Tyler County Divorce Decree Records
Tyler County is an East Texas county with its seat in Woodville. Tyler County divorce decree records are maintained by the District Clerk's office at the Tyler County Courthouse on West Bluff Street in Woodville. This is not the city of Tyler, which is located in Smith County to the north. The Tyler County District Clerk handles all family law filings for this county, including divorce cases, and can help you search records, obtain certified copies of final decrees, and answer questions about child support referrals. If you need a divorce record from this part of East Texas, Woodville is the right place to contact.
Tyler County Overview
Tyler County District Clerk
The Tyler County District Clerk's office is the official keeper of divorce decree records for Tyler County, Texas. The courthouse is at 100 W. Bluff St. in Woodville. The District Clerk handles district court records while the County Clerk maintains separate records for birth, marriage, death, and probate. Divorce records are exclusively a District Clerk responsibility in Tyler County. The clerk's office can be reached by phone at (409) 283-2162 for divorce record inquiries and child support questions.
According to the county's official FAQ page, divorce is handled through the Tyler County District Clerk's office, and child support questions also go through that same office. The County Clerk at 116 South Charlton Street handles other official records including real property imaging, which is available on CD at $30 per month for entities that request it. The Tyler County Courthouse at 100 W. Bluff St. is the starting point for anyone seeking divorce records from this East Texas county.
| Office | Tyler County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Courthouse Address | 100 W. Bluff St. Woodville, TX 75979 |
| Phone | (409) 283-2162 |
| County Main | (409) 283-2141 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Official Records | co.tyler.tx.us |
Search Tyler County Divorce Records
The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Tyler County and gives you free access to district court case information online. You can search by party name or cause number and see docket entries and basic case details. For recent filings, re:SearchTX is a solid first step. For older records or if you need full documents, contacting the District Clerk at (409) 283-2162 is the right move.
Tyler County's official public records page at co.tyler.tx.us has an FAQ section that confirms divorce records are held by the District Clerk's office. It also explains that child support matters go through the same office. This page is a good reference for understanding how different types of records are organized across the county's offices before you make a records request.
For certified copies of a Tyler County divorce decree, call the District Clerk at (409) 283-2162 first to confirm what you need to bring or include with your request. Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, a money order or cashier's check for fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. In-person visits to the courthouse in Woodville are also welcome during business hours.
If you need only a quick confirmation that a divorce happened in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services at dshs.texas.gov can issue a divorce verification letter from the statewide index. That is faster than ordering the full decree if verification is all you need.
The Tyler County Official Public Records page confirms that divorce records and child support matters are both handled through the District Clerk's office in Woodville.
The Texas DSHS maintains a statewide divorce registry that covers cases from Tyler County and other East Texas counties going back many decades.
Tyler County Divorce Filing Costs
Tyler County divorce filing fees follow the Texas state schedule plus local court costs. Across Texas counties of this size, the base fee to file a divorce typically runs between $275 and $350. The exact amount in Tyler County includes statutory state fees, courthouse security charges, law library fees, and records management surcharges. Contact the District Clerk at (409) 283-2162 for the current fee schedule before filing.
Certified copies of a final decree cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification charge. Plain copies without certification are $1 per page. If you are mailing a records request, include a money order or cashier's check. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the documents to be returned to you. For in-person visits, the clerk can process your payment and hand over copies the same day.
Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford court costs. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. The court reviews your financial situation and decides whether a waiver applies. Official forms are at txcourts.gov.
Filing for Divorce in Tyler County
Tyler County divorces go through the district courts serving Woodville. The process is governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Every document filed from the petition to the final decree becomes a court record kept at the District Clerk's office in Woodville, Texas.
Before filing, the residency requirement must be met. Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Tyler County for at least 90 days prior to filing. Tyler County is in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, and most people who file here have lived in the area for a long time.
Texas allows no-fault divorce under the ground of insupportability as defined in Texas Family Code Section 6.001. Fault-based grounds like cruelty, adultery, abandonment, felony conviction, living apart, and confinement in a mental hospital are also available when the facts support them. After the petition is filed, a mandatory 60-day waiting period applies under Texas Family Code Section 6.702. The judge cannot grant the divorce before that period ends, except in cases involving family violence.
Property division follows community property rules in Texas Family Code Chapter 7. The court divides what was acquired during the marriage in a just and right manner. Separate property stays with the spouse who owns it. If spousal maintenance is part of the case, Texas Family Code Chapter 8 governs those provisions.
What Tyler County Divorce Records Contain
Divorce case files at the Tyler County District Clerk's office include the full record of the case from start to finish. The original petition for divorce opens the file. Temporary orders issued during the case, service of process documents, financial statements, settlement agreements, and any motions filed along the way all become part of the record. The Final Decree of Divorce closes it out. That signed court order ends the marriage and sets the terms both parties must follow.
The final decree covers all aspects of the dissolution: property and debt division, conservatorship of any children, the possession schedule for parenting time, child support amounts, and spousal maintenance if ordered. Certified copies of the decree are often required to handle legal matters that come up after the divorce is final, including updating titles, changing insurance beneficiaries, or modifying a Social Security record.
Most Tyler County divorce records are public. You do not have to be one of the parties to request copies. Some documents may be restricted by court order, particularly those tied to child safety issues or protective orders. The District Clerk can tell you what is available in any specific case. The county's District Clerk has maintained divorce records going back to the county's founding, with the District Clerk holding records on divorce and court matters across many decades.
Legal Help in Tyler County
People in Tyler County looking for legal assistance with a divorce can reach Southeast Texas Legal Services or check TexasLawHelp.org for legal aid options in the East Texas region. TexasLawHelp has self-help divorce guides, official court forms, and a directory of legal aid organizations serving rural counties. If you qualify based on income, you may be able to get free legal help with your divorce case in Woodville.
The Texas State Law Library divorce guide is a free online resource that covers the entire divorce process step by step. All official Texas court forms are available at txcourts.gov. For a referral to a family law attorney near Woodville, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690. The Tyler County District Clerk handles child support inquiries through their office. For broader child support enforcement services, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division operates statewide.
Cities in Tyler County
No qualifying cities over 100,000 population are located in Tyler County. Woodville is the county seat and the location of the District Court. All divorce cases for Tyler County are filed in Woodville, not in the city of Tyler, which is in Smith County.
Nearby Counties
Tyler County is in deep East Texas. It borders several counties in the Piney Woods region. Confirm your 90-day residency in the right county before filing for divorce.