Can I Find Out Who Called CPS On Me?

 Posted on June 11, 2025 in Family Law

If Child Protective Services (CPS) shows up at your door, you may feel blindsided, angry, or scared. Whether the complaint is valid or false, a CPS investigation can affect your custody rights, your reputation, and your sense of safety. As of June 2025, the Texas Family Code still allows people to make anonymous reports to CPS. That can be frustrating if you believe the call was made out of spite rather than genuine concern.

While you may want to know who called CPS on you, the law limits your ability to find out.
Retaliating against the person who made the report can lead to serious criminal charges. Talk to our Fredericksburg, TX family law attorney to learn more. 

Can You Legally Find Out Who Made the CPS Report?

Under Texas law, reports to CPS are confidential. Section 261.101(d) of the Texas Family Code specifically protects the identity of the person making the report, even from the person being investigated. This rule exists to encourage people to report suspected abuse or neglect without fear of retaliation.

There are a few exceptions. In rare cases, if the report leads to a criminal prosecution and the caller is a key witness, their identity may be revealed during court proceedings. But even then, disclosure is controlled and limited.

If you or your attorney request your CPS records through the Department of Family and Protective Services, the documents may describe the report and the investigation, but they will typically redact the caller’s identity.

What Happens if You Retaliate Against the Person You Suspect of Reporting You to CPS?

If you threaten, harass, or try to intimidate someone you believe called CPS, you could face criminal charges. Texas law treats this kind of behavior as witness intimidation or obstruction, especially if the investigation involves a custody case or ongoing litigation.

From the criminal defense perspective, people under CPS scrutiny often make their situation worse by reacting emotionally. A single angry message, voicemail, or confrontation could result in charges of harassment, assault, or interfering with an investigation. Even if the original CPS complaint is unsubstantiated, your reaction can turn the case against you.

If you are a parent trying to preserve custody, every action you take is evaluated for its effect on your child’s well-being. Judges do not like behavior that appears controlling, threatening, or retaliatory, even when you are understandably upset. Instead, focus on preparing to have a productive conversation with CPS. 

How Does a CPS Report Affect Custody Cases?

A CPS investigation — even without a formal finding — can influence custody proceedings. If the report suggests unsafe living conditions, drug use, neglect, or emotional abuse, the family court may consider modifying your parenting time or placing restrictions on visitation.

However, family judges also understand that CPS calls are sometimes made in bad faith. If the investigation closes without action, and your attorney presents a strong defense, the court may decide that the report has no bearing on your fitness as a parent. Judges in Fredericksburg and Llano have experience with contested custody cases involving CPS, and their rulings tend to focus on the totality of the evidence.

What Should You Do If CPS Contacts You?

Stay calm and contact an attorney immediately, ideally someone who practices both family and criminal law. Do not try to handle the situation alone or assume that CPS will close the case without action.

Your lawyer can help you:

• Communicate with the investigator appropriately

• Protect your custody rights during the investigation

• Avoid behavior that could trigger criminal charges

• Gather evidence to defend your parenting and household

• Prepare for any custody hearing that may result from the report

Even if the case goes nowhere, you want to ensure that your response is measured, lawful, and focused on preserving your role in your child’s life.

Contact a Fredericksburg, TX CPS Defense Attorney

If you are facing a CPS investigation and worried about your custody rights, you need experienced legal representation from someone who understands both the criminal and family law sides of the case. Contact a Llano, TX family and criminal defense attorney at Law Office of Russ Alan Baker, PLLC by calling 325-216-2006 today. The sooner you act, the better you can protect your child and your future.