How to Freeze Your Child’s Credit at All 3 Bureaus

To freeze your child’s credit, you send a separate request to each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — with copies of your child’s birth certificate and Social Security card, your government-issued ID, and proof of your address. Federal law requires each bureau to place the freeze within one business day for electronic requests or three business days for mailed requests, and the service is free.¹ Because most children have no credit file yet, the bureaus create one and lock it immediately, which blocks anyone from opening accounts in your child’s name.

A freeze at one bureau does nothing at the other two, so plan on three separate packets. Children under 16 qualify as “protected consumers” under federal law, which is the status that lets a parent or guardian request the freeze on their behalf.²

Documents You Need to Gather

All three bureaus require the same core paperwork. Collecting it before you start keeps a request from being bounced for something minor.

A copy of your child’s birth certificate. It does not need to be certified for most bureaus; a clear photocopy is sufficient.³
A copy of your child’s Social Security card, or for Equifax, a letter from the Social Security Administration confirming the number.³
Your government-issued ID — a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Equifax specifically requires one that shows your current address.⁴
Proof of your address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, or insurance statement. Experian also asks for a list of all addresses where you and your child have lived in the past two years.⁴
Guardianship paperwork if you are not named on the birth certificate. That means a court order appointing you as guardian or conservator, or a valid power of attorney.⁵

If no utility bill is in your name, a mortgage statement, lease, cell phone bill, or insurance card showing your name and address will generally work for address verification.

Check for an Existing Credit File First

Before you send anything, it’s worth asking each bureau whether your child already has a credit file. Children generally should not have one. If a bureau finds one, that is a strong sign someone has already used your child’s Social Security number to open accounts.⁶ If you find fraud, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338 before proceeding; the FTC will generate a recovery plan and pre-filled letters for creditors and bureaus.⁷

Submitting to Experian

Experian is the easiest of the three because it accepts electronic submissions for children 13 and under. You fill out a form on their website, upload scanned copies of your documents through their secure portal, and get electronic confirmation.⁴ For minors 14 and older, Experian lets the teen request a freeze directly online or by mail.

To mail the request, send it to:

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013⁴

Experian also accepts overnight deliveries at 701 Experian Parkway, Allen, TX 75013.

Submitting to Equifax

Equifax requires a mailed packet. Include a cover letter with your copies, and the CFPB recommends adding a brief statement that the minor child may be a victim of identity theft.³ Send it to:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788⁸

Submitting to TransUnion

TransUnion states that protected consumer freezes cannot be placed by phone or online because of the documentation involved.⁹ TransUnion has a dedicated mailing address for protected consumer freezes that may differ from its general freeze address, so check the “Freeze by Mail or Phone” page on TransUnion’s site before sending. The general freeze address is:

TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094⁸

Tips for Mailing the Packets

Send copies, never originals. Use certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery; if a bureau later claims it never received your packet, that receipt is what protects you. Make a complete photocopy of everything you send and keep it organized by bureau in case you need to follow up or refile.

Deadlines, Confirmation, and the PIN

Bureaus do not get 30 days. For requests submitted by mail, the bureau must place the freeze within three business days of receiving a complete packet. For requests made through a secure electronic portal or by phone, the deadline is one business day.¹

Within five business days after the freeze is placed, the bureau must send you written confirmation and explain how to remove the freeze later.¹ That letter will include a PIN or access code tied to your child’s file. Store all three somewhere secure: a fireproof safe or an encrypted digital vault. You will need these codes to lift or remove the freeze later, and replacing a lost one means submitting identity documents again and waiting through the reverification.

Lifting the Freeze Later

The freeze stays in place until someone with authority asks for its removal. It does not drop off automatically at age 18 or any other milestone.¹ When your child is ready to apply for a first credit card, student loan, or apartment, someone will have to contact each bureau and request removal.

Removal timelines are tight. By phone or secure online portal, the bureau must lift the freeze within one hour. By mail, within three business days.¹ You can also request a temporary lift for a defined period, which is useful if your child needs a short credit check for an insurance policy or utility setup; the freeze returns on its own afterward.

To lift or remove the freeze, you’ll need the PIN plus proof of your identity and authority. If the code is lost, Equifax, for example, asks for one document to validate identity (driver’s license, passport, or Social Security card) and one to validate your address (utility bill, bank statement, or mortgage statement) before it will proceed.¹⁰

What Changes When Your Child Turns 16

Federal law draws its line at 16, not 18. Once your child is no longer under 16, they can request removal of the security freeze directly from the bureaus without you.¹ Minors who are 16 or 17 can also place a new freeze on their own using the standard adult freeze process.⁶

Have the conversation with your teen before they hit 16. If they know the freeze exists and where the confirmation codes live, the handoff is smooth. If they don’t, their first denied application will be a surprise with no obvious explanation.

Guardians and Foster Care

Legal guardians and conservators use the same process as parents, with different proof of authority. Instead of a birth certificate linking parent to child, submit a court order appointing you as guardian or conservator, or a valid power of attorney, along with your own government-issued ID and proof of your address.⁵

Child welfare and probation agency representatives can request a freeze for a youth in foster care. They have to provide documentation certifying the child is in the agency’s care, such as an official letter from the agency or a court order authorizing it to act for the child.¹¹ Children in foster care face elevated identity theft risk because their information passes through many hands, so checking for an existing credit file before placing the freeze is especially worth doing in these cases.

1
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
2
GovInfo. Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act
3
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Helping Youth Start and Maintain Good Credit
4
Experian. Requesting a Minors Credit Report, Fraud Alert or Security Freeze
5
Federal Trade Commission. Managing Someone Elses Money – New Protection From ID Theft and Fraud
6
Federal Trade Commission. How To Protect Your Child From Identity Theft
7
IdentityTheft.gov. Steps
8
TransUnion. Freeze Support Center – Credit Freeze FAQs
9
TransUnion. Freeze My Credit
10
Equifax. What Documentation Should I Send in to Validate My ID or Address
11
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Helping Youth in Foster Care Start and Maintain Good Credit