Denton County Divorce Records

Divorce records for Denton city residents are held by the Denton County District Clerk, which is the official custodian of all district court case files in the county. Denton is both the county seat and the largest city in Denton County. If you need to find a divorce case, request a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, or check a cause number, contact the Denton County District Clerk at 1450 E McKinney Street. The clerk's office accepts requests in person, by mail, by fax, and by email, and it has offered electronic filing since 2012.

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Denton County District Clerk Location

The Denton County District Clerk is led by the Honorable David Trantham, who is elected every four years. The office serves as the registrar, recorder, and custodian of all pleadings, instruments, and papers filed in Denton County district courts. That includes all family law cases, civil cases over $250,000, and felony criminal records. All Denton divorce records are permanently maintained here.

The District Clerk's office is in Denton at 1450 E McKinney Street, 1st Floor. The mailing address is P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The office has two phone numbers: 940-349-2200 for the main line and 972-434-8822 as an additional contact. Fax requests can be sent to 940-349-5754.

Office	Denton County District Clerk - The Honorable David Trantham
Physical Address	1450 E McKinney Street, 1st Floor Denton, TX 76209
Mailing Address	P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202
Phone	940-349-2200 \| 972-434-8822
Fax	940-349-5754
Hours	Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Website	dentoncounty.gov/Departments/District-Clerk

The District Clerk maintains records only for district courts within Denton County. It does NOT maintain zoning, permitting, fire code, or other non-court county records. All civil and criminal district court records, including divorce and family law cases, are within the clerk's scope.

The Denton County District Clerk page at dentoncounty.gov provides record request forms, e-filing information, and contact details for Denton divorce records.

Denton County District Clerk - Denton divorce records

The District Clerk page includes copy request forms, e-filing guidance, and information on the Standardized Protective Order Forms used in Denton County family courts.

How to Search Denton Divorce Records

To request a divorce record from Denton County, you must complete a Record Request Form. No record requests or research are performed without this completed form. You can get the form at dentoncounty.gov/Departments/District-Clerk/Copy-Requests. Submit the completed form in person at 1450 E McKinney Street, by mail to P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202, by fax to 940-349-5754, or by email to District Court Records through the contact listed on the county website.

For online searches, Denton County has its own Judicial Records Search Portal. You can search by local court, party names, or cause number. Case records and dockets are available for many cases. The statewide re:SearchTX system also includes Denton County records and requires a free account to access. Electronic copies of orders and notices require a re:SearchTX account registration.

Denton County has 12 district courts: the 16th, 158th, 211th, 362nd, 367th, 393rd, 431st, 442nd, 462nd, 467th, 477th, and 481st District Courts. Family law matters, including divorce, are assigned to specific family district courts within this group. If you know which court handled your case, you can contact that court directly. The District Clerk's office can also tell you which court your case is assigned to once they locate the file.

E-filing has been available in Denton County since 2012 for self-represented parties, attorneys, mediators, and court liaisons. The electronic filing page is at dentoncounty.gov/Departments/District-Clerk/Electronic-Filing.

Filing for Divorce in Denton

Denton residents follow Texas state law when filing for divorce under Texas Family Code Chapter 6. The case goes to Denton County District Court. Denton County is part of the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and has grown significantly in recent years. The District Clerk's office handles a high volume of family law filings.

The residency requirement under Texas Family Code § 6.301 requires at least one spouse to have lived in Texas for six months and in Denton County for at least 90 days before the case is filed. Denton city residents who have been in Denton County for 90 days or more can file here, as long as the six-month Texas residency is also satisfied.

Texas allows divorce without proving fault. The no-fault ground is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001, which applies when the marriage has broken down due to conflict or discord to the point where reconciliation is not reasonably possible. This is the most commonly used ground in Denton County and across Texas. Fault grounds under Texas law include cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment for at least one year, living apart for three years, and mental hospital confinement.

Denton County has Standing Orders that apply automatically to divorce cases involving children. There is a Standing Order Regarding Children, Property, and Conduct of Parties, and another regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in court submissions. Standardized Protective Order Forms are also available in PDF format from the District Clerk's website. These orders take effect when a divorce petition is filed and continue until the case is resolved.

Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period after the divorce petition is filed before the divorce can be finalized. Denton County may impose additional local requirements for cases involving children.

Denton Divorce Filing Fees

Denton County divorce filing fees are similar to those in other Texas metro counties, running approximately $350 for a case without children and more for cases with minor children. Contact the Denton County District Clerk at 940-349-2200 for the current fee schedule. Fees can change, so always confirm before submitting payment.

Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certification on top of the per-page rate. A search fee of $5 applies when no cause number is provided. If you fax or email a request, fees may still be paid in person or by mail. Check the clerk's website for the current accepted payment methods.

If you cannot pay the filing fee, you can request a waiver. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. People receiving public benefits or with income below 125% of the federal poverty guideline generally qualify. The form is at txcourts.gov. Bring it to the courthouse or submit it with your petition by mail.

Legal Help for Denton Divorce Cases

Denton residents have access to several legal resources for divorce cases. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas serves Denton County and handles family law matters for qualifying low-income individuals. The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a family law attorney in Denton County. Their online directory at texasbar.com lets you search by city and practice area.

TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has self-help divorce guides and packet instructions for people filing on their own. All official divorce forms are free at txcourts.gov. These include the petition, citation, waiver of service, financial statements, and the final decree form for every type of case. The Texas eFile portal at selfhelp.efiletexas.gov helps pro se filers submit documents electronically in Denton County.

For cases with children, Denton County's Standing Order on Children and Property takes effect the moment you file. Make sure you understand what the order requires before filing. Child support is calculated using the guidelines in Texas Family Code Chapter 154, based on the paying parent's net monthly income and the number of children.

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