Austin County Divorce Decree Records

Austin County divorce decree records date to 1839 and are on file with the District Clerk at the courthouse in Bellville. The District Court handles all family law filings including divorces, custody matters, and name changes. If you need to search for a divorce case in Austin County or get a certified copy of a final decree, the clerk's office in Bellville is where you go. This page covers what you need to know to search the records, the fees involved, and how the Texas divorce process works.

Austin County District Clerk

The Austin County District Clerk at the courthouse in Bellville maintains all civil and family court records, including divorce decrees. The courthouse is at 1 E. Main Street in Bellville. The clerk's office handles filings, case management, and records requests for all cases heard by the District Court. Divorce records in Austin County go back to 1839, one of the oldest in Texas given that Austin County was incorporated on March 27, 1837.

If you want to search or get copies of a divorce decree, start with the clerk's office. For online access, the statewide re:SearchTX system covers Austin County. You can search by party name or cause number from home. For older records or certified copies, an in-person visit or mail request is necessary.

The County Clerk at the same address handles marriage records, which go back to 1824 in Austin County. Divorce records, however, belong to the District Clerk. If you need both a marriage and divorce record, you may be dealing with two different offices or staff members within the same building.

How to Search Austin County Divorce Records

For recent divorce records in Austin County, use the statewide re:SearchTX portal. Enter the names of both parties, narrow by county, and look through the results. This works best for cases filed in the past decade or so. For older records, contact the clerk's office directly.

In-person searches at the Bellville courthouse are straightforward. Give the clerk the names of both spouses and the year of the divorce. A cause number speeds things up. Staff can search the index and pull the file. Most copies are ready the same day. Certified copies take the same amount of time in most cases. Call ahead if you are traveling from outside the county.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office can also verify Texas divorces going back to 1968. This is useful if you need a quick confirmation rather than a full certified copy of the decree.

Texas DSHS maintains statewide divorce verification records that can supplement Austin County District Clerk records for cases from 1968 onward.

Austin County Divorce Filing Fees

Filing a divorce in Austin County costs approximately $300, following the state fee schedule. The exact amount depends on the type of case and applicable surcharges. Cases with children may be slightly higher. Confirm the current fee with the clerk before you file.

Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certification adds $5.00. For mailed copies, include return postage. The clerk accepts checks and money orders. Ask about card payments when you call. For a DSHS divorce verification, the fee is $20.00 per copy, which you can get by contacting the Texas Department of State Health Services at dshs.texas.gov/vs.

Fee waivers are available for people who cannot pay. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Show proof of income or public assistance. The court decides. Get the form at the courthouse or at txcourts.gov/rules-forms.

The Divorce Process in Austin County

Divorces in Austin County follow Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Before you file, you must meet the residency rule under Section 6.301: one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Austin County for at least 90 days.

Most people use the no-fault ground of insupportability under Section 6.001. Fault grounds are also available. After filing, the 60-day waiting period under Section 6.702 applies. The other spouse must be served or sign a waiver. Once all issues are resolved, the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce, which becomes the official Austin County record.

Property division follows community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7. Spousal maintenance rules are in Chapter 8. If children are involved, the decree will include a conservatorship order and support amounts.

What Austin County Divorce Records Include

The Final Decree of Divorce is the document most people need. It sets out all the terms of the divorce: property, debt, conservatorship of children, support, and maintenance. The full case file also includes the original petition, any temporary orders, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and all court filings.

Austin County's records go back almost two centuries. Older records may be on paper and stored in archives. Newer records are more likely to be in electronic systems. Most divorce records are public. Social Security numbers and similar information may be redacted. Cases involving domestic violence or sealed by the court will have restricted access.

Legal Resources for Austin County Divorces

TexasLawHelp.org has free guides and forms for handling your own divorce in Texas. For attorney referrals, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690. The Texas State Law Library divorce guide is a clear and free overview of Texas divorce law. All court forms are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms, and child support services are through the Texas Attorney General.

Cities in Austin County

Austin County includes Bellville, Sealy, and several other communities. All divorce cases are filed with the District Clerk in Bellville regardless of where you live in the county.

No cities in Austin County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. Other communities include Industry, Wallis, San Felipe, and Brazos Country. All residents use the Austin County District Clerk for divorce filings and record requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Austin County. Confirm 90-day residency in Austin County before filing your petition here.