Hood County Divorce Records
Hood County divorce records are kept at the District Clerk's office in Granbury. If you need to find a divorce case filed in Hood County, you can search by name or cause number. The District Clerk handles all family court filings, stores case documents, and provides copies of decrees. Whether you need a certified copy of a final decree or just want to look up a case, the Granbury courthouse is where you go. The statewide re:SearchTX portal also lets you find basic case details from home before making the trip.
Hood County Overview
Hood County District Clerk
The Hood County District Clerk is the official keeper of divorce records for this county. All divorce petitions, agreed decrees, and final orders go through this office. Staff can pull up cases by name, cause number, or date range. The courthouse is in Granbury, the county seat, where family court matters are handled by the 355th District Court.
Hood County sits southwest of Fort Worth and serves a mostly rural population with some suburban growth. The District Clerk keeps records on all dissolution cases filed here. If you need to verify that a divorce was granted in Hood County, or if you need a certified copy of the decree, this office handles those requests. You can contact them by phone or visit in person during business hours.
| Office | Hood County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
Hood County Courthouse 100 E. Pearl Street Granbury, TX 76048 |
| Phone | (817) 579-3222 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.hood.tx.us |
How to Find Hood County Divorce Records
You have a couple of ways to look up divorce records in Hood County. The first option is the statewide re:SearchTX system run by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It covers many Texas counties including Hood and lets you search by party name or cause number at no charge. Results show docket entries and basic case information.
The other option is to go in person to the District Clerk's office on Pearl Street in Granbury. Staff can search the index and pull the file you need. You can view documents at the courthouse or ask for copies. Plain copies cost a small per-page fee, and certified copies cost more. Bring a photo ID when you visit. For older cases that may be stored off-site, call ahead so staff can locate the records before you make the trip.
To search, it helps to have:
- Full name of at least one spouse
- Approximate year the case was filed
- Cause number, if you already have it
- County of filing (Hood County)
Note: Texas also keeps a statewide divorce index through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section. That index covers divorces from 1968 to present and confirms whether a divorce occurred, but it does not provide the actual decree. For the full record, you need the District Clerk.
Filing for Divorce in Hood County
Divorce cases in Hood County follow Texas state law. To file here, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Hood County for at least 90 days before filing. This comes from Texas Family Code § 6.301. If you don't meet the county residency rule, you may need to file in a different county or wait until you do.
You start by filing an Original Petition for Divorce at the District Clerk's office. The other spouse must then be served or sign a waiver. Under Texas Family Code § 6.702, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date of filing before a judge can sign the final decree. Exceptions apply only in cases that involve family violence. Contested cases can take much longer than 60 days depending on the issues involved.
Texas allows divorce on no-fault grounds. Under Texas Family Code § 6.001, insupportability means the marriage has broken down with no real chance of repair. You don't have to prove fault to get a divorce in Texas. Fault grounds like cruelty or adultery can still be raised if relevant to property division or other issues.
Standard court forms for self-represented filers are on the Texas courts website. These include forms for divorces with and without children. The District Clerk can tell you which forms you need, but they can't give legal advice.
60-Day Rule: Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before any divorce can be finalized. Filing early starts the clock, so don't wait to file if you know divorce is the path forward.
What Hood County Divorce Records Include
A divorce file at the Hood County District Clerk's office contains all the documents filed during the case. The Original Petition for Divorce is filed first and states the grounds and initial requests. If the parties reach an agreement, the Agreed Final Decree of Divorce lays out all the terms and gets signed by the judge. If the case is contested, there may be motions, temporary orders, and hearing records in the file.
The Final Decree of Divorce is the document most people need. It is a court order that ends the marriage and spells out property division, conservatorship, child support, and any spousal support. Certified copies of the decree are required for things like changing your name with the Social Security Administration, updating a driver's license, or applying for benefits. Texas DSHS also maintains a separate divorce verification index for events from 1968 forward, but that index only confirms the divorce happened and doesn't include the actual decree.
Under Texas Government Code § 51.303, court records are public information. Most documents in a Hood County divorce file can be viewed by anyone. Some records may be sealed if a judge ordered it, and financial source documents like tax returns may have limited access.
Note: Records with children's details may have some redactions to protect minor's privacy, as provided under Texas court rules.
Legal Help in Hood County
If you need help with a divorce in Hood County, there are several places to turn. The TexasLawHelp.org website has free guides for self-represented filers. It covers the whole process from filing to getting your decree. They also link to official court forms. This is a good starting point if you're not sure where to begin.
Lone Star Legal Aid provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income. Their service area includes Hood County. Call (800) 733-8394 or check their website to see if you qualify. Legal aid can help with contested custody matters, protective orders, and other complex issues in family law cases.
To find a private attorney, use the State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 or search online at texasbar.com. Many family law attorneys in the Granbury area handle Hood County divorce cases. The Texas Judicial Branch site also has resources for litigants who need help understanding court procedures.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office maintains the statewide index of divorces granted in Texas since 1968.
For the actual decree and full case file, you must contact the Hood County District Clerk directly in Granbury.
Cities in Hood County
Hood County includes Granbury as the county seat along with other smaller communities. All divorce cases from anywhere in the county are filed at the Hood County District Court in Granbury.
Communities in Hood County include Granbury, Lipan, Tolar, and Cresson. None currently qualify as major cities by population. All divorce filings go through the Hood County District Clerk in Granbury.
Nearby Counties
Hood County borders several other counties. If you're unsure which county to file in, residency determines where your case goes. Check the address where you live before you file.