Odessa Divorce Decree Search
Odessa divorce decree records are held by the Ector County District Clerk, which is located right in Odessa. Since Odessa is the county seat of Ector County, the courthouse and the District Clerk's office are both in town, making it easy to visit in person if you need copies. You can also search for Odessa divorce cases online through the county's public portal at no charge. This page explains how to look up a divorce decree, what the records contain, what it costs to get copies, and where to find legal help in the Odessa area.
Odessa Overview
Ector County Holds Odessa Divorce Records
Odessa is the county seat of Ector County. All divorce cases for Odessa residents go through the Ector County District Court, and the Ector County District Clerk maintains those records. The courthouse is at 300 N. Grant Avenue in Odessa, putting it close to most parts of the city.
Ector County is in West Texas, sharing its western border with Midland County. If you or your spouse lived in Odessa at the time of filing, the divorce case is in the Ector County system. The District Clerk can look up a case by name or cause number and confirm whether a record exists.
Odessa's Municipal Court at 411 W. 8th Street handles city ordinance violations, not family law. The Odessa City Secretary at the same address processes open records requests for city documents. Neither of those offices has divorce records. Go to the Ector County District Clerk for anything related to a divorce decree.
Ector County District Clerk
The Ector County District Clerk is the official recordkeeper for all district court cases in Odessa. This includes divorce, child custody, child support, and other family law matters. The office processes new filings, stores case files, and handles all requests for copies of court records.
| Office | Ector County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 N. Grant Avenue Odessa, TX 79761 |
| Phone | (432) 498-4270 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.ector.tx.us |
The office accepts records requests in person, by mail, and in some cases by email. Mail requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order made payable to the Ector County District Clerk. Call ahead to confirm the current process before mailing anything.
The City of Odessa's official website provides city services information, but divorce decree records are not maintained by the city. The Ector County District Clerk is the correct office for divorce filings and decrees.
Searching Odessa Divorce Decree Records
Ector County has an online case portal where you can search for divorce records by party name or case number. The search is free. Results show basic case information including the names of the parties, file date, case type, and current status. Full documents, including the text of the decree, are not available online. You need to contact the District Clerk's office to get those.
You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX system. This portal searches across many Texas counties at once. It's useful when you're unsure which year the case was filed or need to confirm which county handled it.
When searching, use the full legal name of at least one spouse. Adding a year range helps narrow results in common-name searches. The cause number is the fastest way to pull up a specific case. It's usually printed at the top of any court paper from that case.
In-person searches are available at the courthouse. Staff can assist with lookups during business hours. Public access terminals let you search on your own while at the office if you prefer to do it yourself.
Odessa Divorce Decree Copy Fees
Ector County charges $1.00 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. When the clerk's office searches by name for you, there's a search fee, typically $5.00 per name. Online searches through the portal are free.
Filing a new divorce case in Ector County costs roughly $300 or more. The exact amount depends on whether children are involved and what additional motions are filed. The District Clerk posts a current fee schedule at the courthouse and on the county website.
If cost is a barrier to filing, you can apply for a fee waiver using a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. This form is available at the clerk's office or through txcourts.gov. People who receive public assistance or earn below 125% of the federal poverty line generally qualify.
Filing for Divorce in Odessa
Odessa residents file for divorce at the Ector County District Court. Texas law under Family Code Section 6.301 requires that at least one spouse lived in Texas for six months and in Ector County for 90 days before filing. If you meet those requirements, the process starts with filing an Original Petition for Divorce at the courthouse.
Texas is a no-fault divorce state. Under Family Code Section 6.001, a spouse can file on the ground of "insupportability," meaning the marriage is broken beyond repair due to discord or conflict. You don't need to prove wrongdoing. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, abandonment, and felony conviction are also available and may affect property division in some cases.
After filing, Texas requires a 60-day waiting period under Family Code Section 6.702. The court won't finalize the divorce until those 60 days pass. An agreed case can be resolved quickly after that. A contested case may require hearings, and the judge decides any unresolved issues before signing the decree.
Property is divided under the community property rules in Family Code Chapter 7. If children are involved, the case also includes conservatorship, visitation, and a child support order following the guidelines in Family Code Chapter 8.
Contents of an Odessa Divorce Decree
The Final Decree of Divorce is the court order that officially ends the marriage. Once the judge signs it and the clerk files it, the decree becomes part of the permanent public record for Ector County. It's often needed for name changes, property transfers, and updating financial accounts after divorce.
The decree names both spouses, gives the date of the marriage, states the date the divorce was granted, and lists the grounds. It spells out the division of community property and separate property. Debts are assigned to one spouse or the other. If the couple owned a home or had retirement accounts, those are listed specifically and may have separate supporting orders like a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
If children were part of the case, the decree includes a parenting plan with conservatorship terms, a possession and access schedule, and a child support order. Any name restoration is also in the decree. The document controls all of these matters going forward and is binding on both parties.
Note: Copies of the decree can be requested at any time after it's filed. There's no deadline, and the record does not expire.
Legal Resources for Odessa Residents
West Texas Legal Services provides legal aid in the Odessa and Ector County area. Call to ask about eligibility and services for family law matters. The State Bar of Texas also runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 where you can find family law attorneys in the Odessa area.
TexasLawHelp.org has self-help guides and all required court forms for filing a Texas divorce without a lawyer. It covers both simple agreed divorces and more complex contested cases. The site also lists legal aid organizations by region, which can point you toward help available specifically in West Texas.
Official court forms are available free at txcourts.gov. The Texas State Law Library's divorce guide explains the law in plain language and links directly to the statutes that govern Texas divorce. For child support issues, contact the Texas Attorney General Child Support Division for enforcement or modification help.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying Texas cities near Odessa have their own divorce records pages.