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Obtaining Non-Identifying Information:
Adoptive parents, legal guardians of adopted adult, and adopted adults may obtain non-identifying information.

Obtaining Identifying Information:
As of September 1, 2005, a new law allows adult adopted persons to receive a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate if they meet the following requirements:

1. Identify the name of each parent listed on the original birth certificate,
2. Be at least 18 years of age,
3. Submit a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, AND
4. Provide other legal documentation if their name has changed due to marriage or other legal reasons. (Examples of legal documentation include copies of an official supplementary birth certificate based on the adoption, marriage certificate, divorce decree or court ordered name change.)

If you meet these requirements, complete this form and mail it to:

Department of State Health Services
Texas Vital Statistics
PO Box 12040
Austin TX 78711-2040

Requests for non-certified copies of original birth certificates take 8-10 weeks to process.

If you do not have one or more of the above, identifying information is provided through a registry.

Using the Adoption Registry:
The following persons may use the registry: adopted adults age 18 or older, birth parents, and birth siblings age 21 or older. The registry is provided through either the agency or the Texas Department of Health-Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Contact:
Central Adoption Registry
Bureau of Vital Statistics
TX Department of Health
PO Box 140123
Austin, TX 78714-0123
(512) 458-7388
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/bvs/car/car.htm

Obtaining an Original Birth Certificate:
An adoptee must petition the court in which the adoption was finalized.

For more information from Texas Vital Statistics, visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/adoption_general.shtm

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Source: National Adoption Information Clearinghouse. Reprinted with permission.

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