Legal Question in Family Law in Texas
I live in Texas. Trying to assist my Aunt (69 yrs) to get a copy of her adoption records. Her father passed away before she was born and Mother remarried. She was adopted by her step father. We were trying to get this done ourselves. We were told that we needed to hire a mediator. Is that correct? Is there a way we can just request documents ourselves?
1 Answer from Attorneys
You do not need a mediator. Frankly, a mediator would not help. Are you sure that they did not recommend that you hire an attorney?
Typically, adoption records are sealed and you cannot access them. Most adoptions, however, include an order to obtain a new birth certificate. Your aunt certainly can get that.
Why do you want the records? If it is to find out who the father is, you will not likely be successful. If there is a dire medical emergency requiring information about the health of the father or his family, then that might be possible. I have successfully done that before.
The State of Texas takes adoption privacy very seriously.
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