New Braunfels Divorce Records
Divorce records for New Braunfels residents are kept at the county level, and this city is unusual because it spans both Comal and Guadalupe Counties. Most New Braunfels addresses fall in Comal County, so the Comal County District Clerk handles the majority of divorce cases from the city. If your address is in the Guadalupe County portion, that county's District Clerk holds your records. Either way, you need to go to the appropriate county courthouse to file a new divorce case or get copies of existing records. The New Braunfels Municipal Court does not handle divorce.
New Braunfels Overview
Which Court Handles New Braunfels Divorce Cases
New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County, and the Comal County District Clerk is in the Courthouse Annex at 150 N Seguin Ave, Suite 304, right in town. For residents in the Comal County portion of New Braunfels, this is where you file and where records are kept. The office handles all district court family law cases, including divorce, child custody, and related matters.
For residents in the Guadalupe County part of New Braunfels, the Guadalupe County District Clerk holds the records. If you aren't sure which county your address falls in, you can check with the city or ask either District Clerk's office. It matters because the wrong office cannot pull your records. Both counties offer online case search, so checking online first can help you figure out where a case was filed.
| Office (Comal) | Comal County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 150 N Seguin Ave, Suite 304 New Braunfels, TX 78130 |
| Phone | (830) 221-1250 |
| Fax | (830) 608-2006 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
The Comal County Courthouse Annex is convenient since it sits in New Braunfels itself. You do not need to travel to a distant county seat. This makes New Braunfels one of the easier places in Texas to access district court services in person.
Comal County District Courts
Comal County has four district courts, and multiple courts share jurisdiction over divorce and family law cases. The 274th District Court handles divorce specifically, along with land title disputes, contested elections, and juvenile cases. The 207th District Court also has concurrent jurisdiction over domestic relations matters.
The 22nd District Court has general civil and criminal jurisdiction including land title cases. The 433rd District Court handles civil matters and concurrent jurisdiction cases. When you file a divorce petition with the Comal County District Clerk, the case gets assigned to one of these courts based on the court's docket. You don't get to pick which judge hears your case.
Comal County also has three County Courts at Law: Court No. 1 at (830) 221-1180, Court No. 2 at (830) 221-1193, and Court No. 3 at (830) 221-1180. These courts handle civil, criminal, and probate matters and hear appeals from lower courts, but not original divorce filings.
Comal County Court Resources
Comal County maintains an online portal for the District Clerk's office at co.comal.tx.us. The portal provides access to case search tools and records for Comal County district court cases including divorce and family law filings.
The Comal County District Clerk portal shown above allows online case searches for Comal County divorce records. You can look up cases by party name or cause number without visiting the office in person.
The county's main website at co.comal.tx.us also provides general county information and links to other county offices and resources.
The Comal County homepage provides access to all county departments, including links to the District Clerk, County Clerk, and court system resources relevant to New Braunfels residents searching for divorce records.
How to File for Divorce in New Braunfels
Texas divorce law under Texas Family Code Chapter 6 governs all divorces filed in New Braunfels, whether in Comal or Guadalupe County. The rules are the same across Texas, but each county's clerk office has its own procedures for submitting paperwork and paying fees.
Before filing, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code § 6.301. That means one person must have lived in Texas for six months and in the county where they plan to file for at least 90 days before the petition is submitted. If your address is in Comal County, you file with Comal. Guadalupe County address means you file there.
Texas allows no-fault divorce under Family Code § 6.001, where you claim insupportability. You just state that the marriage has broken down due to conflict and there is no hope of repair. No proof of wrongdoing is required. Fault grounds are also available and can affect property division or spousal support in some cases.
After the petition is filed, Texas law mandates a 60-day waiting period before a judge can finalize the divorce. An agreed decree can be signed as soon as that period passes. If the case is disputed, it takes longer and may involve hearings, temporary orders, and possibly a trial.
New Braunfels spans two counties. Always verify which county your address is in before filing. Filing in the wrong county will cause delays.
Vital Records in New Braunfels
Vital records like birth and death certificates and marriage licenses are handled by the County Clerk, not the District Clerk. These are different offices. The Comal County Clerk is at 199 Main Plaza, New Braunfels, TX 78130, phone (830) 221-1230. They handle birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, probate records, and property records.
For divorce verification at the state level, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section at dshs.texas.gov can issue a verification letter confirming a divorce was recorded in Texas since 1968. This letter doesn't replace the decree, but it's useful for legal purposes when you need to prove marital status without the full document.
Guadalupe County has its own County Clerk offering electronic certified copies of records that are self-validating and tamper-evident. If your divorce was filed in Guadalupe County, that is the office that holds the records, not Comal County.
Legal Resources for New Braunfels
Several resources are available if you need help with a divorce case in the New Braunfels area. Legal aid organizations, bar referral services, and self-help guides can all be useful depending on your situation and income level.
Lone Star Legal Aid covers the area and provides free or low-cost legal help to people who qualify by income. Their site at lonestarlegal.org has application details. The State Bar of Texas attorney referral service is at (800) 252-9690 and the online lawyer directory is at texasbar.com. You can search for attorneys in Comal or Guadalupe County who handle family law.
TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org provides free plain-language guides on Texas divorce and all official court forms are on txcourts.gov. These forms cover divorce with and without children, agreed divorces, and financial disclosure documents required by the court.
Comal County Divorce Records
Most New Braunfels residents file for divorce in Comal County. The Comal County District Court is the primary court for New Braunfels divorce cases and keeps all records for cases filed under Comal County jurisdiction. For a full overview of the court system, fees, and record access options, visit the Comal County divorce records page.
Nearby Texas Cities
These cities are also in the Central Texas region and route divorce filings through their respective county district courts.
- Georgetown (Williamson County)
- Temple (Bell County)
- San Angelo (Tom Green County)