Access Arlington Divorce Decree Records
Arlington divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Tarrant County District Clerk's office in Fort Worth. Arlington is in Tarrant County, so all divorce cases for Arlington residents go through the Tarrant County District Court, not any Arlington city office. If you need to find a divorce case or get a copy of a Final Decree of Divorce filed by an Arlington resident, you contact the District Clerk at 100 W. Weatherford Street in Fort Worth. Online search is available through the county's public portal, and the courthouse accepts in-person and mail requests.
Arlington Overview
Tarrant County Handles Arlington Divorce Cases
Arlington is located in Tarrant County. This means Arlington residents file for divorce at Tarrant County District Court in Fort Worth, not at any Arlington city office. The Tarrant County District Clerk maintains all divorce records for every city in Tarrant County, including Arlington. The District Clerk, Thomas A. Wilder, manages the case files and processes all records requests. Arlington has its own city offices for municipal functions, but those offices have nothing to do with district court divorce cases.
The Tarrant County District Clerk office is at 100 W. Weatherford Street in Fort Worth. The main phone is (817) 884-1574. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The county also has a Family Law Center at 200 East Weatherford Street where some family law proceedings take place. If you are unsure which location to visit, call the District Clerk's main number first.
For complete county-level details, visit the Tarrant County divorce records page.
| Office | Tarrant County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 W. Weatherford St. Fort Worth, TX 76102 |
| Phone | (817) 884-1574 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | tarrantcounty.com/en/district-clerk |
Note: Arlington is one of the largest cities in Texas, but it has no county seat status. Tarrant County's seat is Fort Worth, and the District Clerk's main office is in Fort Worth.
Searching Arlington Divorce Decree Records
Tarrant County's public case portal at court.tarrantcounty.com is the primary online tool for searching divorce records filed by Arlington residents. The portal is available 24 hours a day. Search options include party name, case number, attorney bar number, or date filed. Results show case type, parties, case status, and docket activity. Document images are available for purchase through the portal.
The statewide re:SearchTX system also covers Tarrant County. Use this if you want to search across multiple Texas counties at once or if you are not certain whether a case is in Tarrant County. Both portals are free for basic case lookups.
When searching for an Arlington resident's divorce decree, have at least one spouse's full name and an approximate year. Partial name searches work but return more results. Cause numbers from prior court documents speed up the search. For cases that predate the online records system, contact the District Clerk's office at (817) 884-1574 to ask about older records. Mail requests go to 100 W. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, TX 76102. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment with your request.
Arlington Divorce Filing Fees
Divorce filing fees for Arlington residents are set by the Tarrant County District Clerk. Filing a divorce without children costs around $350. Cases with children cost more due to additional required orders. Confirm the current fee with the District Clerk before you file. Fees are paid at the time of filing and are not typically refunded.
Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus $5.00 per document for certification. Staff name searches cost $5.00 per name searched. Service of process fees depend on the method. Constable service typically runs $75 to $100. Private process server fees vary. If children are involved, a parenting class is usually required and costs around $30 to $60 through approved providers.
If you cannot pay the fees, Texas provides a way to request a waiver. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with the District Clerk. The form is available at the courthouse and at txcourts.gov. You show the court your income and expenses. People on public assistance or earning below 125% of the federal poverty guideline generally qualify. File the waiver with the petition. TexasLawHelp.org has a guide to help you fill out the form correctly.
Filing for Divorce in Arlington, Texas
Arlington residents file for divorce in Tarrant County under Texas Family Code Chapter 6. The process follows the same state rules that apply across Texas. Filing creates a public record that includes all court documents from petition to final decree.
Residency requirements apply. Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Tarrant County for at least 90 days before filing. Both conditions must be met at the time the petition is submitted.
Texas is a no-fault divorce state. The ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code Section 6.001 allows divorce when the marriage cannot continue because of discord or conflict. You do not need to prove anyone is at fault. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, and abandonment are also available and may affect how the court divides property under Texas Family Code Chapter 7.
After the petition is filed and the other spouse is served, the mandatory 60-day waiting period begins under Texas Family Code Section 6.702. Agreed cases can be finalized after that wait. Tarrant County standing orders automatically apply when a family case is filed, restricting certain actions by both parties until the case is closed.
Tarrant County's standing orders for family cases restrict transfers of marital property and changes to insurance coverage from the moment the petition is filed.
Arlington Divorce Decree Contents
The Tarrant County District Clerk holds the complete case file for every Arlington divorce filed in the county. The Final Decree of Divorce is the main document. It is signed by the judge and contains all orders on property division, debt allocation, spousal support if granted, and any parenting arrangements for children. This document serves as the official proof of divorce and is needed for name changes, estate matters, and other legal processes.
A full case file may also include the original petition, citation, answer or waiver of service, temporary orders, financial disclosures, property settlement agreement, conservatorship orders, child support order, and parenting plan. Most documents are public unless sealed. Juvenile records, adoption files, and mental health records are confidential. For document copies, visit the courthouse or use the Tarrant County portal to purchase PDFs online. Mail requests are also accepted at 100 W. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, TX 76102.
Legal Help for Arlington Residents
Arlington residents have access to several legal resources for divorce cases. These include legal aid organizations, self-help tools, and attorney referral services.
Lone Star Legal Aid serves the North Texas region and handles family law cases for income-qualified clients. Check their website for eligibility and coverage areas. TexasLawHelp.org provides free guides for filing divorce in Texas without an attorney. All official court forms are at txcourts.gov. The Texas State Law Library divorce guide explains the legal process and links to statutes and resources. Electronic filing is done through eFileTexas.gov, which is required for most new civil filings in Tarrant County.
The State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 offers a lawyer referral service for finding a family law attorney in the Arlington and Fort Worth area. For help with child support matters, contact the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division, which can establish and enforce support orders at no cost to custodial parents.
The City of Arlington's official website does not maintain divorce records, as all family court filings for Arlington residents are handled by Tarrant County District Clerk in Fort Worth.
Arlington residents seeking a divorce decree must contact Tarrant County District Clerk, not any Arlington city office.
Tarrant County Divorce Records
Arlington is in Tarrant County, and all divorce filings go through Tarrant County District Court in Fort Worth. The county handles cases for Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and other communities. For full details on the county court, online search portals, and local resources, visit the Tarrant County divorce records page.
Nearby Texas Cities
Divorce record pages are available for other cities in Tarrant and Dallas counties and across Texas.