Austin County Divorce Records Search

Austin County divorce records are held by the District Clerk in Bellville. Austin County is one of the original counties of Texas, incorporated in 1837, and its court records reflect that long history. If you need to find a divorce case filed in Austin County, request a certified copy of a final decree, or check the status of a case, the District Clerk's office at 265 N. Chesley Street in Bellville handles all district court records. You can request records by phone, in person, or by mail. This page covers what you need to know to access Austin County divorce records.

Austin County District Clerk

District Clerk Sue Murphy runs the Austin County District Clerk's office at 265 N. Chesley Street, Suite 1, Bellville, TX 77418. The direct phone number is (979) 270-6830. An alternate number is (979) 865-5911. The office handles all district court filings, including divorce petitions, motions, decrees, and case records. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and provide copies during regular business hours.

Austin County's court system covers both district courts and the County Court at Law. The 1st and 14th Courts of Appeals have jurisdiction over Austin County cases that are appealed. The District Clerk's website at austincounty.com posts links to public records access, civil fee schedules, and information about passport applications. E-filing through efile.txcourts.gov is available for attorneys filing in Austin County courts.

The Austin County District Clerk page at austincounty.com provides contact information, links to public records access, and details about civil fees and filing procedures for Austin County divorce cases.

The clerk's page also links to the monthly fee schedules and social media updates from the Austin County District Clerk's Office in Bellville.

Searching Austin County Divorce Records

The Austin County District Clerk's website links to a public records access portal where you can search case indexes online. For the most up-to-date access link, visit austincounty.com directly, as the portal link may change. The statewide re:SearchTX system is another online option. Both tools let you search by party name or cause number and get basic case information for Austin County district court filings, including divorce cases.

In-person searches at Suite 1 on Chesley Street in Bellville let you review the full case file and order copies the same day. Bring a valid photo ID and information about the case. Party names and an approximate filing year are enough for a basic search. Staff can confirm what documents are in the file and the cost to copy them. Monthly fee schedules are posted on the clerk's website and updated as needed.

For mail requests, write to 265 N. Chesley Street, Suite 1, Bellville, TX 77418. Include names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and payment for copies, or call ahead to confirm the cost. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee per document. If you need a basic confirmation that a divorce occurred in Texas rather than the full decree, the DSHS Vital Statistics office at dshs.texas.gov provides verification letters for divorces from 1968 onward.

For self-represented parties looking for forms, Texas Law Help at texaslawhelp.org and the Texas Courts forms page at txcourts.gov both have free Supreme Court-approved divorce forms that work in Austin County courts.

Austin County Divorce Filing Process

Texas state law governs divorce in Austin County. Under Texas Family Code § 6.301, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Austin County for 90 days before filing. You file the Original Petition for Divorce and the required BVS Form 165 at the District Clerk's office in Bellville. The clerk sets the filing fee at the time of submission. Monthly fee schedules are posted online.

The no-fault ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001 is the most common reason cited for divorce in Austin County. It simply means the marriage has broken down with no reasonable chance of recovery. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, and abandonment are valid options under Texas law but are used less often and require more proof.

Once the petition is filed and the other party is served or waives service, Texas Family Code § 6.702 requires a 60-day waiting period before the judge can finalize the divorce. In Austin County, uncontested cases that meet the waiting period can sometimes be finalized in a single court visit. Contested cases may need additional hearings. Property is divided under Texas Family Code Chapter 7. Community property is split in a just and right manner. Separate property stays with its owner.

Austin County is in the Houston metro area. The county has grown in recent years as people move out of Harris County. Even so, it remains a smaller county with a less complex court system than Houston. That often means faster processing times for straightforward divorce cases. If children are involved, custody and support terms follow Texas Family Code Chapter 153 and are included in the Final Decree of Divorce.

The Austin County main website at austincounty.com links to all county departments, including the District Clerk's office that handles divorce records for one of Texas's oldest counties.

Austin County was incorporated in 1837 as one of the original Texas counties, and its court records reflect that long history of civil filings and family law matters.

What Austin County Divorce Records Contain

An Austin County divorce record is the complete case file maintained by the District Clerk. It starts with the Original Petition and ends with the Final Decree. Between those two documents, the file may contain answers, motions, temporary orders, financial forms, and court hearing records. All of these are stored together as the official court file.

The Final Decree of Divorce is the most requested document. It ends the marriage legally and contains all binding terms. Property division terms, debt allocation, child custody arrangements, a possession schedule, child support amounts, and any spousal maintenance are all in the decree. Certified copies are needed for legal and financial purposes after the divorce. The clerk provides them for $1.00 per page plus the $5.00 certification fee per document.

Austin County divorce records are generally public. Most people can request them without restriction. Some financial documents filed under seal and certain child-related records may have limited access. Records from very early years may be on microfilm. If you are researching a case from decades ago, contact the clerk's office first to confirm how the records are stored and how long retrieval might take.

Legal Help in Austin County

The District Clerk in Bellville cannot give legal advice. For free guidance, TexasLawHelp.org provides step-by-step guides and all the official divorce forms you need. The site works well for people handling their own divorce without a lawyer. Court forms are also at txcourts.gov at no charge.

To find a family law attorney in Austin County, use the State Bar of Texas search at texasbar.com. Many Houston-area attorneys also handle Austin County cases. Legal aid groups in the Houston metro region may serve low-income Austin County residents. The Texas Attorney General's office at texasattorneygeneral.gov handles child support issues. VitalChek at vitalchek.com can help order Texas divorce verification letters online for eligible requesters.

Cities in Austin County

Bellville is the county seat of Austin County. All divorce filings in Austin County go through the District Clerk's office at 265 N. Chesley Street in Bellville.

Other communities in Austin County include Sealy, Wallis, and Industry. None of these cities have a separate district clerk. All divorce cases for Austin County residents are handled by the clerk in Bellville. Nearby Houston is in Harris County and has a different court system.

Nearby Counties

Austin County is west of Houston in the Houston metro area. These counties border Austin County and each has its own District Clerk.