Washington County Divorce Decree Search

Washington County divorce decree records are kept at the District Clerk's office on the third floor of the Washington County Courthouse in Brenham. The District Clerk files all divorces, parent-child relationship cases, adoptions, and name changes for both the 21st and 335th Judicial District Courts and the County Court at Law. If you need to search for a divorce case or obtain a certified copy of a final decree, the District Clerk is where you start.

Washington County District Clerk

The Washington County District Clerk is Carli Koehne. This office is responsible for filing all felony criminal cases following indictment and all civil lawsuits in the 21st and 335th Judicial District Courts. It also files all divorces, parent-child relationship matters, adoptions, name changes, and Attorney General Child Support cases for the County Court at Law.

The District Clerk also handles jury selection, fees, subpoenas, temporary restraining orders, and other court documents. The office is on the third floor of the Washington County Courthouse in Brenham. Naturalization records dating back to the mid-1800s are also available in this office, which gives it one of the longer historical records in the region.

Search Washington County Divorce Decree Records

Washington County civil records, including some divorce cases, are available online through idocket.com. The county's civil court page notes that some records are accessible through this portal. Availability depends on the age of the case and what the county has uploaded to the system. For older or less common records, an in-person visit or mail request is often needed.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal is another option. This system covers courts across Texas and allows you to search by party name or cause number. Create a free account to view documents and track case activity. As of January 1, 2016, attorneys filing civil and family law cases in Washington County must use e-filing through eFileTexas.

For in-person searches, go to the courthouse at 100 E. Main St. in Brenham. Staff on the third floor will search by name or cause number and make copies. Bring your photo ID. Mail requests are also accepted. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope, the names of both parties, and the approximate year of the divorce.

Washington County Divorce Fees

Washington County has two sets of filing fees depending on the type of case. For a divorce where the spouse signs a waiver, the filing fee is $268.00. For a divorce that requires a citation to be served within Washington County, the fee is $353.00. Service in another county or state costs more and varies by location.

Other fees at the County Court at Law level include: filing a new civil case at $350.00, local service at $85.00 per citation, and issuance of citation at $8.00. Copies of court documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. The full fee list is on the county's civil court page at co.washington.tx.us/page/washington.fees.

If you cannot pay court costs, file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. Forms are available at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The court reviews your financial situation and decides if you qualify for a waiver.

Divorce Decree Process in Washington County

Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Washington County for 90 days before filing. The process starts when you bring your original petition and two copies to the District Clerk's office to be filed. The clerk assigns a cause number, and the case is placed in one of the two district courts.

Texas allows no-fault divorce under Section 6.001. The grounds are insupportability, which means the marriage cannot continue due to irreconcilable conflict. If both spouses agree, the other spouse can sign a waiver of service instead of being formally served with citation. That saves money and time.

The required 60-day waiting period under Section 6.702 begins on the day the petition is filed. After 60 days, if everything is agreed, both spouses can appear before the judge to finalize the decree. Contested cases that involve property disputes, child custody, or other issues take longer. Mediation is often required before a contested case goes to trial.

Property is divided under Texas Family Code Chapter 7 using community property rules. The court decides what is fair based on the circumstances of the marriage. Separate property goes back to the owner without being divided.

Contents of Washington County Divorce Decrees

The Final Decree of Divorce is the official court order that ends the marriage. It names both parties, states the grounds for divorce, and sets out the terms of the settlement. For cases with children, the decree includes conservatorship and possession orders, as well as any child support amounts. If spousal maintenance was ordered under Chapter 8, that is in the decree as well.

The court file also contains the original petition, financial disclosures, any temporary orders issued during the case, and the Bureau of Vital Statistics form required for all Texas divorces. Most Washington County divorce records are public. Some sensitive financial exhibits and records involving minor children may be restricted by court order or state law.

For a quick check on whether a divorce happened, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office keeps a statewide divorce index from 1968 forward. It can confirm a divorce took place but does not issue certified copies. Certified copies come only from the Washington County District Clerk in Brenham.

Note: Washington County has civil records available online through idocket.com. Check there before making a trip to the courthouse.

Help with Washington County Divorce Cases

Several resources are available to Washington County residents working through a divorce. The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov/divorce has a free step-by-step guide for Texas divorce cases. TexasLawHelp.org has self-help materials for divorce, custody, and child support matters.

Official court forms are on the Texas courts website at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The State Bar of Texas refers people to family law attorneys at (800) 252-9690 or online at texasbar.com. If child support needs to be enforced or modified after the decree, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division can help.

The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics office maintains a statewide divorce index that can be used to verify Washington County divorces from 1968 forward.

The DSHS divorce index is useful for verifying that a divorce occurred, but for certified copies of the decree, contact the Washington County District Clerk in Brenham.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County includes Brenham and several smaller communities. All divorce cases in the county go through the Washington County District Court. No cities in Washington County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Communities in Washington County include Brenham, Burton, Chappell Hill, and Somerville. All divorce filings go through the District Clerk at the Washington County Courthouse in Brenham.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Washington County. File in the county where at least one spouse has lived for the required 90 days.