Texas Application for Court-Ordered Open Sealed File (VS-143.1)
Official state formAdoptionForm VS-143.1Free downloadLast verified November 10, 2026
Request to open a sealed adoption or paternity file held by the Vital Statistics Section when the applicant has a certified court order. The form and the court order are mailed to the Vital Statistics Section.
Who can use this form
- An applicant who holds a certified court order to open the sealed file
- Adoption files: the order must come from the court that granted the adoption
- Paternity files: the order may come from any district court in Texas
What to send with it
- The original signed application
- The certified court order (a petition is not a certified court order)
- A copy of the applicant's valid photo ID
- $10.00 by check or money order payable to DSHS - Vital Statistics
Where to send it
- Mail to
- DSHS - VSS P.O. Box 12040 Austin, TX 78711-2040 Expedited orders (overnight carrier only): DSHS - VSS MC 2096 1100 W. 49th St. Austin, TX 78756
- State fee
- $10.00. Only the form states this fee; it is not on the office's Costs and Fees page. Optional: $25.00 expedited processing; $16.00 overnight return mail or $22.95 USPS Express return mail.
- Typical processing
- The form says 6 to 8 weeks by regular mail and about 4 weeks expedited. The office's Processing Times page lists 25 to 30 business days for mail orders.
- Form revision
- 1/26
- Source
- Official government page