Texas Vital Records: Difference between revisions

Only authorized personnel may search the records. The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in ''Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces.'' <ref>Hyattsville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993. (Family History Library&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;{{FHL|973 V24wv|disp=book 973 V24wv}}.) </ref>Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and many family history centers.  

open / closed / state statutes All adoption records in Texas are sealed meaning once the adoption is completed, no one may have access to the record without a court order from the court which sealed it. This includes the adult adoptee, adoptive parents and birth parents. In the case of step parent adoptions or other family member adoptions the prohibition still applies. The opening of a record is solely at the discretion of the judge. There are no required guidelines for a judge to follow. Traditionally, the sealing has included the original birth certificate naming the birth parent(s). The original birth certificate is created in the County Clerks office in the county where the birth occurred and a copy is sent to Austin. Until the adoption is finalized, a birth parent may have a copy of the birth certificate. When the adoption is finalized, the court order along with the original birth certificate is sent to Austin where a new birth certificate is generated naming the adoptive parents in place of the birth parent(s). The new certificate is called a supplemental birth certificate. A copy of the supplemental birth certificate is sent to the County Clerk for their records. Both the original and the supplemental birth certificates have the same number. Some supplemental birth certificates have an "A" after the number to identify it as an amended birth certificate. If an adult adoptee knows the name of his/her birth parent(s)as stated on the original birth certificate, he/she may obtain a non-certified copy of the birth certificate without having a court order. Mostly, these are step parent or family adoptions where the adult adoptee has a personal knowledge of the birth parent(s).