Upton County Divorce Decree Records

Upton County divorce decree records are kept by the combined County and District Clerk's office in Rankin, Texas. In Upton County, one elected official serves as both County Clerk and District Clerk, which means all court records, including divorce filings and final decrees, go through the same office. If you need to search for a divorce case in Upton County, request a certified copy of a final decree, or look up older records, the clerk's office at 205 East 10th in Rankin is where you start. Online access is available through multiple portals for cases from 1984 and later.

Upton County Clerk and District Clerk

In Upton County, the same elected official serves as both County Clerk and District Clerk. LaWanda McMurray has held both positions since January 1, 2009. The office is at P.O. Box 465, 205 East 10th, Rankin, Texas 79778. The main phone is (432) 693-2861. Separate deputy clerks handle different divisions: Bobbie Lane handles District Court Records, Mary Pruett handles Official Public Records, and Sandra Aquino handles County Court Records.

The office has specific research hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. No appointment is needed, but it is still encouraged. The office limits the number of people in the clerk's office at one time to four. A drop-off box inside the clerk's office is available for documents that need to be recorded, though same-day recording is not available. If you are visiting Rankin to research divorce records, call ahead to make sure staff are available and to confirm what you need to bring.

Search Upton County Divorce Records Online

Upton County offers several ways to access divorce decree records remotely. For Official Public Records from 1984 to the present, visit TexasLandRecords.com. County and District Court records from 2000 to the present are available at idocket.com. District Records from July 2016 forward are also searchable through the statewide re:SearchTX system. These options let you look up cases and check basic file details without driving to Rankin.

For full document access, including certified copies of a final divorce decree, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. Call (432) 693-2861 and ask for Bobbie Lane, the deputy for District Court Records. She can confirm whether a case file exists, what documents are in it, and how to request copies. Allow time for processing, especially for older records that may not be digitized. Mail requests should go to P.O. Box 465, Rankin, TX 79778 and include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by money order or cashier's check.

For a quick divorce confirmation without getting the full decree, the Texas Department of State Health Services at dshs.texas.gov maintains a statewide divorce index. A verification letter from DSHS can confirm that a divorce took place in Texas and is often faster than requesting court documents.

The Upton County Clerk's page lists all online access options for Official Public Records, County Court records, and District Records including divorce decrees.

Texas courts online systems, including re:SearchTX and eFile Texas, cover Upton County divorce cases from July 2016 forward.

Upton County Divorce Filing Fees

Upton County uses a district court fee schedule for divorce filings. Based on the county's published fee documents, district court costs include an issuance of citation fee ($50), steno fee ($8), law library fee ($15), records management and preservation fund fee ($10), and a security fee ($35). These individual fees combine with state statutory charges to form the total base cost of a divorce filing. The total generally falls in line with other small Texas counties at around $300 or so. Contact the clerk at (432) 693-2861 to confirm current amounts, since fee schedules are updated from time to time.

The 2024 filing fee update covers Official Public Record filings at $25 for the first page and $4 for each additional page. Marriage license fees are $67, with certified copies running $10. These are County Clerk fees, separate from the District Clerk's divorce filing costs. Both sets of fees are available on the Upton County website at co.upton.tx.us.

Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification charge. Fee waivers are available under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 for those who cannot pay. Official forms for requesting a waiver are at txcourts.gov. The court reviews the application and determines if a waiver is appropriate.

Filing for Divorce in Upton County

Divorce cases in Upton County go through the 112th District Court. All cases are governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Every document from the original petition to the final decree is stored at the combined Clerk's office in Rankin.

The residency requirement applies before any divorce can be filed. Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Upton County for at least 90 days. Upton County is a small West Texas county carved out of Tom Green County in 1887. Most people filing here have long-established ties to Rankin and the surrounding area.

Texas allows no-fault divorce on the ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code Section 6.001. You do not need to prove fault for the marriage to end. Fault grounds like cruelty or abandonment are also available. After filing, the 60-day waiting period under Texas Family Code Section 6.702 must pass before the final decree can be granted. That period begins when the petition is filed, not when the other party is served.

Community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7 govern how marital assets and debts are divided. The court splits the community estate in a just and right manner. Each spouse keeps separate property. If spousal maintenance is at issue, Texas Family Code Chapter 8 sets the rules for those payments.

Contents of Upton County Divorce Decrees

A divorce case file at the Upton County Clerk and District Clerk's office contains the full record of the proceeding. The original petition starts the file. As the case moves forward, additional documents are added: citations, service returns, any temporary orders for custody or support, financial disclosures, and the final agreed or contested decree. All of these become part of the permanent court record.

The Final Decree of Divorce is the document most people need to obtain. It is the court order that legally ends the marriage. It sets out property division, debt allocation, conservatorship of any children, the possession schedule, child support if applicable, and any spousal maintenance ordered. Certified copies of this decree are needed for a name change, real estate transaction, retirement account update, or any other legal matter that depends on proof of divorce.

Upton County has held court records and divorce records going back to 1910. Most records from the digital era are accessible through idocket.com or re:SearchTX. Older paper records are stored at the courthouse in Rankin and require a direct request to the clerk's office. Most records are public, with limited exceptions for sealed documents.

Legal Resources for Upton County

Upton County residents can find legal aid through West Texas Legal Services, which covers the Permian Basin region. Income-eligible clients can get help with family law matters including divorce and custody. Contact information and eligibility guidelines are available through TexasLawHelp.org, which also has self-help guides and official court forms for filing without an attorney in Texas.

The Texas State Law Library divorce guide covers the entire process step by step and links to every form you need. All official court forms are at txcourts.gov. For a family law attorney referral in the Rankin or West Texas area, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690. For child support enforcement and services, contact the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division, which operates across all Texas counties.

Cities in Upton County

No qualifying cities over 100,000 population are located in Upton County. Rankin is the county seat and the location of the District Court. All divorce cases for the county are filed and maintained there.

Nearby Counties

Upton County is in West Texas and borders these counties. Confirm where you have lived for 90 days to make sure you file in the right county.