Accessing Adoption Records in Texas

When a court seals a record, that record can’t be inspected by anyone unless there is a court order “unsealing” it. Although court records are usually public, adoption records are sealed to protect the parties involved.

Depending on the identifying information you have, you may access confidential adoption records in the following ways:

• Child-placing agency or Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Get a de-identified copy of adoption records (this means the records will not name the birth parents or other person whose identity is confidential) through the child-placing agency or Department of Family and Protective Services that placed the child for adoption.
• Court of adoption. Ask the court that granted the adoption to unseal the adoption records by filing (turning in) a Petition to Unseal Records and showing “good cause” (a legally sufficient reason) to unseal the records.

• Vital Statistics Unit. Get a plain paper copy of your original birth certificate from the Vital Statistics Unit if you are an adult adoptee and you can identify the names of the parents listed on your original birth certificate.

  If you cannot identify the names of the parents on your original birth certificate, get a copy of your original birth certificate from the Vital Statistics Unit with a court order unsealing adoption records.

  TexasLawHelp does not offer court forms for unsealing adoption records. Get a lawyer’s help. To find a lawyer, use the Legal Help Directory.

  Get a de-identified copy of adoption records (such as medical and social records) from private, non-related adoptions and closed adoption agencies through the Vital Statistics Unit upon request.

• Central Adoption Registry. Register with the Central Adoption Registry to be connected with birth parents or siblings who also register with the Central Adoption Registry.

Before a child can be placed for adoption, a report must be put together about the child's health, family background, education, and genetic history (unless the child is being adopted by their grandparent, aunt, uncle, or stepparent). This report can be prepared by the child's parent or guardian, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, or a licensed adoption agency. Texas Family Code 162.05(b).

The following people may access a de-identified copy of social, health, education, and genetic history report:

1. An adoptive parent of the adopted child,
2. The managing conservator, guardian of the person, or legal custodian of the adopted child,
3. The adopted child, once he or she becomes an adult,
4. The surviving spouse of the deceased adopted child (the adoptee) if the surviving spouse is the parent or guardian of the adoptee’s child, and
5. The progeny (descendant) of the adopted child (the adoptee) if the adoptee is dead and the descendant is an adult

Texas Family Code 162.006.

In addition, the following people may access a de-identified copy of records and other information about the history of the adopted child:

1. adoptive parents, and
2. the adopted child (the adoptee) when the adoptee becomes an adult.

Read the law here: Texas Family Code 162.0062.

If the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) was involved in your adoption, the agency might be able to give you a copy of your records. However, the Department cannot give you a copy of your records unless it was involved in the adoption.

To learn if DFPS was involved in your adoption, call DFPS at 512-929-6764 or 877-764-7230. See How Can I Get My Records? You can also fill out a Request for Case Records (form 4885) to ask for your adoption records if you were personally involved.

If you know which agency was involved in your adoption, contact that adoption agency directly to ask for your records. To learn which agency placed you for adoption, call the Central Adoption Registry division of the Texas Department of State Health Services at 512-458-7388.

Note: You must be at least 18 years old to request the records. The records will be de-identified and will not name the birth parents or other parties whose identity is confidential.

Read the law here: Texas Family Code 162.006 to 162.0062.

Ask the Vital Statistics Unit if it has a copy of the adoption records from the defunct agency. The Central Adoption Registry maintains many adoption records from closed adoption agencies.

Get more information at the Vital Statistics Unit page listing for Closed Child Placing Agencies With Records.

If the Vital Statistics Unit does have the records from the closed agency, fill out a VS210 Request for Open Records Application form to get a copy of the de-identified adoption records.

Ask Vital Statistics to identify the court of adoption by filling out and turning in a VS143 Request for Identity of Court of Adoption form.

For a noncertified copy of your original birth certificate, fill out a VS 145–Adult Adoptee Application for Non-Certified Copy of Original Birth Certificate form. Turn it in to get a copy of your original birth certificate.

You must be at least 18 years old, and able to name the parents listed on your original birth certificate.

Mail the form, together with a copy of your government-issued ID, $10 fee, and postage, to:

For a de-identified copy of adoption records: the Vital Statistics Unit Central Adoption Registry keeps adoption records from private, non-related adoptions and many closed adoption agencies. For these adoption records, fill out a VS–210 Request for Open Records Application form to get a copy of the de-identified records.

In a voluntary adoption registry, the biological parent(s) and the child can sign up if they someday want to be able to contact one another. There are state-run and private voluntary adoption registries.

The Central Adoption Registry (CAR) is a part of the Texas Department of State Health Services that maintains many adoption records. CAR has a voluntary registry system where adult adoptees, biological parents and siblings can voluntarily sign up to be connected to their biological family members that also sign up with the registry. To register with CAR, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older,

• Provide proof of your age and identity,

• Pay a $30 fee, and

• Fill out and turn in the VS 2271 – Central Adoption Registry Application.