Kendall County Divorce Decree Records

Kendall County divorce decree records are kept at the District Clerk's office in Boerne, the county seat in the Texas Hill Country northwest of San Antonio. The county has grown as part of the San Antonio metro expansion, and the District Clerk handles family law records for all divorce cases filed in the county. Online access is limited, but in-person and mail requests are accepted. If you need to find a divorce case or get a certified copy of a final decree filed in Kendall County, this page explains how the process works.

Kendall County District Clerk

The District Clerk in Boerne is the official keeper of all divorce records for Kendall County. The 216th Judicial District Court serves the county and handles family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and property division. All filings go through the clerk's office, and that office provides public access to case documents on request.

Kendall County is one of the faster-growing counties in the Hill Country, driven by residents moving northwest of San Antonio for more space while still being close to the city. The clerk's office sees a range of cases from simple agreed divorces to more complex contested matters. Staff can search records by party name or cause number during regular business hours.

For mail requests, send a letter with both party names, the filing year, and payment for copy fees. Make checks or money orders payable to the Kendall County District Clerk. You can call the office to confirm the current fee schedule and whether a specific case is in their system.

How to Search Kendall County Divorce Records

Kendall County does not have a full public online case search portal. The statewide re:SearchTX system may include basic case index information for Kendall County. That portal is free to use and can confirm whether a case is in the system and provide the cause number. Document images and certified copies still require contacting the clerk.

For an in-person search at the Boerne courthouse, bring a photo ID and the names of both parties. If you know the approximate year the divorce was filed, that helps narrow the search. The clerk can look up the case in their index and let you know whether it is in active files or archived. Copies can usually be made the same day for accessible files.

If you only need to confirm that a divorce occurred in Texas rather than ordering the full file, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vs maintains a statewide index going back to 1968. They can issue a verification letter that confirms the divorce without requiring a full copy from the county.

Filing for Divorce in Kendall County

To file for divorce in Kendall County, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code section 6.301. That means living in Texas for six months and in Kendall County for 90 days immediately before filing. If you have not been in the county for 90 days yet, you will need to wait or file in another county where you have met that requirement.

Texas allows divorce on no-fault grounds. The standard ground is "insupportability" under Texas Family Code section 6.001, which simply means the marriage can no longer continue due to conflict or discord. Fault grounds like cruelty or adultery are available but require additional proof and may influence how the court handles property division.

After the petition is filed, a 60-day waiting period begins under Texas Family Code section 6.702. The court cannot sign the Final Decree of Divorce before that period ends. For agreed divorces, once the 60 days pass and all terms are finalized, the case can be wrapped up relatively quickly. Contested cases involving property disputes or custody disagreements typically take longer.

Fees for Kendall County Divorce Cases

Filing a divorce petition in Kendall County costs approximately $310. Cases with children involved may run slightly higher due to additional required filings. The exact fee depends on the current schedule and any statutory updates. Call the District Clerk at (830) 249-9343 to confirm the current amount before you arrive at the courthouse.

Certified copies of existing divorce records cost about $1 per page plus $5 per document for the certification. Plain copies without certification cost about $1 per page. If you need the clerk to search for a case by name, a small additional fee may apply for staff time. Ask the clerk what the total cost will be before you pay.

If cost is a concern, you can apply for a waiver using the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The form is at the courthouse or at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The judge reviews your financial situation and decides whether to waive court costs. Lone Star Legal Aid may also be able to help qualifying residents with fee-related guidance.

Contents of a Kendall County Divorce File

A Kendall County divorce file contains all documents from the start of the case through any post-decree orders. The file starts with the Original Petition for Divorce, which sets out the grounds and the relief the petitioner is asking for. From there, the file grows to include citations, responses, temporary orders, and eventually the Final Decree of Divorce.

The Final Decree of Divorce is the most important document most people need from the clerk's office. It is the judge's signed order that ends the marriage. It covers property division under Texas Family Code Chapter 7, conservatorship and possession orders for children, child support under Texas Family Code Chapter 154, and any spousal maintenance. Banks, title companies, and government agencies typically need a certified copy of the decree to act on changes from the divorce.

You may also find income withholding orders, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders for retirement accounts, and any mediated settlement agreements in the file. Financial affidavits filed during the case may be sealed, so not all documents are automatically public. Ask the clerk which specific documents in a given case are accessible.

Legal Resources for Kendall County Residents

Kendall County residents who need legal help with a divorce can contact Lone Star Legal Aid, which serves South and Central Texas. They provide free legal help to qualifying low-income residents. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org for eligibility information.

The State Bar of Texas referral service is at (800) 252-9690, or you can search for an attorney at texasbar.com. Free self-help guides and official court forms are at texaslawhelp.org and txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The Texas State Law Library's divorce guide at guides.sll.texas.gov/divorce is a thorough plain-language resource for understanding the process from start to finish.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit maintains statewide divorce records going back to 1968 and can issue a verification letter confirming that a divorce occurred in Texas.

DSHS divorce verification letters are useful when you need to prove a divorce occurred without ordering the full certified decree from the county clerk.

Cities in Kendall County

Boerne is the county seat and largest city in Kendall County. Other communities include Comfort and Fair Oaks Ranch. No cities in Kendall County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All divorce cases go through the District Clerk's office in Boerne.

Nearby Counties

Kendall County borders Bexar, Comal, Kerr, Bandera, and Medina counties. File for divorce in the county where you have lived for at least 90 days before the petition date.

Bexar County | Comal County | Kerr County | Bandera County | Medina County