Overview: What Texas ACP Does
Texas's Address Confidentiality Program (Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 56C) assigns participants a substitute mailing address — an Austin P.O. box maintained by the Office of the Attorney General — which legally replaces your home address in state records. Texas state agencies, courts, and local government offices are required by law to use this substitute address and to withhold your actual address from disclosure.
The program was created for victims of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking who have relocated or plan to relocate to escape danger. The substitute address prevents an abuser, stalker, or trafficker from locating a survivor through public records searches — DMV records, voter rolls, court filings, or public benefit databases.
First-class mail addressed to your Austin substitute address is forwarded to your real home within 2–3 business days of receipt by the OAG.
Eligibility — In Plain English
Texas ACP has specific eligibility criteria that the Attorney General's official page describes in statutory language. Here is what each requirement actually means in practice:
You must be a victim of one of these:
- Family violence — abuse by a current or former spouse, dating partner, family member, or household member
- Sexual assault — any non-consensual sexual act as defined under Texas Penal Code Chapter 22
- Stalking — repeated harassment that causes reasonable fear for safety (Texas Penal Code § 42.072)
- Human trafficking — labor or sex trafficking as defined under Texas Penal Code § 20A.02
You must also meet these conditions:
- Currently live in Texas — you must be a Texas resident at the time of application
- Have relocated or intend to relocate — ACP is designed for people who have moved or plan to move to escape a dangerous situation
- Fear that disclosure of your address creates a risk to safety — you certify this on the application; documentation is not always required
Who does NOT qualify:
- People seeking privacy for reasons unrelated to victimization (general privacy concerns, remote work privacy, etc.)
- Non-Texas residents (you must live in Texas)
- People who have not relocated or do not intend to relocate from the dangerous situation
Texas's eligibility is narrower than California's (which now includes general privacy needs for some workers) — it is specifically oriented toward crime victimization and relocation safety. If you are not a crime victim but need address privacy, see our comparison of privacy options.
What the Texas ACP Substitute Address Covers
| Agency / Record Type | Covered? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Texas DPS / Driver's License | ✅ Yes | Update at any DPS location with your authorization card |
| Vehicle registration (TxDMV) | ✅ Yes | Substitute address appears on registration documents |
| Voter registration | ✅ Yes | Registered with substitute address; you vote at your actual precinct |
| Texas courts (family, civil, criminal) | ✅ Yes | All court filings use substitute address |
| State benefit programs (SNAP, Medicaid) | ✅ Yes | HHSC accepts substitute address |
| Texas Workforce Commission | ✅ Yes | Unemployment and related correspondence |
| County property records | ⚠️ Partial | Not automatically protected; deed records remain public |
| Business filings (SOS) | ⚠️ Varies | Some business filings accept substitute address; verify with SOS |
| Federal records (IRS, SSA, USPS) | ❌ No | Federal agencies operate independently of state ACP |
| Private data brokers | ❌ No | ACP does not remove records from LexisNexis, Spokeo, etc. |
How to Apply — Step by Step
Texas requires applications to be submitted through a certified application assistant — a trained advocate at a participating organization. You cannot apply directly with the OAG. This requirement ensures the application is completed correctly and provides a layer of verification.
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Locate a Certified Application Assistant in Texas
Call the OAG Crime Victim Services Division at 1-800-983-9933 to find the nearest certified application assistant. Alternatively, contact your local family violence shelter, sexual assault center, or legal aid office — most in Texas are certified or can connect you with someone who is. The Texas Council on Family Violence (tcfv.org) maintains a directory of member agencies across the state.
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Prepare Your Documentation
While a police report is not required, gather what you have: any protective order (Emergency Protective Order, Temporary or Permanent Protective Order), incident report numbers, medical records related to the violence, or written documentation from a shelter or counselor. If you have none of these, you can still apply — your sworn statement is the primary documentation.
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Complete the Application With Your Advocate
Your application assistant will guide you through the Texas ACP application form. You will certify that you are a victim of a qualifying crime, that you currently live in Texas, and that you fear for your safety if your address is disclosed. The advocate will also document your new address (the one you want kept private) for the program's forwarding records.
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Application Is Submitted to the OAG
Your advocate submits the completed application to the OAG Crime Victim Services Division in Austin. You do not mail it yourself.
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Receive Your Authorization Card
Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks. You will receive an authorization card by mail at your real home address. The card contains your substitute address (an Austin P.O. box) and a unique authorization number. This card is your proof of enrollment — keep it safe and carry it when updating government records.
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Update All Relevant Records
Bring your authorization card to the Texas DPS for an updated driver's license. Contact the county voter registrar to update your voter registration. Notify courts of any pending cases. Update records with HHSC and the Texas Workforce Commission if applicable. Present your authorization card whenever an agency is unfamiliar with the program — they are legally required to accept it.
Processing Times and Emergency Options
Standard processing in Texas is 2–4 weeks from the date the OAG receives a complete application. The two most common causes of delay are incomplete paperwork (missing advocate certification) and address verification issues. Your application assistant can help ensure the package is complete.
Emergency processing: Call 1-800-983-9933 and explain the situation. If you have an active Emergency Protective Order or can document an immediate, specific threat, the OAG may be able to expedite processing. Texas does not publish a formal emergency timeline, but participants with active EPOs have reported receiving their cards within one week in some cases.
If you need to relocate before your card arrives, document your move date carefully. Your substitute address will be valid from the date of issuance, not the date of your move.
Enrollment and Renewal
Texas ACP enrollments last 2 years — notably shorter than California's 4-year period. You must renew before expiration to keep your substitute address active.
Renewal steps:
- The OAG sends a renewal notice approximately 60 days before your expiration date
- You can renew by submitting a renewal form by mail, or by working with your application assistant again
- You must re-certify that you continue to fear for your safety
- Your substitute address number does not change on renewal — you keep the same Austin P.O. box
If your enrollment lapses, your real address may reappear in state records. The OAG can reinstate lapsed enrollments, but there may be a gap in protection during that period. Set a reminder at 90 days before expiration.
Contact Information
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Address Confidentiality Program — Texas OAG |
| Phone | 1-800-983-9933 |
| Website | texasattorneygeneral.gov/crime-victims/address-confidentiality-program |
| Enrollment Period | 2 years, renewable |
| Cost | Free |
| Processing Time | 2–4 weeks standard |
Frequently Asked Questions — Texas ACP
Yes. Texas ACP eligibility requires that you "have relocated or intend to relocate" to avoid disclosure of your address. You do not need to have already moved. Many survivors apply while planning a move, so the substitute address is in place when they update their records at the new location.
In practice, your application will include your new address (the one you intend to keep private) as the forwarding destination. If you haven't moved yet, you can list your current address and update the forwarding address with the OAG when you do move.
Texas ACP covers state and local government agencies. School districts are political subdivisions of the state, and Texas Education Code provisions generally require districts to maintain the confidentiality of student records. Most Texas school districts will accept a substitute address for enrollment records when presented with an ACP authorization card.
However, this is handled at the district and campus level, and practices vary. When enrolling a child, present your authorization card to the registrar and explain that you are an ACP participant. Ask specifically that the home address be kept confidential in all school records, including bus routes and emergency contact lists. If a school resists, contact the OAG for guidance on your rights.
Texas ACP records are confidential and exempt from the Texas Public Information Act. The OAG does not disclose participant addresses in response to civil subpoenas in most circumstances. However, certain court orders in specific family law or criminal proceedings may create exceptions — this is precisely why having your own attorney in any active legal proceeding is important when you are an ACP participant.
If you have an active case and are concerned about address disclosure through discovery, consult with a family law attorney or contact Texas Legal Aid for guidance on protecting your address in court proceedings.
Yes. Children who live with an ACP participant can be enrolled as secondary participants. This ensures their school records, healthcare records, and other government documents also reflect the substitute address rather than the real home address. The enrollment process for a child follows the same application through your certified application assistant, and the child does not need to independently qualify — the parent or guardian's qualifying situation covers the household.
For a car: yes. When you register a vehicle with TxDMV as an ACP participant, your substitute address appears on the registration and title records. The TxDMV database will show the Austin P.O. box, not your home address.
For a home purchase: partially. Your Texas DPS records and voter registration will show the substitute address. But property deeds recorded at the county level are public records and will show your name. The deed itself will typically include the property address (not your mailing address), and property tax records maintained by the county appraisal district may show your name as owner alongside the property address. To keep your name off deed records, many ACP participants use a revocable living trust or LLC to hold the property — your name then does not appear directly on the county deed records.