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DFPS Voluntary Adoption Registry (VAR)

About DFPS VAR

The DFPS Voluntary Adoption Registry is a mutual-consent registry. It is designed to allow adoptee, birth parents, and/or birth siblings who are at least 18 years of age and who were placed for adoption by DFPS or who are looking for a person adopted by DFPS to voluntarily attempt to locate one another by listing in the registry. 

How Does It Work?

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services also known as The Texas Department of Public Welfare, Child Protective Services, or The Texas Department of Human Services, must have been involved in the placement and adoption of the adoptee.

A "match" occurs when an adopted person and his/her birth parent or biological sibling register. Registrants are then instructed to attend at least one hour of counseling to help prepare for a reunion. The person providing the counseling must have adoption and search/reunion expertise. The counseling will explore a variety of pertinent issues relating to your search and possible reunification. After you and the other parties have completed the required counseling, the registry can release the name, address and phone number of the matched registrant. 

Requirements

  • Person registering must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Provide sufficient proof of identity (copies of birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, marriage certificate, etc.).
  • Pay $15 to complete the registration. Please make check or money orders payable to TDFPS-VAR and mail to:

Records Management Group
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
P.O. Box 149030 - Mail Code Y-937
Austin, Texas 78714-9030
Phone: 512-929-6593
FAX: 512-339-5889
adoption.registry@dfps.state.tx.us

Supplemental information may be requested from the matching parties (i.e., photographs, letters, updated medical and social information, etc.) to prepare each registrant during the reunion process.