Legal

These days, records are important. It's much harder to get anything "official" done without them. While in foster care, when you turned age 16, your caseworker should have provided you with original personal documents, such as your birth certificate, social security card, and a Texas identification card.

Again, just before you turned age 18, you were supposed to be given copies of your personal documents. Your caseworker would of asked you to sign for these documents each time you received them.

If you lost or cannot locate your original documents you must contact the agencies responsible for issuing original documents to make a request. Below is information and links for the different records you can request:

• Birth Records - The state registrar, a local registrar, or a county clerk shall issue, without fee or parental consent, a certified copy of the child's or youth's birth record

• Driver License - Learn how to get a state issued license or ID card from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

• Social security card - Learn how to get a new or replacement Social Security card from The Social Security Administration. For another great resource click HERE

If you cannot locate your personal documents you may request copies from CPS. To request a copy of your personal documents or your CPS case record, fill out a Form 4884 and send it to DFPS. In some instances the CPS case record may include original personal documents which will be provided at the time of the request.

If you have questions about the form for requesting copies of personal documents, case records or any other records issues, please send an email to records@dfps.state.tx.us or call 877‐764‐7230.

Send the completed form and all required documents to:

• Department of Family and Protective Services, Attn: RMG (Y-937) P.O. Box 149030 Austin, TX 78714-9030

• Or email the completed form and all required documents to records@dfps.state.tx.us

Please Note:

• CPS records are confidential under state law. You can get a copy of most of the record that is about you. There are a few things they can't give out without a court order, such as who called us to start the investigation.

• DFPS never charges former foster youth for a copy of their own records.

• If you need help filling out the form or have other records questions, please call toll-free 1-877-764-7230 during business hours and someone will help you.

Young adults can only read and reply to encrypted emails from DFPS if they have a Microsoft account. Any email address can be used to create a Microsoft account.

Both GMAIL Account and Yahoo provide lots of storage and powerful spam and security protections.

To learn how to create a Microsoft account, click Creating A New Microsoft Account - for DFPS Email Encryption and follow the instructions.

Once the account is set up the young adult is ready to receive encrypted personal documents from DFPS to their personal email account where it can reside and be saved to the young adult's personal files for future use. To access encrypted messages from DFPS:

• The recipient will receive a message with an attachment.

• Once the attachment is opened, the recipient will be directed to a website to enter to verify an email address and enter a password.

Note: The recipient will be asked to create an account, when logging in for the first time. Once logged in, the secure message will display in the recipient's web browser. The recipient can read, reply, or forward the message. DFPS can only send encrypted documents through an MS account.

The DFPS Voluntary Adoption Registry - allows people who have been adopted, birth parents, and birth siblings who are at least 18 years of age and placed for adoption by CPS who are looking for a person adopted by CPS to voluntarily attempt to locate one another by listing in the registry.

The Texas Department of State Health Services Central Adoption Registry - maintains a list of "child-placing" agencies that operate all other registries. If you were adopted through one of these child-placing agencies, they can identify the agency so you can register with their registry.