Knox County Divorce Decree Records

Knox County divorce decree records are kept at the District Clerk's office in Benjamin, the county seat in north Texas near Wichita Falls. The county is served by the 110th Judicial District Court, which handles family law cases including divorce, custody, and property matters. Online access to Knox County court records is limited, so most people contact the clerk's office directly by phone or mail, or visit in person at the courthouse in Benjamin. This page covers how to find records, what fees to expect, and what resources are available to help.

Knox County District Clerk

The District Clerk in Benjamin holds all divorce records for Knox County. The 110th Judicial District Court serves Knox County along with neighboring King County, and judges rotate through on a set schedule. The clerk's office handles filings, case storage, and public records requests. Staff can search by name or cause number during regular business hours. Because this is a small rural county, the volume of cases is modest and the staff generally knows the records well.

Knox County does not have a public online case search portal. The statewide re:SearchTX system may include some Knox County case data, but coverage for small counties varies. Your most reliable option is calling the clerk's office directly at (940) 658-3200 and providing the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce.

Mail requests should include both party names, the approximate filing year, and payment by check or money order made out to the Knox County District Clerk. Confirm fees before sending payment by calling the office.

Searching Knox County Divorce Records

To search for a Knox County divorce case, call the District Clerk at (940) 658-3200. Give them both party names and the approximate year the divorce was filed. The clerk will check the index and let you know if the case is on file. If you have the cause number, that makes the search faster. For recent cases, the file is likely in active storage. Older cases may be archived but are still retrievable.

Check the statewide re:SearchTX portal first if you want to confirm a case number before calling. That system covers many Texas courts and may have Knox County index data for more recent cases. Document images and certified copies are not available through that portal and require a direct request to the clerk.

For statewide divorce verification, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit at dshs.texas.gov/vs can issue a letter confirming a divorce occurred in Texas for cases dating back to 1968. This is useful when you need to prove the divorce happened without ordering the full file from the county.

Filing for Divorce in Knox County

To file in Knox County, you need to meet the Texas residency requirement under Texas Family Code section 6.301. That means at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Knox County for 90 days before the petition date. If you have not been in the county long enough, you will need to wait or file in a county where you do meet the requirement.

Texas allows no-fault divorce on the ground of "insupportability" under Texas Family Code section 6.001. That means the marriage can no longer continue because of conflict or discord and there is no reasonable hope of reconciliation. This is the most common ground used in Texas. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, abandonment, felony conviction, or living apart are also available in other sections of the Family Code.

After you file the petition, the 60-day waiting period starts under Texas Family Code section 6.702. The court cannot grant the divorce until that window closes. For agreed cases where both parties have settled all terms, the final decree can be signed shortly after the 60 days are up. Property division follows Texas Family Code Chapter 7, which requires the court to divide marital property in a just and right manner.

Knox County Divorce Fees

Filing a divorce petition in Knox County costs approximately $290 for a case without children. Cases with children run a bit more due to additional required filings. These are estimates. The clerk can give you the exact current amount when you call or visit. Fees can change when the state updates the statutory surcharges that counties collect.

Copies of existing records cost about $1 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $1 per page plus $5 per document for the certification. If you need more than one document certified, each one carries its own $5 fee. Send checks or money orders made out to the Knox County District Clerk. Confirm the exact total before mailing payment.

If you cannot afford to pay, file the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with your petition. The form is at txcourts.gov/rules-forms or at the courthouse. The judge reviews your finances and decides whether to grant a partial or full waiver.

What Knox County Divorce Files Contain

A Knox County divorce file starts with the Original Petition for Divorce and contains all documents filed throughout the case. The petition names both parties, states the grounds for divorce, and asks the court for specific relief. The Citation and service records show how and when the other spouse was notified. All of these documents become part of the permanent court record.

The Final Decree of Divorce is the central document in any divorce file. It is the judge's signed order that ends the marriage. The decree covers property division under Texas Family Code Chapter 7, conservatorship and possession for any children, child support calculated under Texas Family Code Chapter 154, and any spousal maintenance the court orders. A certified copy of this document is required for most post-divorce legal changes.

Other documents in the file may include temporary orders entered early in the case, income withholding orders for child support, and any agreements reached between the parties. Financial affidavits submitted during the case may be sealed. Ask the clerk which documents are publicly accessible for the specific case you need.

Legal Help for Knox County Residents

North and West Texas residents, including those in Knox County, can contact Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas for free legal help in family law matters. They serve people who meet income guidelines. The State Bar of Texas referral line at (800) 252-9690 connects you with licensed attorneys in the area. Search for a local attorney at texasbar.com.

Free self-help divorce guides are at texaslawhelp.org, and official court forms are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The Texas State Law Library's divorce guide at guides.sll.texas.gov/divorce covers the entire process in plain language and is freely available online. These resources are especially useful in remote counties like Knox where access to in-person legal help can be limited.

The Texas Judicial Branch provides information on courts, judges, and filing resources for all counties in the state.

The Texas Judicial Branch website lists court contact information and resources for residents in all 254 counties, including small rural counties like Knox.

Cities in Knox County

Benjamin is the county seat of Knox County. Knox City is another community in the county. No cities in Knox County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All divorce cases for county residents go through the District Clerk's office in Benjamin.

Nearby Counties

Knox County borders Baylor, Haskell, Jones, King, Foard, and Wilbarger counties. File for divorce in the county where you have lived for the past 90 days.

Baylor County | Haskell County | Jones County | King County | Wilbarger County