Brazoria County Divorce Decree Search
Brazoria County divorce decree records are maintained by the District Clerk's office in Angleton. The county is part of the greater Houston metro area and serves a large and growing population. Divorce records in Brazoria County date back to 1837, and the District Clerk handles all civil and family court filings including divorces, custody cases, and child support matters. If you need to search for a divorce decree or get a certified copy, you can use the online public records portal, visit the courthouse in Angleton, or submit a mail request. This page covers everything you need to know to access Brazoria County divorce records.
Brazoria County Overview
Brazoria County District Clerk
Rhonda Barchak serves as the District Clerk for Brazoria County. Her office at Room 300 of the courthouse at 111 E. Locust Street in Angleton maintains all divorce records for the county. The office handles civil and family court filings, stores case files, and handles all records requests. The District Clerk maintains all divorce records going back to 1837, while the County Clerk at Suite 200 of the same address handles marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and property records.
Online case search is available through the Brazoria County public records portal at brazoria.tx.publicsearch.us. This portal provides access to civil and family records, document purchasing, and secure payment. You can search by party name, case number, or other criteria. Public access terminals are also available at the courthouse for in-person searches. The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Brazoria County as well.
| Office | Brazoria County District Clerk - Rhonda Barchak |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 E. Locust St., Room 300 Angleton, TX 77515 |
| Phone | (979) 864-1355 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Online Portal | brazoria.tx.publicsearch.us |
| Website | brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/district-clerk |
How to Search Brazoria County Divorce Records
The Brazoria County public records portal at brazoria.tx.publicsearch.us gives you online access to civil and family court records. You can search by party name and view case information including divorce filings. Free index access lets you confirm a case exists and find the cause number. Document images and certified copies require payment or an in-person visit.
The statewide re:SearchTX system is a good secondary resource. It pulls from multiple Texas courts and can return Brazoria County divorce cases. Enter both party names and filter by county if needed. For cases not found online, call the clerk's office at (979) 864-1355 and ask staff to search by name.
The Brazoria County District Clerk website has the online portal link, record request forms, and contact information for the District Clerk's office in Angleton.
Texas vital records services complement the Brazoria County District Clerk in providing official documentation for divorces and related family law matters.
For in-person searches, go to Room 300 at 111 E. Locust Street in Angleton. Bring photo ID and the names of both spouses. A cause number speeds up the search. Staff can make copies while you wait in most cases. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification. The search fee when staff searches by name is $5.00 per name.
Note: Brazoria County is one of the original 23 counties of Texas and has divorce records going back to 1837. For very old records, contact the clerk directly to confirm availability and access procedures.Brazoria County Divorce Fees
Filing fees for divorce in Brazoria County follow Texas state statute. A new divorce case costs approximately $300. The exact total includes the base filing fee plus required statutory surcharges. Cases with children may run slightly higher. Call (979) 864-1355 to confirm the current fee before filing.
Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies. Certified copies add $5.00 for certification. Staff search fees are $5.00 per name searched. The County Clerk's recording fee starts at $26 for the first page and $4 for each additional page, but that applies to property recordings, not divorce copies. For divorce records, use the District Clerk's fee schedule. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit card.
Fee waivers are available for low-income filers under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with proof of hardship. The court reviews your request. Get the form at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The TexasLawHelp.org site can walk you through the waiver process as well.
Divorce Filing in Brazoria County
Brazoria County divorces are governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 6. The residency rule under Section 6.301 requires one spouse to have lived in Texas for six months and in Brazoria County for at least 90 days before the petition is filed. The county covers Angleton, Pearland, Lake Jackson, Alvin, Friendswood, and other communities, so if you or your spouse lives in any of these areas, you may file here.
The most common divorce ground is insupportability under Section 6.001, a no-fault basis that does not require proving wrongdoing. Fault grounds including cruelty, adultery, abandonment, living apart for three years, and felony conviction are also available. Fault can affect how the court divides community property under Texas Family Code Chapter 7.
After filing, Texas requires a 60-day waiting period under Section 6.702. The clock starts on the filing date. Service of the petition on the other spouse must happen unless they sign a Waiver of Service. If both parties agree on all terms, an agreed decree can be presented to the judge after the waiting period ends. Contested cases may go through mediation or a trial before the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce.
Spousal maintenance in Texas is governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 8. It is only available in limited circumstances, such as marriages of more than ten years with certain income conditions. E-filing in Brazoria County goes through eFileTexas.gov and is required for civil cases.
60-Day Wait: Texas law under Family Code Section 6.702 requires a 60-day waiting period from the date of filing before a divorce can be granted. Exceptions apply only in cases involving family violence.
What Brazoria County Divorce Records Contain
The Final Decree of Divorce is the core document of any Brazoria County divorce. It is the court order that ends the marriage and sets out all the terms. Property and debt division, child conservatorship designations, the possession and access schedule, child support amounts, and any spousal maintenance are all laid out in this document. A certified copy is essential for name changes, pension and retirement plan changes, real estate transactions, and dealing with financial institutions after the divorce.
The full case file at the District Clerk's office also holds the Original Petition for Divorce, any temporary orders entered during the case, financial affidavits, the property settlement agreement if applicable, and all other court filings from the case. Brazoria County is one of the original 23 Texas counties, and records go back to 1837. That history means older divorce records are available for genealogical and legal research as well as current needs.
Most Brazoria County divorce records are public records. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. Some information is redacted before copies are released, including Social Security numbers and certain financial account numbers. Cases involving domestic violence or sealed by a court order have restricted access. The clerk will tell you about any restrictions specific to your request.
Legal Help in Brazoria County
Lone Star Legal Aid serves Brazoria County and can provide free legal help with divorce and family law matters for qualifying residents. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org. TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides and downloadable court forms for Texas divorces. The site is a good first resource for self-represented filers in Brazoria County.
For attorney referrals, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690. The Texas State Law Library divorce guide explains the entire process clearly and is free to use. All official court forms are available at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. For child support services, contact the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division.
Cities in Brazoria County
Brazoria County includes Angleton, Pearland, Lake Jackson, Alvin, Friendswood, and other communities. All divorce cases go through the District Clerk in Angleton regardless of where in the county you live.
Other communities in Brazoria County include Lake Jackson, Angleton, Alvin, Friendswood, Clute, Freeport, and many more. All residents use the Brazoria County District Clerk for divorce filings and records.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Brazoria County in the greater Houston metro area. Check where you have lived for the past 90 days before filing your divorce here.