Austin Divorce Decree Search
Austin divorce decree records are filed and maintained at the Travis County District Clerk's office at 1000 Guadalupe Street, 5th Floor in downtown Austin. If you need to find a divorce case or get a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce filed in Austin, you start there. The city of Austin does not hold divorce records. All divorce filings for Austin residents go through Travis County District Court. Searches can be done online through the county's public portal, or you can go to the courthouse in person. The portal is free and open around the clock.
Austin Overview
Travis County Handles Austin Divorces
Austin is the county seat of Travis County, and all divorce cases for Austin residents are filed at Travis County District Court. The District Clerk, Velva L. Price, is the official keeper of all family court records. The Austin City Clerk is a separate office that manages city council documents, city records, and Open Meetings Act compliance. The city has no access to divorce case files. Appointments may be required for some City Clerk services, but that office cannot help with divorce records. All such requests go to Travis County.
The Travis County District Clerk's office is at 1000 Guadalupe Street, 5th Floor. The phone number is (512) 854-9180. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for self-service searches. The Travis County County Clerk at 5501 Airport Blvd. handles marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and property records, but not divorces.
For full county-level information and resources, visit the Travis County divorce records page.
| Office | Travis County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1000 Guadalupe St., 5th Floor Austin, TX 78701 |
| Phone | (512) 854-9180 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk |
Note: Travis County also has an e-filing portal at eFileTexas.gov, which is required for most civil filings including divorce petitions.
Searching Austin Divorce Records Online
Travis County uses the Tyler Technologies Odyssey platform for public case access. The portal at portal-txtravis.tylertech.cloud is available 24 hours a day. You can search by party name, case number, or date range. Civil and family cases are included. Guest access is free. Registered users can set up case alerts and save searches. Document images can be purchased through the portal using a credit card, with PDF downloads available after checkout.
You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers Travis County along with most other Texas counties. That system is helpful if you are not sure which county a case was filed in or if you need to search multiple counties.
To search for an Austin divorce decree, you need the full name of at least one spouse and an approximate filing year. If you have the cause number from an existing document, use that for the fastest result. Cases filed before the digital records era may require an in-person visit. Call (512) 854-9180 to ask about historical records and what to bring. Mail requests are accepted at 1000 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701 with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Austin Divorce Decree Filing Fees
Filing fees for an Austin divorce are set by the Travis County District Clerk. The basic fee to file a divorce without children is roughly $300 to $350. Cases with children cost more. These amounts can change, so confirm with the District Clerk before you file. Fees are due at the time of filing.
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 per 10-year search period. Service of process fees depend on the method used. Constable service is usually $75 to $100. Private process servers charge their own rates.
If the fees are a financial burden, you can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. This is available at the courthouse and on the Texas Courts website. You disclose income and expenses, and the court decides whether to waive or defer the fees. People receiving public assistance like Medicaid or SNAP generally qualify. The form should be submitted at the same time as the petition to avoid delays. TexasLawHelp.org has guidance on completing the waiver form.
Austin Divorce Filing Process
Austin residents file for divorce at Travis County District Court under Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Each document you file becomes part of the public court record. The case starts with an Original Petition for Divorce filed by the petitioner.
Before filing, residency must be established. Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Travis County for at least 90 days before the petition is filed. If you recently moved to Austin, you may need to wait before filing.
Texas allows no-fault divorce on the ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code Section 6.001. You do not have to prove that anyone did anything wrong. Conflict or discord that destroys the marriage is enough. Fault grounds are also available: cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, and others. Fault may affect property division under Texas Family Code Chapter 7.
After the petition is filed, the other spouse is served or signs a Waiver of Service. Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period under Texas Family Code Section 6.702 before a judge can sign the final decree. Agreed cases in Travis County typically move faster than contested ones. Cases with disputes over property or custody may need mediation or a trial.
Travis County has standing orders for family law cases that restrict certain financial and parenting actions by both spouses from the date of filing until the case is resolved.
Austin Divorce Case File Contents
The Travis County District Clerk holds every document filed in an Austin divorce case. The Final Decree of Divorce is the most-requested document. It contains the signed court order that ends the marriage, including all terms on property, debt, spousal support if any, and parenting arrangements if children are involved.
Other documents in the file typically include the petition, citation, answer or waiver, temporary orders, financial affidavits, and the property settlement agreement. If children are part of the case, the file also includes conservatorship orders, a parenting plan, and a child support order. Most documents are public records. Some parts may be sealed by the court, such as records involving minors, mental health treatment, or sealed financial disclosures. Document images can be purchased online through the Travis County Odyssey portal. The Texas Department of State Health Services at dshs.texas.gov/vs can provide a divorce index record (not the full decree) showing that a divorce occurred in Texas.
Legal Resources for Austin Divorce
Austin has several legal resources for people going through divorce. Whether you need free help or just a referral, there are options available.
Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas offers free legal help to income-eligible residents in Travis County for civil matters including family law. Austin Community Law Center also serves low-income clients. TexasLawHelp.org has self-help guides for filing divorce without a lawyer, including step-by-step instructions and all the forms you will need. Official court forms are available at txcourts.gov. The State Law Library's divorce guide is free and provides research guidance on Texas divorce law.
The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a family law attorney for a reduced-cost initial consultation. For child support, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division provides free enforcement and modification services. eFileTexas.gov is required for electronic filing of most court documents in Austin.
The City of Austin's official website directs residents to Travis County for all divorce record requests, as the city has no jurisdiction over family court filings.
Austin residents must contact the Travis County District Clerk, not city offices, to search or obtain divorce decree documents.
Travis County Divorce Records
Austin is in Travis County, and all divorce filings go through Travis County District Court. The county handles cases for Austin and surrounding communities including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, and Kyle. For full details on search options, fees, and county resources, visit the Travis County divorce records page.
Nearby Texas Cities
Divorce decree record pages are also available for cities near Austin and across Texas.