Travis County Divorce Decree Records

Travis County divorce decree records are filed and maintained by the District Clerk's Family Division in Austin, Texas. As the home of the state capital, Travis County handles one of the highest volumes of divorce filings in Texas. The Family Division is the official custodian of all divorce case files, from the original petition through the signed final decree. You can search records online through the county portal, use the statewide re:SearchTX system, request copies by mail, or visit in person at the Civil and Family Court Facility on Guadalupe Street.

Travis County District Clerk - Family Division

The Travis County District Clerk is a constitutional office created by the Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 9. Velva L. Price currently serves as District Clerk. The Family Division within that office is specifically responsible for divorce decree records and all other family law case files. The division handles care, custody, and control of all documents filed in district court, including divorces, suits affecting the parent-child relationship, name changes, and adoptions.

The main District Clerk office is at 1000 Guadalupe Street, Room 103 in Austin. That address handles filing and general inquiries. For in-person access to civil and family case records, go to the Civil and Family Court Facility at 1700 Guadalupe, Room 3.200, Austin, TX 78701. Office hours for records access run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office at traviscountytx.gov has full contact details and links to the online search portal.

Search Travis County Divorce Records

Travis County public court records are available for online viewing at no cost. The District Clerk's online court records portal covers family and civil cases from 2006 to the present. You can search by name, case number, or date filed. The portal is accessible through traviscountytx.gov on the case information and records page. Cases before 2006 require a direct request to the clerk's office.

The statewide re:SearchTX system also covers Travis County. It gives you free access to docket entries and case details across Texas district courts. Travis County District Clerk is integrated with re:SearchTX. Once you register, you can receive alerts on active cases and view documents filed electronically. The same login works for eFile Texas, where you can file documents into open cases remotely.

You have three ways to request official copies of a Travis County divorce decree. Online requests go through the Court Records Request Form on the district clerk's website. Mail requests go to Travis County District Clerk, Records Request, P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767. In-person requests are handled at 1700 Guadalupe, Room 3.200. Documents being filed into sealed cases go to a separate email: dcsealedrecords@traviscountytx.gov. If you want to schedule a hearing in a contested case, call the Court Administrator at (512) 854-2484.

Marriage records in Travis County come from the County Clerk, not the District Clerk. The County Clerk's office is at 5501 Airport Blvd., Austin, (512) 854-9188. Birth and death records come from the Office of Vital Records at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C. Divorce records are the District Clerk's responsibility alone.

The Travis County divorce filing page walks through exactly what to bring when you file and what happens after the petition is stamped and assigned a cause number.

The Texas courts system integrates with Travis County's filing and search tools, making it possible to access Austin divorce decree case records without visiting the courthouse.

Travis County Divorce Decree Fees

Travis County publishes a detailed breakdown of family court filing fees. The total base fee for a divorce case is $350, made up of both local and state components. The local consolidated fee is $213 and the state consolidated fee is $137. The local portion breaks down as: Clerk's Basic Filing Fee ($50), Law Library Fee ($35), Records Preservation/Management Fee ($30), General Court Reporter Fee ($25), Courthouse Security Fund ($20), Court Facility Fund ($20), Alternative Dispute Resolution Fee ($15), County Jury Fund ($10), Appellate Judicial System Fee ($5), and Language Access Fund ($3).

The District Clerk accepts personal or business checks, cashier's checks, money orders, credit cards, and cash. Credit card payments carry a non-refundable 3% convenience fee with a minimum charge of $3. If you are paying at the courthouse, bring exact payment if possible. Filing fees are due at the time of filing.

Certified copies of a divorce decree cost $1 per page plus $5 for certification. Non-certified copies are $1 per page. The search fee to have staff look up a record is $5. If you cannot afford these fees, Texas allows you to file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Official forms are at txcourts.gov. The court reviews the request and can waive fees for those who qualify.

Filing for Divorce in Travis County

Travis County divorces are filed in one of several family district courts in Austin. All cases follow Texas Family Code Chapter 6. When you bring your completed Original Petition for Divorce to the clerk's office, it gets file stamped, assigned a cause number, and placed on a court's docket. Have that cause number and court assignment handy when you contact the office about your case.

Before filing, confirm the residency requirements. Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Travis County for at least 90 days. Austin is the state capital, and many people move here frequently. Make sure your 90-day count in Travis County is complete before you file.

All documents must be single-sided. Filing fees are due at time of filing. After filing, the clerk's office stamps and assigns your case. Travis County has a unique requirement: during the 60-day waiting period required by Texas Family Code Section 6.702, you must also contact the Travis County Law Library for a mandatory case review. That step is specific to Travis County and must be completed before the final hearing.

If the other party was served and filed an answer, you need to schedule a hearing with the Court Administrator at (512) 854-2484 and notify them of the hearing date. If you reach an agreement with your spouse, an agreed decree can be submitted for the judge's signature once the 60 days have passed. Most people file on the no-fault ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code Section 6.001.

Property division follows community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7. A Vital Statistic Form must be completed and filed with the Final Order in all Travis County divorce cases. Child support, if ordered, must be paid through the State Disbursement Unit at P.O. Box 659791, San Antonio, Texas 78265-9941. Spousal maintenance rules are governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 8.

What Travis County Divorce Records Contain

Travis County divorce case files held by the Family Division contain every document filed from start to finish. The original petition opens the file. Temporary orders, financial disclosures, service documents, and mediation agreements all become part of the record as the case moves through the court. The final signed decree closes the file. That decree is the court order ending the marriage, and it sets out property division, conservatorship, support, and any other terms the court imposes or the parties agree to.

Certified copies of a Travis County divorce decree are often needed for legal tasks including name changes, updating Social Security records, real estate closings, retirement account changes, and insurance updates. The clerk's office can certify copies. Plan for a per-page cost plus the certification charge. Certified copies ordered online through the District Clerk's Court Records Request Form are mailed to you after processing.

Most Travis County divorce records are public. The online portal shows civil and family cases from 2006 forward. Older records require an in-person or mail request. Sealed documents and records tied to protective orders may not be publicly accessible. The clerk's office can tell you what parts of a specific case file are open to the public. The Texas DSHS at dshs.texas.gov can issue a verification letter if proof of the divorce is all you need without getting the full case file.

Legal Help for Austin and Travis County

Austin has a range of legal resources for people navigating divorce. Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas offers free and low-cost legal help to income-eligible residents. Lone Star Legal Aid also serves the Austin area with family law services. You can find eligibility information for both organizations through TexasLawHelp.org. That site has self-help guides, official court forms, and links to local legal aid programs across Central Texas.

The Travis County Law Library, which you are required to contact during the 60-day waiting period, also provides resources for self-represented filers. It is an important stop in the Travis County divorce process. The Texas State Law Library divorce guide is also a free online resource covering every step of the process. All official court forms are at txcourts.gov. For a lawyer referral in the Austin area, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690. For child support services, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division handles all counties in the state.

Cities in Travis County

Travis County is home to Austin, the state capital of Texas and the county's largest city. All divorce cases in Travis County are filed at the Travis County District Court in Austin.

Nearby Counties

Travis County is in Central Texas and is surrounded by several counties. Confirm where you have lived for at least 90 days before filing. You must file in the county that meets the residency requirement.