El Paso Divorce Records Search
Divorce records in El Paso are maintained by the El Paso County District Clerk, which is the official custodian of all family law case files for the county. If you need to find a divorce case, request a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, or look up the status of a filing, you start with the District Clerk. El Paso is both the county seat and the largest city in El Paso County. The clerk's office accepts record requests by email, and the county website provides access to its District Clerk page with contact details and fee information.
El Paso Overview
El Paso County District Clerk
All divorce records for El Paso city residents are held by the El Paso County District Clerk. The office is located in downtown El Paso at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103. The District Clerk maintains hundreds of thousands of case files, covering civil cases, criminal felony cases, and family law matters including divorce. This is the only office in the county that holds complete divorce decrees and case files.
The El Paso County District Clerk serves the Eighth Court of Appeals district. The office handles record requests through its Customer Service Division. Both file requests and copy requests can be submitted by email to districtclerk@epcounty.com. The office also handles passports, adoptions, and expungements in addition to divorce records.
| Office | El Paso County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103 El Paso, Texas 79901 |
| Phone | (915) 273-3534 |
| Fax | (915) 273-3859 |
| districtclerk@epcounty.com | |
| Website | epcounty.com/districtclerk |
The El Paso County main website is at epcounty.com. From there you can navigate to the District Clerk, find the fee schedule PDF, and get links to the self-help e-filing portal. The fee schedule was updated pursuant to SB 1612 from the 87th Texas Legislature, so check the current PDF before submitting payment.
The El Paso County District Clerk page at epcounty.com/districtclerk provides contact information, fee schedules, and record request procedures for El Paso divorce records.
The District Clerk page includes links to the fee schedule PDF, e-filing portal, and information on how to request copies of case files and divorce decrees.
How to Search El Paso Divorce Records
You can request El Paso divorce records by email, in person, or through the Texas eFile system. The District Clerk's Customer Service Division handles all records requests. Send your request to districtclerk@epcounty.com. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and the case number if you have it.
For online searching, El Paso County uses a custom case management system. You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX portal, which covers district court records from multiple Texas counties. The self-help e-filing portal at selfhelp.efiletexas.gov is available for pro se filers who need to submit documents electronically without an attorney.
When requesting records in person, go to Suite 103 at 500 E. San Antonio. Staff in the Customer Service Division can search by party name or case number and tell you what is in the file. Convenience fees apply for some payment methods, as noted on the District Clerk website. If you are requesting a large file or old case, call ahead at (915) 273-3534 to confirm the file is available and on-site.
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics also maintains a statewide divorce index from 1968 to present. A verification letter from DSHS confirms that a divorce occurred and gives basic details but does not include the full decree. It costs $20 and is often enough for name change or insurance purposes.
Filing for Divorce in El Paso
El Paso residents filing for divorce follow the rules in Texas Family Code Chapter 6. The case is filed at El Paso County District Court, and the District Clerk processes and maintains the file. El Paso County falls under the Eighth Court of Appeals, so any appeals from district court go to that court.
The residency rule under Texas Family Code § 6.301 requires that at least one spouse have lived in Texas for six months and in El Paso County for at least 90 days before the case can be filed. If both spouses recently moved to El Paso from another state or county, you may need to wait before you qualify to file here.
Texas allows no-fault divorce under Texas Family Code § 6.001, using the ground of insupportability. This means the marriage has become insupportable because of conflict or discord that prevents any chance of reconciliation. You do not need to prove fault. Fault-based grounds include cruelty, adultery, felony conviction with imprisonment, abandonment for at least one year, living apart for three years, and confinement in a mental hospital. El Paso County residents can use any ground available under state law.
The filing process begins with the Original Petition for Divorce. The responding spouse must be served with the petition and a citation, unless they sign a Waiver of Service. After service, the case moves through negotiation, mediation if needed, and either an agreed final decree or a contested trial. Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period after filing before any divorce can be finalized.
El Paso County has a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form available through the District Clerk for those who cannot pay the filing fee. The self-help portal at selfhelp.efiletexas.gov can assist pro se filers with electronic filing.
El Paso Divorce Filing Fees
El Paso County divorce filing fees follow the state schedule updated by SB 1612 from the 87th Texas Legislature. Typical filing fees in El Paso County are around $300 to $350 for a divorce without children, with additional fees for cases involving minor children. The current fee schedule is available as a PDF on the District Clerk's website at epcounty.com/districtclerk.
Additional costs you may face include:
- Process server or constable fees: $75 to $125
- Certified copies of divorce decree: $1 per page plus $5 certification fee
- Non-certified copies: $1 per page
- Search fee (if no case number): $5
- Convenience fee for certain payment methods
If you can't afford the fees, you can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Forms are available at the clerk's office or on the Texas Courts website. People receiving public assistance or with income below 125% of the federal poverty line generally qualify. The ADA accessibility coordinator at the El Paso County District Clerk can assist with any accommodation needs during the process.
Legal Resources for El Paso Divorces
El Paso has legal aid resources for residents who need help with divorce but cannot afford a private attorney. Lone Star Legal Aid covers the El Paso area. Their website at lonestarlegal.org has details on income eligibility and the types of family law cases they handle. Call their offices to ask about availability and intake procedures.
The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 connects you with licensed family law attorneys in El Paso County. Their online directory at texasbar.com lets you filter by practice area and location. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has self-help divorce guides in both English and Spanish, which is useful in El Paso where many residents are bilingual. The El Paso County District Clerk website also notes that fee information is available in English and Spanish.
The Texas Courts website at txcourts.gov has all official Supreme Court approved divorce forms. These are the same forms used across Texas and cover all situations from simple uncontested divorces to cases involving children. The Texas eFile self-help portal at selfhelp.efiletexas.gov guides you through electronic submission of divorce documents if you are filing without an attorney.
Note: El Paso County District Clerk offers passport processing services at the same office. If you need to update a passport after a name change from divorce, you can handle that at the same location.El Paso County Divorce Records
El Paso is the county seat of El Paso County, and all divorce filings for city residents are processed by the El Paso County District Court. The county clerk's office handles the full case file from filing through final decree. For more information on court procedures, search portals, and county-level resources, visit the El Paso County divorce records page.