Fort Worth Divorce Records Lookup

Fort Worth divorce records are maintained by the Tarrant County District Clerk, located at 100 N. Calhoun Street in downtown Fort Worth. If you need to find a divorce case or get a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, that office is your starting point. Tarrant County manages 27 district courts covering civil, family, and felony criminal cases. The District Clerk's office can be reached by phone at 817-884-1574, and staff can help you search cases, pull files, and make copies during regular business hours.

Where to File for Divorce in Fort Worth

Fort Worth residents file for divorce at the Tarrant County District Court. The Tarrant County District Clerk at 100 N. Calhoun Street is the custodian of all case files and handles records requests. Tarrant County is the county seat of the county, and Fort Worth sits at the center of it. The county covers Fort Worth and many surrounding communities including Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Euless, Bedford, and Hurst.

Tarrant County has 27 district courts, which is one of the largest court systems in Texas. The courts hear civil, family, and felony criminal cases. Family law cases, including divorces, go to one of the family district courts. The District Clerk manages business operations for all 27 courts and handles civil citations, criminal warrants, judgments, and sentences.

The Tarrant County website at tarrantcounty.com has sections for court agendas, dockets, and general county services. The District Clerk page links to case searches, e-filing, and records copy requests. A Web Access Account is available for subscribers who need frequent access to case data.

The Tarrant County District Clerk also offers self-help legal resources for people who are filing without an attorney. The court launched new jury management software in March 2026. If you have jury duty questions or want to look up court dates, that information is also available through the county website.

The City of Fort Worth at fortworthtexas.gov handles municipal services for residents. Divorce records, though, are filed and maintained by the Tarrant County District Clerk at 100 N. Calhoun Street.

How to Search Fort Worth Divorce Records

The Tarrant County District Clerk offers several ways to search and access divorce records. You can look up civil and family law case information on the county's Court Document Lookup tool through the District Clerk's website. The system shows party names, case status, and docket entries. It won't give you the full file, but it's useful for confirming that a case exists and finding a cause number.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal covers cases from Tarrant County and many other Texas counties. You can search by party name and filter by county and case type. If you find the case there, use the cause number to request a copy from the District Clerk directly.

In-person access is available at the courthouse. Staff at 100 N. Calhoun Street can look up cases and provide copies on request. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Calling ahead at 817-884-1574 is a good idea if you have questions about what to bring or how fees are calculated.

For those who need basic confirmation of a divorce without a full decree, the Texas Department of State Health Services at dshs.texas.gov issues verification letters for Texas divorces from 1968 to the present. A letter confirms the parties, the county, and the date. It's not the same as a certified copy of the decree, but it works for many legal purposes.

Divorce Filing Process in Fort Worth

Filing for divorce in Fort Worth means filing with the Tarrant County District Court under Texas state law. Each document you file becomes a record maintained by the District Clerk. Texas law sets the rules for everything from grounds to property division to when the divorce can be finalized.

You must meet the residency requirement before filing. Under Texas Family Code § 6.301, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Tarrant County for at least 90 days before filing.

The most common ground for divorce in Texas is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. It means the marriage can't continue because of conflict or discord with no hope of reconciliation. No fault needs to be proven. Fault grounds are also available if applicable. Cruelty under § 6.002, adultery under § 6.003, and felony conviction under § 6.004 are among the options. Abandonment, living apart, and confinement in a mental hospital are the remaining grounds under § 6.005, § 6.006, and § 6.007.

The petitioner files an Original Petition for Divorce and arranges for the other spouse to be served. If both parties agree on all terms, they can sign an agreed decree and finalize the case once the waiting period passes. Contested cases take longer and may involve temporary orders, mediation, and sometimes a trial. The District Clerk's e-filing system accepts filings from both attorneys and self-represented parties.

Fort Worth Divorce Fees

Filing fees for divorce in Tarrant County are set by the District Clerk. A standard divorce without children typically runs around $350. Cases involving children may cost more. Check with the District Clerk at 817-884-1574 or look at the fees section on the Tarrant County District Clerk website for current amounts.

Other costs you might run into include fees for serving the divorce papers on your spouse, certified copy fees for the final decree, and any costs for a parenting class if children are involved. The court may also require mediation in contested cases, which adds cost.

If the fees are a hardship, you can request a waiver using a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. You show the court your income and expenses, and a judge decides whether you qualify. People receiving public assistance or earning below 125% of the federal poverty line typically qualify. The form is available for free at txcourts.gov and at the District Clerk's office.

Legal Help for Divorce in Fort Worth

Several legal aid organizations serve Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Some offer free help for qualifying residents. Others provide low-cost consultations. Using these resources is worth it, even if you plan to file on your own.

Lone Star Legal Aid serves Tarrant County residents and handles family law cases. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org to check eligibility and apply. The Tarrant County Bar Association also has a lawyer referral program. The State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a family law attorney in the Fort Worth area. Search for attorneys at texasbar.com.

TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org provides free guides for navigating divorce in Texas without an attorney. Supreme Court Approved Divorce Forms are available at no cost at txcourts.gov. These forms cover divorces with and without children, and they are accepted by Tarrant County courts.

Filing on Your Own in Fort Worth

Many Fort Worth residents handle their own divorces without legal representation. If both parties agree on everything and the case is not complicated, it can be done. The process takes time and attention to detail, but the forms are free and help is available.

The Tarrant County District Clerk has self-help legal resources on its website. You can also file electronically through efile.txcourts.gov as a self-represented party. E-filing is available for civil and family cases. If you prefer to file in person, go to the courthouse at 100 N. Calhoun Street with your completed forms.

Texas is a community property state. Property and debt acquired during the marriage are generally subject to division. The judge divides these in a way that is just and right under Chapter 7 of the Texas Family Code. If children are part of the case, the court will require conservatorship, a parenting plan, and child support calculated under Texas Family Code Chapter 154. A parenting class may be required in Tarrant County before the divorce is finalized.

Tarrant County Divorce Records

Fort Worth is the county seat of Tarrant County. All divorce filings go through the Tarrant County District Court, and all records are kept by the District Clerk at 100 N. Calhoun Street. For more details on the county court system and how to get copies of divorce records, visit the Tarrant County divorce records page.

View Tarrant County Divorce Records

Nearby Texas Cities

Other major cities near Fort Worth also have divorce records pages with local court and filing details.

• Dallas - Dallas County
• Arlington - Tarrant County
• Grand Prairie - Dallas/Tarrant County
• Mansfield - Tarrant County