Divorce Records in Aransas County

Aransas County divorce records are kept by the District Clerk in Rockport. If you need to find a case, request a certified copy of a decree, or look up the status of a divorce filing in the county, the District Clerk's office is where you go. Aransas County is currently operating out of a temporary location at 2718 Highway 35 N in Rockport while a new courthouse is being built. You can visit in person, send a written request by mail, or use the online records portal to look up case indexes. This page covers everything you need to find and obtain Aransas County divorce records.

Aransas County District Clerk

District Clerk Zach Westlake manages the Aransas County District Clerk's office. The office is temporarily located at 2718 Highway 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382-5709 while construction continues on the new courthouse. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The phone number is (361) 790-0128 and the fax is (361) 790-5211. Note that the passport acceptance services at this location are temporarily deactivated as of September 1, 2024.

Aransas County divorce cases are heard by three district courts: the 36th, 156th, and 343rd District Courts. Family law matters may also go through the County Court at Law. For court-specific contact information, the combined court line is (361) 364-9310 for the district courts and (361) 790-0138 for the County Court at Law family law division. You can also visit the three-court website at 36-156-343districtcourts.org for additional information.

The Aransas County District Clerk page at aransascountytx.gov provides current office contact information, hours, fee details, and ID requirements for divorce record requests.

Check this page before visiting, as the office is at a temporary location while the new courthouse is under construction in Rockport.

How to Search Aransas County Divorce Records

You can search Aransas County divorce records online through the county clerk's public records system at aransascountytx-web.tylerhost.net. That portal covers official public records, marriage records, and vital statistics going back to 1840. Use it to find case numbers and confirm filing dates. For full case documents or certified copies, you need to contact the District Clerk directly. The statewide re:SearchTX portal also provides access to Aransas County district court case indexes.

In-person searches at the temporary courthouse location on Highway 35 N are available during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and come prepared with party names and the approximate year of the divorce. A cause number makes the search faster. No telephone searches are conducted, so plan to visit or send a written request. The clerk does not give legal advice.

For mail requests, write to the temporary address at 2718 Highway 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382-5709. Include party names, approximate date of divorce, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. You can also pay the $3.00 postage fee instead of including a return envelope. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $5.00 per document. Payment by personal check is accepted for in-state requests only. Out-of-state personal checks are not accepted. Cashier's checks, money orders, and debit or credit cards (with a convenience fee) are all valid payment methods.

Note: Starting October 1, 2025, Aransas County requires a valid photo ID for all official public record filings, including divorce decrees. This applies to both in-person and mail submissions under Local Government Code 191.010 and S.B. 16.

The Aransas County online records portal at aransascountytx-web.tylerhost.net provides access to the county's official public records database for divorce case lookups.

The portal covers records going back to 1840 and lets you search by name to find Aransas County divorce case numbers and filing dates.

Aransas County Divorce Filing Process

To file for divorce in Aransas County, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in the county for at least 90 days before filing. That is the residency rule under Texas Family Code § 6.301. If you meet those requirements, you file the Original Petition for Divorce at the District Clerk's temporary office on Highway 35 N. Important: the District Clerk's office does not provide divorce forms. You can get them from TexasLawHelp.org or txcourts.gov.

Texas allows both no-fault and fault-based divorce. The no-fault ground is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001, meaning the marriage has broken down with no real chance of repair. Fault grounds include cruelty, adultery, abandonment, felony conviction, living apart for three years, and confinement in a mental hospital. Most cases in Aransas County use the no-fault ground.

After you file and the other spouse is served or signs a waiver, a mandatory 60-day waiting period begins under Texas Family Code § 6.702. The judge cannot sign the final decree until that period passes. Exceptions apply in cases involving family violence. Once the waiting period is over, agreed divorces can move quickly. Contested cases may require mediation or a hearing before the judge.

Property division follows Texas Family Code Chapter 7. Texas is a community property state. Property acquired during the marriage is split in a just and right manner by the court. Separate property stays with the owner. If children are involved, custody and support terms go into the decree and follow Texas Family Code Chapter 153. Child support payments often run through the state disbursement unit at (800) 252-8014.

What Aransas County Divorce Records Contain

Aransas County divorce records include all documents filed in a district court case from the petition through the final decree. The petition opens the file and sets out what the filing party wants. The file may grow to include the respondent's answer, motions, temporary orders, and mediation agreements. When the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce, it becomes the controlling document in the case and closes the file. All of it is kept by the District Clerk.

The Final Decree of Divorce is what most people are looking for. It contains the legal terms of the divorce: property division, debt allocation, custody and visitation, child support, and any spousal maintenance. You need a certified copy to change your name, update Social Security records, access retirement accounts, or prove your marital status changed. The clerk issues certified copies for $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for the certification.

Aransas County divorce records generally include: names and addresses of both parties, marriage and separation dates, grounds for divorce, property and debt division, custody and possession arrangements, child support amounts, attorney information, and court costs. Most of this is public record. Tax returns and financial source documents may be sealed. Information relating to children may have restricted access in some cases.

Legal Help in Aransas County

The District Clerk's office in Rockport does not provide legal advice or divorce forms. They can answer procedural questions, but for help with the law itself, use outside resources. TexasLawHelp.org has free step-by-step guides for divorces with and without children, as well as all the official court forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court.

To find a family law attorney who handles cases in Aransas County, use the State Bar of Texas Find a Lawyer tool at texasbar.com. The Texas Attorney General at texasattorneygeneral.gov helps with child support matters separately from the divorce case. The Attorney General's child support office can be reached at (361) 576-6088 for the local Aransas area. For state disbursement unit questions, call (800) 252-8014.

Cities in Aransas County

Rockport is the county seat and the primary city in Aransas County. All divorce filings for Aransas County residents are handled by the District Clerk's office in Rockport.

Other communities in Aransas County include Fulton, Lamar, and Holiday Beach. None have a separate district clerk. All divorce cases go through the Aransas County District Clerk at the temporary courthouse location on Highway 35 N in Rockport.

Nearby Counties

Aransas County sits on the Gulf Coast in South Texas. These neighboring counties have their own District Clerks and handle divorces for residents within their boundaries.