Fort Worth Divorce Decree Lookup
Fort Worth divorce decree records are maintained at the Tarrant County District Clerk's office at 100 W. Weatherford Street in downtown Fort Worth. If you need to search a divorce case or get a copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, that is where you go. The city of Fort Worth does not hold divorce records. All family court filings for Fort Worth residents are handled through Tarrant County District Court. Online case searches are available through the county portal, and the courthouse accepts in-person and mail requests during regular business hours.
Fort Worth Overview
Tarrant County District Clerk Handles Fort Worth Divorces
Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County. Divorce cases for Fort Worth residents are filed and maintained at the Tarrant County District Court. The District Clerk, Thomas A. Wilder, is the official custodian of all those case files. The Fort Worth City Secretary's office is a separate office that handles city records, city elections, and transparency compliance. That office does not have any connection to divorce case records. If you contact the city about a divorce decree, they will direct you to Tarrant County.
The Tarrant County District Clerk office is at 100 W. Weatherford Street. The main phone number is (817) 884-1574. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Records go back to the 1850s. The District Clerk holds files for all family law cases, including divorce, custody, child support, and adoption. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search records without waiting for staff assistance.
Tarrant County also has a dedicated Family Law Center at 200 East Weatherford Street where some family law matters are handled. For full county court 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: Divorce records are separate from property records and marriage licenses, which are held by the Tarrant County Clerk at the same address but a different floor.
Searching Fort Worth Divorce Records
Tarrant County has a public online case search portal at court.tarrantcounty.com. You can search by party name, case number, attorney bar number, or date filed. The portal is available around the clock. It shows case type, status, parties, attorneys, and docket entries. Document images are available for purchase through the portal using a credit card. PDF downloads are available after purchase.
The statewide re:SearchTX system also covers Tarrant County cases. That platform is useful if you are looking across multiple Texas counties. For older cases or records not available online, the District Clerk's office can assist in person. Call (817) 884-1574 to ask about older records before making a trip to the courthouse.
When searching for a Fort Worth divorce decree, have the full name of at least one spouse and an approximate year of filing. Partial name searches work but return more results to sort through. Case numbers include the year and case type code. If you have the cause number from a prior document, that is the fastest search method. Mail requests are accepted at 100 W. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, TX 76102. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment with your request.
Fort Worth Divorce Filing Costs
Filing fees for a Fort Worth divorce are set by the Tarrant County District Clerk. A standard divorce without children costs roughly $350 to file. Cases with children cost slightly more because additional orders are required. Call (817) 884-1574 or check the county website for the current fee schedule before you file.
Copies of records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. If staff must search for a record by name, expect a $5.00 search fee per name. Constable service for process is typically $75 to $100. Private process servers charge their own rates.
If paying the fees is a hardship, you may file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. The form is available at the courthouse and on the Texas Courts website. You list your income and expenses. The court reviews your situation and may waive or defer the fees. People who receive Medicaid, SNAP, or other public assistance generally qualify. The waiver form should be filed along with the petition, not afterward.
Note: If you have children, Tarrant County may require a parenting class, which is an additional cost of around $30 to $60 depending on the provider.
Divorce Filing Steps for Fort Worth Residents
Fort Worth residents file for divorce at Tarrant County District Court under Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Filing creates a public case record from the start. Each step in the process generates documents that become part of the file.
Residency is required. 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 requirements must be met at the time the petition is filed. The filing spouse (petitioner) does not have to be the one who has lived in Tarrant County, as long as one spouse meets the requirement.
Texas allows no-fault divorce. The most common ground is insupportability under Texas Family Code Section 6.001. You just show the marriage cannot continue due to conflict. Fault grounds such as cruelty, adultery, or abandonment are also available and may affect property division or spousal support under Texas Family Code Chapter 8.
After the petition is filed and the other spouse is served, the case is active. Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. Both spouses can agree to the terms and submit an agreed final decree. If there is disagreement, the case may go to mediation or trial before a judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce.
Tarrant County standing orders automatically restrict certain financial and parenting actions by both spouses from the date the petition is filed until the divorce is final.
Fort Worth Divorce Decree Contents
A Fort Worth divorce case file held by the Tarrant County District Clerk includes every document filed from start to finish. The Final Decree of Divorce is the key document. It contains the judge's orders on property division, spousal support if awarded, and all parenting arrangements including conservatorship and child support.
Other documents commonly found in a divorce file include the petition, citation, answer or waiver, temporary orders, financial disclosures, property settlement agreement, and any court orders entered during the case. Most of these are public records unless a judge has sealed specific portions. Adoption and juvenile records are always sealed. Mental health records are confidential. Financial affidavits may be restricted. For online document access, the Tarrant County portal allows PDF purchase of most filed documents through a secure checkout.
Legal Help in Fort Worth
Fort Worth has several resources for people dealing with divorce cases. Legal aid organizations serve people who cannot afford an attorney. Self-help resources are available for those who want to handle their own case.
Lone Star Legal Aid covers parts of North Texas and may serve Fort Worth residents based on income and case type. Tarrant County has its own legal aid services as well. Check eligibility and contact information through TexasLawHelp.org, which lists legal aid providers by county. That site also has step-by-step guides for filing divorce without a lawyer in Texas. Official court forms including the petition and financial statements are at txcourts.gov. The State Law Library's divorce guide explains the process and links to relevant statutes.
For attorney referrals, the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a family law attorney in the Fort Worth area. If child support is involved, contact the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division for enforcement or establishment assistance at no charge.
The Fort Worth city government website confirms that divorce records are a county function handled by Tarrant County District Clerk, not the city.
Fort Worth residents seeking a divorce decree must contact the Tarrant County District Clerk at 100 W. Weatherford Street.
Tarrant County Divorce Records
Fort Worth is in Tarrant County, and all divorce filings go through Tarrant County District Court. The county serves Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and other communities in the area. For full details on the county court, search portals, fees, and more, visit the Tarrant County page.
Nearby Texas Cities
Divorce record pages are available for other cities in the DFW area and across Texas.