How to Place a Credit Freeze for Minors at All 3 Bureaus

To freeze a minor’s credit, mail a written request with identity and guardianship documents to each of the three nationwide credit bureaus separately. It’s free under federal law, and each bureau must place the freeze within three business days of receiving your complete request. If your child doesn’t have a credit file yet, the bureau must create one and freeze it immediately.¹

Unlike an adult freeze, which takes a few minutes online, a minor’s freeze has to go through the mail. There’s no shortcut, and a request to one bureau does not notify the others.

Documents to Gather First

Every bureau asks for the same three categories of documentation: proof of your child’s identity, proof of your identity, and proof of your relationship to the child. Assemble one set for each bureau you’re writing to, and send copies only. Never mail originals.

For your child, include copies of the birth certificate and Social Security card. For yourself, include a copy of your driver’s license or another government-issued photo ID, plus something showing your current address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.²

Relationship proof depends on who you are. If you’re a biological parent named on the birth certificate, the birth certificate itself is enough. If your name isn’t on it, or if you’re an adoptive parent, legal guardian, or foster parent, you’ll need a court order or other legal document showing your authority to act for the child.³

Check Whether a File Already Exists

Before you mail the freeze request, it’s worth finding out whether your child already has a credit file. Most kids don’t, and that’s the expected result. A file that shouldn’t be there is a strong sign that someone has already used the child’s Social Security number.

TransUnion runs a secure online form where you enter the child’s name, Social Security number, and date of birth to search its database. If it turns up a file, TransUnion will follow up with you.⁴ Experian has a similar request process and responds within 10 to 15 days.² You can also request a copy of any existing report through AnnualCreditReport.com by mailing in copies of the child’s birth certificate and Social Security card, your government ID, and proof of guardianship.⁵

If no file exists, that’s good news. Your freeze request will prompt the bureau to create one and freeze it in the same step.

Where to Send Each Bureau’s Request

Each bureau has its own form or letter, but the documentation package is the same. Send three separate envelopes.

Equifax: Download the Minor Freeze Request form from Equifax’s website and mail it with your documentation to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.⁶
Experian: Complete the online form on Experian’s website, then mail the printed copy with your documentation to Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Overnight deliveries go to 701 Experian Parkway, Allen, TX 75013.⁷
TransUnion: Write a request letter or use TransUnion’s form and mail it with your documentation to the protected consumer freeze address listed on TransUnion’s child identity theft page.³

Certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof of delivery and a paper trail if anything goes sideways. Once the bureau has a complete request, federal law gives it three business days to place the freeze.¹

Two Specialty Bureaus Worth Adding

The three major bureaus cover most credit accounts, but identity thieves can also open bank accounts and utilities. Two specialty reporting agencies accept minor freeze requests using the same documentation package.

Innovis maintains a consumer credit database used by some lenders. Mail your request to Innovis Consumer Assistance, P.O. Box 530088, Atlanta, GA 30353-0088.⁸

ChexSystems tracks banking history and is used by banks to screen new deposit account applications. Freezing your child’s ChexSystems record blocks someone from opening a fraudulent checking or savings account in their name. Mail your documentation to Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Security Freeze Department, P.O. Box 583399, Minneapolis, MN 55458.⁹

After You Mail the Request

Each bureau will send you a confirmation letter once the freeze is on. Experian estimates 10 to 15 days for its response.² Keep every confirmation letter with copies of the documents you sent. If you ever need to lift or remove the freeze, you’ll have to prove your identity and authority again, and having the file at hand saves time.

Protected consumer freezes don’t come with the PIN-based system that adults use to manage their freezes online. TransUnion confirms that a protected consumer freeze can only be placed or removed by mail, because it always requires proof of identity and authority.¹⁰ Slower, yes, but it also means no one can call in and talk their way past the freeze.

Lifting the Freeze and What Changes at 16 and 18

The freeze stays in place until someone acts to change it. You can lift or remove it at any time by mailing a written request with the same identity and authority documentation to each bureau, and there’s no fee.¹⁰

Federal law defines a “protected consumer” as someone under 16, so the framework shifts as your child grows:¹

At 16, your child is no longer a protected consumer under federal law. At TransUnion, for example, the child can request removal of the freeze themselves starting at that age.³
At 18, your child can convert the protected consumer freeze into a standard adult freeze that they can then manage online and temporarily lift whenever they apply for credit. The conversion requires mailing documentation one more time.³

If nobody acts, the freeze just stays on. That sounds like the safe outcome, but a frozen file will block an 18-year-old from being approved for a student loan, a lease, or even a cell phone account. Talk with your child about the freeze before they turn 18 so they know how to convert or lift it when they need to.

Signs the Freeze Is Already Overdue

Most families put the freeze in place as a precaution. Sometimes, though, the reason you’re reading this is that something already looks wrong. The FTC lists several red flags that suggest someone is using your child’s identity:¹¹

Collection calls or bills addressed to your child for accounts you never opened.
Denial of government benefits because someone else is already claiming benefits with your child’s Social Security number.
An IRS notice saying your child owes income taxes, which happens when someone uses the number for employment.
A credit denial when your child applies for a first loan or card.

Any of these means you should check for a credit file at each bureau before mailing the freeze request, and consider filing an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov, which unlocks additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including an extended fraud alert and the ability to block fraudulent information from your child’s file.¹² The freeze still comes first: it stops new accounts from being opened while you work on cleaning up the existing damage.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
2
Experian. Requesting a Minor’s Credit Report, Fraud Alert or Security Freeze
3
TransUnion. Child Identity Theft
4
TransUnion. Child Identity Theft Inquiry Form
5
AnnualCreditReport.com. Requesting Reports in Special Situations
6
Equifax. Freezing Your Child’s Credit Report FAQ
7
Experian. How to Request a Security Freeze for a Minor Child’s Credit Report
8
Innovis. Minors and Protected Consumers
9
ChexSystems. Place a Security Freeze
10
TransUnion. Freeze Support Center – Credit Freeze FAQs
11
Consumer Advice. How To Protect Your Child From Identity Theft
12
Consumer Advice. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts