The Texas Adoption Papers form is a legal document required for amending a birth certificate following an adoption. This form is essential for ensuring that the child's new identity is officially recognized and recorded. Completing this process accurately helps maintain the integrity of vital records and supports the adoptive family's legal standing.
To begin the process of amending a birth certificate, please fill out the Texas Adoption Papers form by clicking the button below.
When filling out the Texas Adoption Papers form, it is essential to follow certain guidelines to ensure a smooth process. Here are some things you should and shouldn't do:
Amending a Birth Certificate
based on Adoption
Who Can Apply for a Correction?
•The person named on the birth certificate, if at least 18 years of age.
•Adoptive Parent(s) of the person named on the birth certificate.
•Attorney representing the adoptive parent(s) of the person named on the birth certificate.
•District clerks (district clerks do not need to complete sections 6 and 7).
How Do I Make a Correction?
☐Complete all sections and sign the Certificate of Adoption. See pages 3 and 4.
☐Section 5 on page 3 MUST be completed and certified by the clerk of the court.
☐The applicant must ATTACH A COPY OF THEIR VALID PHOTO ID. If the District clerk is submitting the application, the clerk needs to provide as a form of ID a cover letter on office letterhead referencing the adoptee(s).
☐The application must be original. Photocopies, alterations, strike-through, or write overs will not be
accepted.
☐Submit a certified copy (with original certification) of the final decree of adoption if section 5 is not complete or certified.
☐Submit the appropriate fees. See fee schedule below.
For Frequently Asked Questions, go to: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vs/faq/#adopt
Where Do I Mail the Application?
Regular Mailing Instructions - Estimated processing time is 6-8 weeks.
See https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vs/processing/ for current times.
Please submit your application, supporting documents (if required) and fees to:
DSHS – Vital Statistics Section, P.O. Box 12040, Austin, TX 78711-2040.
Expedited Service Mailing Instructions - Estimated processing time is 20-25 business days.
The order and $5.00 processing fee must be sent to the Vital Statistics Section via an overnight mail service such as: FedEx, Lone Star, or UPS.
DSHS-Vital Statistics Section, MC 2096, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.
•
FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REQUESTED ON THIS FORM, MAY RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT
PROCESSING DELAYS AND/OR DENIAL OF YOUR APPLICATION.
Fees: How much must I submit?
Fee Schedule
Fee ($)
Qty (#)
Total ($)
Filing Fees:
O
Correction to Birth Certificate based on adoption
$25.00
=
Birth Certificate(s):
Certified Corrected Birth Certificate ($22.00 per copy)
$22.00
X
Central Adoption Registry Fee:
Central Adoption Registry Fee (per adoption decree granted in Texas)
$15.00
For urgent requests, orders may be EXPEDITED by paying the below expedited processing fee AND sending the order through an overnight mail service, such as: FEDEX, LoneStar, or UPS to: DSHS-Vital Statistics Section, MC 2096, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756.
Expedited processing Fee
$5.00
All orders are returned free of charge by USPS regular mail. For expedited return mail service, select one of the overnight return shipping methods below.
Expedite Overnight Mail (shipping within USA)
$12.50
USPS Express Overnight Mail (shipping overnight to PO Box ONLY)
$22.95
Grand Total
Fees may be combined in one check or money order made payable to DSHS – Vital Statistics
For the status of your request, contact VSS by telephone at 1-888-963-7111 or online at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/orderstatus/.
Page 1 of 4
VS-160 (Rev. 3/22)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Once the application is approved, a new birth record will be filed with the adoption information.
Section 1: Birth Certificate Information
•The information completed in this section should show the child’s information prior to this adoption. This is required to locate the birth certificate our office will be amending.
•The child’s name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth are required.
•Parents’ names are required for Texas-born adoptions; parents’ names are not required for foreign-born adoptions.
Section 2: Information for New Birth Certificate
•This section must show the adoptive parents information. Do not list married name as maiden name.
•If this is a step-parent adoption, the biological parent’s information should also be included in this section. A step-parent adoption is NOT a single parent adoption.
•All items in this section are required. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Section 3: Parent’s Signature
•An adoptive parent’s signature is required. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Section 4: Attorney/Placing Agency Information
•Include the name, address and telephone number of the attorney of record.
•If applicable, include the child placing agency or managing conservator.
Section 5: Certification of the Court
•This section must be completed by the clerk of the court granting the adoption, including the new name of the child.
•If this section is not certified by the clerk of the court granting the adoption, then the applicant may complete this section and must submit a certified copy (with the original certification) of the final decree of adoption. The adoption decree must properly identify the birth record to be amended – including the child’s original name, date of birth and adoptive name. For foreign-born adoptions, the adoption decree must also include the country of birth.
Please note: All documents, both certified and photocopied, submitted will be retained by our office and placed in a sealed file. A court order is required to unseal a file. Parents should keep copies of certified documents for their records and future use before sending them.
Section 6: What is Your Name? (Applicant’s Information)
•This section must be completed with the applicant’s contact information and relationship to the person named on the birth certificate. District clerks do not need to complete this section.
•This section must include to whom our office will mail the newly filed birth certificate.
•A copy of the applicant’s valid photo ID must be included with the application.
Section 7: Would the applicant like to order a certified copy of the new birth record?
•The information completed in this section is used by our office to determine if a certified copy of the newly filed birth certificate reflecting the adoptive information is being ordered and the number of certified copies being ordered. District clerks do not need to complete this section.
•If a birth certificate is not ordered, this section does not need to be signed in the presence of a notary public, county clerk, or other person authorized to administer oaths.
•If a birth certificate is ordered, this section must be signed by the applicant in section 6: one of the adoptive parents, the adult adoptee, or attorney in the presence of a notary public, county clerk, or other person authorized to administer oaths. The application must include a photocopy of the valid photo ID for the person signing.
•The notary public’s signature, seal or stamp, and commission expiration date must be shown in this section.
Page 2 of 4
IMPORTANT: Photocopies, alterations, strike-through, or write overs in Section 1 through 7 will not be accepted. Please use a new application if you make a mistake. Copies of E-filed Certificates of Adoption will be accepted.
Certificate of Adoption
THIS IS A PERMANENT RECORD. Type or Print (blue or black ink ONLY). Remittance No.___________
Enter information as it appears on the current birth certificate (before this adoption).
Birth Certificate Number, if known: 142 -
-
Child’s First Name:
Middle Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY):
Sex:
Time of Birth:
Name of Hospital/Facility:
City:
County:
State or Foreign Country:
Full Maiden Name (First, Middle, Last) of Parent 1:
Full Maiden Name (First, Middle, Last) of Parent 2:
All information below MUST be provided or a new birth certificate cannot be completed.
Is this a Single Parent Adoption? ☐ Yes
☐ No
Parent 1
Title to Appear on Birth Record (check one):
Mother
Father
Parent
Adoptive
First Name:
Current Last Name:
Maiden Last Name(s) before marriage:
Biological
Place of Birth
(State or Foreign Country):
Parent 2
Parent(s) Address
Street Address
City
County
State
Zip
Inside City Limits:
at the time of
Yes No
child’s birth:
Parent(s) Current
Address:
Parent(s) Email Address:
Parent(s) Phone No.:
(
)
Parent’s Signature (REQUIRED):
Name of Attorney of Record:
Attorney’s Email Address:
Attorney’s
Information:
Mailing Address (Street address, City, State, Zip):
Phone No.:
Placing
Name of Child Placing Agency or Managing Conservator:
Agency or
Managing
Conservator:
Please complete the child’s name as set forth in the Decree of Adoption.
Name of the child as set forth in the Adoption Decree:
First
Middle
Last
I hereby certify that the above information is correct as stated in the Decree of Adoption which was granted on _______________
day of ________________________,___________ in the _________________ Court of ________________ County, Texas in
Cause #__________________________.
________________________________________________
[Stamp or Seal]
District Clerk’s Signature
WARNING: The Penalty for knowingly making a false statement in this form can be 2-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. (Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 195).
Page 3 of 4
Name (First, Middle, Last):
Address (Mailing Address, City, State, Zip):
Email Address:
Telephone # (8am-5pm):
Your relationship to Person named on the birth certificate: ☐ Adoptive Parent ☐ Self ☐ Attorney representing Adoptive Parent(s)
>>>>>>>A COPY OF THE APPLICANT’S VALID PHOTO ID MUST BE ATTACHED<<<<<<<
Check one:
No, I would not like a certified copy of the new birth record.
Yes, I would like a certified copy of the new birth record.
Number ordered: ________
If Yes, verify the fees and quantity ordered in the fee box on Page 1 and mailing address in Section 6. Sign below in the presence of a notary public and ATTACH a copy of your valid Photo ID. Applications without acceptable valid ID attached will not be processed. Cross-outs or white-outs will VOID your application.
Adoptive Parent, Adult Adoptee, or Attorney
>>>>>ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR VALID PHOTO ID<<<<<
Printed Name:
Signature:
State:
Zip:
Notary Public, County Clerk, or other person authorized to administer oaths
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this ______ day of ____________ 20______.
Printed name and title:
Page 4 of 4
What Is an Order Form - You must keep your contact details updated with the court for future communication.
Correctional Officer Work Schedule - Failure to report required information regarding criminal matters may result in application denial.
When navigating the adoption process in Texas, several important forms and documents accompany the Texas Adoption Papers. Understanding these documents can help streamline the process and ensure all necessary information is provided. Here’s a list of key documents often used alongside the Texas Adoption Papers.
Each of these documents plays a vital role in the adoption process, ensuring that everything is legally compliant and that the best interests of the child are prioritized. Being prepared with the necessary paperwork can help make the adoption journey smoother and more efficient.
Filling out the Texas Adoption Papers form can be a daunting task. Many applicants make mistakes that can lead to significant delays or even denials of their applications. Here are six common errors to avoid.
One frequent mistake is failing to complete all required sections of the form. Each section serves a specific purpose, and omitting information can result in the application being deemed incomplete. For instance, Section 1 requires details about the child's original birth certificate, while Section 2 must include the adoptive parents' information. Incomplete applications will not be processed, so it is crucial to double-check that every section is filled out accurately.
Another common error is neglecting to provide a valid photo ID. This requirement is mandatory, and applications submitted without this identification will be rejected. Applicants often forget to attach a copy of their ID or mistakenly assume that the requirement does not apply to them. Always remember that a valid photo ID is essential for the application to move forward.
Some applicants also overlook the need for certification by the court clerk in Section 5. This section must be completed and certified; otherwise, the application cannot proceed. If the clerk does not certify this section, the applicant must submit a certified copy of the final decree of adoption. Failing to adhere to this requirement can lead to unnecessary complications.
Additionally, many people mistakenly submit photocopies of the application instead of the original. The instructions clearly state that only original applications will be accepted. Photocopies, alterations, or any form of strike-through will result in rejection. It is vital to use a new application if any mistakes occur during the completion process.
Another oversight involves the payment of fees. Applicants sometimes fail to include the appropriate fees or do not calculate the total correctly. Each fee is specified, and it's essential to ensure that the correct amount is submitted to avoid processing delays. If there are multiple fees, they can be combined into one payment, but this must be done accurately.
Lastly, applicants often neglect to review the mailing instructions carefully. There are different procedures for regular and expedited services, and using the wrong mailing method can lead to longer processing times. Make sure to follow the specified instructions for mailing the application and supporting documents to ensure timely processing.
By being aware of these common mistakes and taking the necessary precautions, applicants can significantly improve their chances of a smooth adoption process in Texas.
1. Only biological parents can amend a birth certificate. This is not true. Adoptive parents, the person named on the birth certificate if they are over 18, and their attorneys can also apply for corrections.
2. You can submit photocopies of documents. All applications must be original. Photocopies, alterations, or any kind of write-over will not be accepted.
3. You do not need a valid photo ID to apply. A valid photo ID is required. This applies to the applicant, and if the district clerk is submitting the application, they need to include a cover letter on office letterhead.
4. The application can be processed without all sections completed. Each section of the application must be fully completed. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
5. You can skip the certification of the court. Section 5 must be certified by the clerk of the court granting the adoption. If it is not certified, a certified copy of the final decree of adoption must be submitted.
6. All fees are the same regardless of the situation. Fees vary based on the type of correction or service requested. Always check the fee schedule to ensure the correct amount is submitted.
7. You can mail the application anywhere. Applications must be sent to specific addresses based on whether you choose regular or expedited service. Make sure to follow the mailing instructions carefully.
8. You can request a birth certificate without a notary. If you are ordering a certified copy of the new birth record, the application must be signed in front of a notary public or an authorized person.
9. The processing time is always the same. Processing times can vary. Regular applications take about 6-8 weeks, while expedited requests take around 20-25 business days.
10. You do not need to keep copies of submitted documents. It is important to keep copies of all certified documents for your records before sending them, as all submitted documents will be retained by the office.
Filling out and using the Texas Adoption Papers form requires careful attention to detail. Here are some key takeaways to ensure a smooth process:
Completing the Texas Adoption Papers form is an important step in the adoption process. Once the form is filled out correctly and submitted, it will be processed, leading to the issuance of a new birth certificate that reflects the adoption details. Follow the steps below carefully to ensure all necessary information is provided.
After completing these steps, review the form for any errors or omissions. Submit the application along with the necessary fees and supporting documents to the appropriate address based on your mailing choice. Following these instructions will help ensure a smoother processing experience.