New Braunfels Divorce Decree Records
New Braunfels divorce decree records are maintained by the Comal County District Clerk, whose office is located in New Braunfels at the Comal County Courthouse. Since New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County, you can handle records requests locally without traveling to a separate city. Comal County provides online case search access, and you can look up divorce cases by name or cause number at no charge. This page covers how to find and request divorce decree records in New Braunfels, what those records contain, the divorce process in Comal County, and legal help available to residents.
New Braunfels Overview
Comal County Handles New Braunfels Divorce Records
New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County. All divorce cases filed by New Braunfels residents go through the Comal County District Court, and the Comal County District Clerk stores those records. The courthouse is at 100 Main Plaza in downtown New Braunfels.
Comal County is in the Texas Hill Country, between San Antonio and Austin. If either spouse lived in New Braunfels or elsewhere in Comal County when the divorce was filed, the case is in the Comal County system. The county can be reached at (830) 221-1350 for general inquiries, and the District Clerk is at the same courthouse complex.
Parts of New Braunfels also extend into Guadalupe County. If you're unsure which county handled your case, try searching both. Guadalupe County's District Clerk is in Seguin. Most New Braunfels addresses fall in Comal County, but a few neighborhoods near the city's eastern edge cross into Guadalupe County.
The New Braunfels City Secretary at 550 Landa Street handles city records, not divorce records. For any divorce decree matter, contact the Comal County District Clerk at the courthouse.
Comal County District Clerk
The Comal County District Clerk is the official record keeper for all district court cases in New Braunfels. The office handles new filings, stores case files, and processes all requests for copies including certified copies of divorce decrees. Staff can search by name or cause number and provide copies during regular business hours.
| Office | Comal County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Main Plaza New Braunfels, TX 78130 |
| Phone | (830) 221-1350 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.comal.tx.us |
Mail requests should include your full name, the names of the parties in the case, the approximate year the case was filed, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment by check or money order. Call the office first to confirm what's needed for a mail request and what the current fees are.
The Texas Judicial Branch provides resources on how district courts operate statewide, including how family law cases like divorce are handled at the county level throughout Texas.
How to Search New Braunfels Divorce Decree Records
Comal County provides online access to court records through its public portal at co.comal.tx.us. You can search for cases by party name or case number at no cost. The portal shows case metadata including party names, case type, file date, and current status. It does not provide the full text of the decree online.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal is another option. It searches multiple Texas counties at once, which is useful if you're uncertain when the case was filed or whether it's in Comal or Guadalupe County.
For certified copies, you must contact the District Clerk directly. Some documents may be available for purchase through the county portal. Others require a formal written request, which you can submit in person or by mail.
To search, have the full legal names of both spouses ready. Knowing roughly when the divorce was filed helps narrow results. A cause number from old paperwork gets you directly to the case without guessing. If you have any filed court documents, look at the top of the page for the cause number. It's usually there in a standard format like "YYYY-XXXXX-F."
New Braunfels Divorce Decree Fees
Comal County charges $1.00 per page for plain copies of court records. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Staff-conducted name searches carry a fee, usually $5.00 per name searched. Online case searches are free.
Filing a new divorce case in Comal County costs roughly $300 or more depending on the case. Cases involving children cost more due to additional required filings. The District Clerk's office posts a fee schedule at the courthouse. Always confirm the current amount before submitting payment.
If you can't pay the filing fee, you can ask for a waiver by filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The form is available at the courthouse or through txcourts.gov. People who receive public assistance or fall below 125% of the federal poverty line generally qualify.
E-filing through eFileTexas.gov is required for civil and family law filings in Texas, including Comal County divorce cases.
Divorce Filing Process in New Braunfels
New Braunfels residents file for divorce at the Comal County District Court. Texas law requires that at least one spouse have lived in Texas for six months and in Comal County for 90 days before filing. This residency rule is in Family Code Section 6.301. If you meet those requirements, you start with an Original Petition for Divorce.
Texas is a no-fault divorce state. Under Family Code Section 6.001, either spouse can file based on "insupportability," meaning the marriage is broken and can't be repaired because of ongoing conflict. No one has to prove the other did something wrong. Texas also allows fault-based divorce under Chapter 6 on grounds like cruelty, adultery, abandonment, and felony conviction. Fault can affect how the court divides property in some cases.
Once the petition is filed, the 60-day waiting period under Family Code Section 6.702 begins. The court can't sign the Final Decree of Divorce until those 60 days pass. For an agreed divorce with no children and simple property, the process after the waiting period can be quick. Contested cases involving disputes over property or children take longer, and may go to mediation or trial before the judge rules.
Texas community property rules in Family Code Chapter 7 govern how assets and debts from the marriage are divided. The court presumes equal division but can adjust if there's a compelling reason. If children are involved, the decree also addresses conservatorship, possession, and child support under the guidelines in Family Code Chapter 8.
Contents of the New Braunfels Divorce Decree
The Final Decree of Divorce is the judge's signed order that officially ends the marriage. Once filed with the Comal County District Clerk, it becomes a public record. You'll often need a certified copy to update property records, change your name, refinance a home, or satisfy a lender or government agency.
The decree contains both spouses' full legal names, the date of the marriage, the date of the divorce, and the legal grounds. It addresses all property and debt from the marriage. Real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, and personal property may all be listed. Debts like mortgages, car loans, and credit cards are assigned between the parties. Retirement account division may require a separate court order called a QDRO to take effect.
If children were part of the case, the decree includes a conservatorship arrangement, a possession and access schedule showing when each parent has the children, and a child support order. A name restoration for either spouse, if requested and granted, is also included. Once signed, the decree binds both parties and is enforceable in any Texas court.
Note: Sealed records in divorce cases are unusual. Most Comal County divorce decrees are public and accessible to anyone who requests a copy.
Legal Help for New Braunfels Residents
Residents of New Braunfels and Comal County can get legal help through several channels. The State Bar of Texas referral service is available at (800) 252-9690. The bar's online directory lists family law attorneys who practice in the area. Attorneys in San Antonio, just 30 miles south, also regularly handle Comal County divorce cases.
TexasLawHelp.org provides free self-help guides and forms for Texas divorce cases. The site covers agreed divorces, contested cases, and cases involving children. It also has a directory of legal aid organizations by region. Lone Star Legal Aid and other Central Texas organizations serve the New Braunfels area and can provide free or reduced-cost legal help if you qualify based on income.
All court forms for Texas divorce are available at no cost through txcourts.gov. The Texas State Law Library divorce guide explains each step of the process clearly and links to the statutes that govern Texas divorce. For child support enforcement or changes, the Texas Attorney General Child Support Division is the right contact.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying Texas cities near New Braunfels have their own divorce records pages.