San Angelo Divorce Records
San Angelo divorce records are maintained by the Tom Green County District Clerk at the Tom Green County Courthouse in downtown San Angelo. All divorce cases filed by San Angelo residents go through the county's district court system. You can search records online through the District Clerk's public records search, visit the courthouse in person, or send a written request by mail. The District Clerk keeps permanent records including Final Decrees, case files, and docket information for every dissolution of marriage granted in Tom Green County since the record system was established in 1875.
San Angelo Overview
Tom Green County District Clerk
The Tom Green County District Clerk's office is on the first floor of the courthouse at 112 W. Beauregard Avenue in San Angelo. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can reach the office by phone at (325) 659-6579. This is the primary office for all district court records including divorce, civil, and criminal cases filed in Tom Green County.
Tom Green County has four district courts that handle divorce and family law: the 51st, 119th, 340th, and 391st District Courts. Cases are assigned to one of these courts when the petition is filed. There are also two County Courts at Law and several Justice of the Peace Courts for smaller civil matters, but divorce cases go through district court only.
| Office | Tom Green County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Tom Green County Courthouse 112 W. Beauregard Ave. San Angelo, TX 76903 |
| Phone | (325) 659-6579 |
| Location in Courthouse | First floor |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The Tom Green County Clerk (a separate office) is located at 124 W. Beauregard. That office handles marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and property records going back to 1875. For divorce records specifically, use the District Clerk's office at 112 W. Beauregard.
How to Search San Angelo Divorce Records
The Tom Green County District Clerk has a public records search available online. You may need to register for some functions. Civil and family law cases are searchable, and index information is generally available. Full document access may require an in-person request if the record is not available digitally.
When making a written request, include the full names of both parties, the date of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Mail requests to: Tom Green County District Clerk, 112 W Beauregard Ave, San Angelo, TX 76903. The office processes requests in order of receipt. For certified copies, specify that at the time of your request.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal covers many Texas district courts and may include Tom Green County courts. Searching there first can help you confirm that a case exists and identify the cause number before contacting the local office. The Texas DSHS divorce verification service covers divorces from 1968 to present and can confirm the county where a divorce was filed for $20.
Note: Tom Green County records go back to 1875. Very old records may be in a different format and require more time to retrieve. Call ahead for records from before 1960 to confirm availability.
Divorce Filing Process in San Angelo
San Angelo residents file for divorce at the Tom Green County District Clerk's office under Texas state law. Texas Family Code Chapter 6 governs the grounds, residency requirements, and procedures that apply to every divorce in the state. San Angelo cases follow the same rules as any other Texas divorce.
Texas Family Code § 6.301 sets the residency rule. One spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Tom Green County for 90 days before filing. San Angelo is the county seat of Tom Green County, so time lived in the city qualifies toward that county requirement.
Most San Angelo divorces are filed on the no-fault ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. That ground simply requires showing the marriage is broken due to conflict or personality discord with no reasonable hope of reconciliation. No proof of fault is required. Fault-based grounds are also available under Sections 6.002 through 6.007 if applicable. Those include cruelty, adultery, abandonment for at least one year, felony conviction, living apart for three continuous years, and confinement in a mental hospital for at least three years.
After the petition is filed, Texas requires a 60-day waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. Agreed divorces where both sides accept all terms can close quickly after that period ends. Contested cases may go through mediation or a court hearing. Texas divides marital property under community property principles in Family Code Chapter 7. Property acquired during the marriage is generally subject to a fair split between the spouses.
Texas requires a 60-day waiting period after filing before any divorce can be finalized. This applies in all Texas counties including Tom Green County.
Divorce Costs in San Angelo
Call the Tom Green County District Clerk at (325) 659-6579 to get the current filing fee for an Original Petition for Divorce. Fees vary by case type and change periodically. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee. Plain copies are $1 per page. Search fees may apply when staff needs to conduct a name-based search without a case number.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 allows you to file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. Forms are at txcourts.gov. People who receive Medicaid, SNAP, or similar public benefits, or who earn below 125% of the federal poverty line, typically qualify. The court will decide whether to waive the fees in whole or in part.
Other potential costs include service of process fees, a parenting class if children are involved, and mediation costs for contested cases. The San Angelo area has local family law attorneys who may offer payment plans or free initial consultations.
Legal Help in San Angelo
Legal aid options in San Angelo include Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which covers the West Texas region. Check eligibility at lanwt.org. The State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 can match you with a local family law attorney. Their online directory is at texasbar.com.
For self-help tools and court forms, visit texaslawhelp.org and txcourts.gov. Supreme Court Approved divorce forms are available for free for cases with and without children. You can also use efile.txcourts.gov to file documents electronically if Tom Green County courts participate in the e-file system.
San Angelo is home to Angelo State University, which has the West Texas Collection, a major archive of manuscripts, photographs, maps, and genealogical resources for West Texas. The Tom Green County Library System also has a genealogy department at Stephens Central Library with microfilm collections that may be useful for researching older divorce records.
The San Angelo City Secretary's Office at 72 West College Avenue handles some vital records for city residents but does not maintain divorce records. All divorce inquiries go to the Tom Green County District Clerk.
Tom Green County Divorce Records
San Angelo is the county seat of Tom Green County, and all divorce filings for the area go through the Tom Green County District Court. The District Clerk's office at the Beauregard Avenue courthouse handles all record requests and case filings for the county. For more details on the court system, online search access, and contact information, visit the Tom Green County divorce records page.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Other qualifying cities in West and Central Texas with divorce record pages include:
- Abilene (Taylor County)
- Midland (Midland County)
- Odessa (Ector County)
- Wichita Falls (Wichita County)
- Lubbock (Lubbock County)