and credit card. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to Houston County Recorder. If you need multiple copies for different uses, ordering them all at once in a single request saves money since each extra copy is $7 cheaper than the first.

Who Can Access Houston County Birth Records

Under Minn. Stat. § 144.225, certified birth certificates in Minnesota are limited to the person named on the record (if of legal age), a parent, legal guardian, spouse, adult child, or an authorized representative. Valid photo ID is required for all requests.

People who don't qualify for a certified copy may be able to get a non-certified informational copy, which works for genealogy and family history. Houston County records going back to 1870 cover a long stretch of local family history in this corner of Minnesota. The Minnesota Historical Society vital records guide can help you locate older records that may be held in state archives or historical collections.

Homeless youth can get a birth certificate without cost under Minn. Stat. § 144.2255. The MDH homeless youth program page has details on how to apply for this benefit.

Houston County Official Website

The Houston County government website at co.houston.mn.us lists county departments and contact information including the Recorder office where birth records are kept.

The site provides direct contact details for the Recorder office in Caledonia and links to other county services you may need.

Additional Resources for Houston County Birth Records

The Minnesota Department of Health maintains a statewide database of county vital records offices at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html. That page lists all 87 county contacts, making it easy to find the right office if you're not sure which county holds a particular record.

For third-party online ordering, VitalChek is authorized to process Minnesota birth certificate orders. They add a service fee on top of the base county cost, so ordering directly through Houston County or through MDH is cheaper. But VitalChek can be convenient if you prefer a fully online process with credit card payment.

Note: Houston County is a small office. If you have a complex or older record request, calling ahead at 507-725-5813 can help ensure staff have time to locate what you need before you arrive or respond to your mail request.

Nearby Counties

Houston County sits at the southeastern tip of Minnesota. These neighboring counties also maintain birth records for their areas.