De-identified copies of your adoption record (When you want information from your file)
Fee: $80.00
Texas state law allows adoptive parents and adult adoptees (18 and over) to obtain a copy of their file which has been edited to protect the confidentiality of their birth families. The amount of information in records varies, but usually includes information on the adopted person’s birth, medical and social information regarding the birth families and circumstances surrounding the adoption. If anyone from the birth family has been in contact with Buckner subsequent to the relinquishment, that information will be included. If the file has been updated, all non-identifying updated information will be contained in the file copy as well.
Upon receipt of the Request for Services Form, copies of two forms of identification and the $80.00 fee, the file will be retrieved from storage. The post adoption counselor will de-identify the record and make a photocopy of it.
Records are prepared in the order requests are received. Please allow at least two to three months from the time of your request to the receipt of your file. We have many requests and only one part-time staff person to complete the de-identified records.
Buckner Mutual Consent Adoption Registry (When you want to be available for contact)
Fees: Filing & Post Adoption Conference Fee: $90.00
A registry is a system set up and maintained to provide a means for biological relatives separated by adoption to have contact with one another. State governments, adoption agencies or search and support groups may run registries. Most registries are open to consenting adults, and require both parties to mutually and independently register before a "match" can be made.
The Buckner Mutual Consent Adoption Registry
(not a part of the Texas State Registry) has the following requirements for participation:
a) Completion and notarization of the one-page form entitled BUCKNER MUTUAL CONSENT ADOPTION REGISTRY. This may be done with a notary at Buckner, or elsewhere.
b) Submitting copies of two forms of identification, one of which must be photo identification. Examples of acceptable documents are: valid driver’s license, student identification card, employment identification card, birth certificate, social security card, health insurance card, or voter’s registration. (No copies of credit cards, please).
c) A one-hour post-adoption conference. While it is preferable to arrange an in-person conference through Buckner, we can arrange a phone conference if you live a great distance away. Payment would need to be received prior to scheduling a time for a phone conference.
Should you prefer to obtain the one-hour post adoption conference in your area, we can assist in finding a qualified counselor. We would need to send the counselor our requirements for areas covered in the conference, and then receive written verification of the one-hour conference. {Please do not make an appointment with the counselor prior to receiving acceptance of the counselor’s qualifications from Buckner and having Buckner send them an informational packet.} Buckner requires the post-adoption conference at the time of registration for compliance with our policies related to the Buckner Mutual Consent Adoption Registry. It is also required by Texas State law prior to the release of any identifying information once a match is made. (This conference meets the requirement to initiate an active search through Buckner). We believe that this conference provides the participant with an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers about the registry, as well as various aspects of search, reunion and other post-adoption issues. Participants have the chance to explore emotions, expectations, experiences and possible outcomes of contact. Participants gain knowledge of themselves, a perspective of adoption from the other triad members’ points of view and are better prepared to meet the challenges and demands that contact with birth relatives entails.
d) Receipt of appropriate fees and verifications. $90.00 for conference through Buckner, or $15.00 filing fee and the Verification of Post-Adoption Conference form if the conference is done elsewhere.
The Buckner Mutual Consent Adoption Registry is strictly passive in nature. Buckner makes no attempt to seek out either party, nor does it release any information (prior to registration) as to whether one or the other party is registered.
When a match occurs, both parties are notified that there has been a mutual registration. The Buckner counselor will ask each party whether they are interested in pursuing contact. If both parties are interested, the Buckner counselor will outline options available. Before any identifying information can be given, both parties must sign under oath a waiver of confidentiality, in which they state their intention to give up the confidentiality provided under Texas state law.
Active Search for Birthmother (When you want to be active in seeking contact)
Fee: $375.00 *
You may request that Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services (Buckner) facilitate an active search for your birthmother at any time after you turn 18 years of age.
Prior to facilitating a search, Buckner would require:
• One-hour post adoption conference
• Notarized Waiver of Confidentiality & Release of liability (signed AFTER counseling and before contacting your birthmother)
• Non-identifying letter for your birthmother. (written AFTER counseling and before contacting your birthmother)
*Most searches can be completed for the flat fee of $375.00. The fee covers the cost of actual record searches, private investigator’s fees and retrieval of public documents, such as marriage records, birth & death records, etc. The flat fee covers the worker’s time (which would include time spent on letters, record requests, and telephone contacts with the searcher as well as outside contacts) up to a total of 6 hours. Should the fee of $375.00 be used up before a search is completed, the Buckner worker would contact the searching party to determine if they wish to pursue the search any further. Any continuance of the search would require a deposit of $150.00 against which services could be drawn. The worker’s time would then be billed at the rate of $75.00 per hour.
Determination of Search:
Once contact has been made with the found party, the Buckner counselor will apprise the found party of the following options available to them:
a)
A direct exchange of identifying information by both parties, so that direct communication can occur. (This would require that the found party be willing to participate in the hour post-adoption conference and sign a waiver of confidentiality& release of liability, as was required of the searcher)
b)
Exchanges of non-identifying correspondence through Buckner for those who are not ready for direct communication. The Exchange Guidelines for Confidential Adoptions would need to be utilized and the cost incurred would be drawn from the searcher’s fees.
c)
For the found party who may not want contact, we will attempt to determine why they feel contact is not possible at this time. We would ask if they would be open to receiving the de-identifying letter, which the adoptee has written. We will also ask if they would be willing to complete an update with medical information and perhaps write the searching party a letter with an explanation as to why contact is not possible at this time. Buckner will make every attempt to facilitate contact of one form or another between parties. In the instances when life circumstances prohibit the found party from participating in correspondence or a relationship, Buckner must respect the found party’s decision. No identifying information obtained in the search can be released to the searching party.
Termination of Search:
A search will be terminated when:
• A contact has been made and determination completed, or
• The original $375.00 fee has been used and the searching individual does not wish to apply additional funds towards continuing the search, or
• There are no additional avenues that Buckner can legally pursue in search of the party.
A search for the birthfather would involve the same guidelines as above, and an additional search fee of $375.00.
Post-adoption Counseling (When you want to receive counseling related to any aspect of adoption or search and reunion)
Fee: $75.00 per hour
Buckner provides time limited counseling related to search, reunion and adoption issues. This would be available to an adoptee or any member of the adoptee’s family. Adoptees often seek counseling related to telling their parents that they desire information on their birth family or that they desire to search. Occasionally adoptees may feel the need for counseling related to identity issues or feelings of loss and/or abandonment.
Affidavit or Single Document Copy (When you just want a single copy of something from your file, or an Affidavit of Fact)
Fee: $10.00
Sometimes you may only want a single document copy (such as the adoption decree or the labor & delivery information sheet on your birth). Occasionally adoptees need an affidavit related to their adoption (for social security or to obtain a passport, or to verify Indian heritage). You may also receive a copy of an update that your birth parent may have completed.
Print out and return the following PDF forms:
• Service request –adoptee
• Registry Application – adoptee
• Services for Adult Adoptees
Please make checks payable to Buckner Adoption and Maternity. Return the forms necessary for the services you are requesting, your verification of identity and your payment to:
Carol L. Demuth
Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services
5200 S. Buckner Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75227
