WELCOME TO THE SEARCH AND REUNION MESSAGE BOARD!
If you know what adoption agency handled your adoption contact them for information from your adoption file that will help you with your search. If you were a private adoption or do not know the name of the adoption agency contact this office:
Texas Department of Post Adoption Services
P.O. Box 149030, E-557
Austin, TX 78717-9030
(512) 438-4986
Fax: (512) 438-3782
World Wide Web:
http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us
E-mail: klickms@tdprs@state.tx.us
INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR STATE:
“Non-identifying information” for adoptees and adoptive parents is information from your adoption file about your birth parents. It generally includes ages, marital status, states of birth, education, religion, occupations and a physical description of your birth parents. It should also include the reason for relinquishment and may include information about your aunts, uncles and grandparents. It is called “non-identifying information” because it does not include any identifying information such as names, addresses or social security numbers. If you already have your non-identifying information but it is information given to your adoptive parents at the time of your adoption you should re-apply for the non-identifying information. Agencies are giving out much more comprehensive information now that they did in the past.
“Mutual Consent Registry” is a registry where adoptees and birth parents can register the adoption information. If both parties register normally the agency responsible for the registry will notify both parties that consent has been given to contact each other.
Central Adoption Registry
Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 140123
Austin, TX 78714-0123
(512) 458-7388
World Wide Web:
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/bvs/car/car.htm
Some adoption agencies in Texas have recently started conducting searches to reunite adoptees and birth parents. Check with your adoption agency to see if they offer this service. Also, some adoptees have had good luck with petitioning the court to unseal their adoption records in the county where the final adoption took place. Check with this office in Texas in your county of adoption for more information.
UPDATE: Dallas county will open your records with a simple request to the juvenile courts and send you your OBC from Austin.
NON-PROFIT, VOLUNTEER SEARCH AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN TEXAS:
TxCARE
Bill Betzen
Email:
txcare@txcare.org
Website:
www.txcare.org
Colleen Buckner
The Search Guru
http://www.adoptionforums.com
http://www.adoptionchat.com
http://www.adoptionlists.com
http://www.adoption.com
http://www.adopting.org
http://www.adoptionregistry.com