Kendall County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Kendall County are kept by the District Clerk's office in Boerne. You can search them online using statewide tools or visit the courthouse to get copies of specific case files. The county sits in the Texas Hill Country, northwest of San Antonio, and its District Clerk handles all family law filings for the area. Whether you need a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce or just want to confirm a case was filed, this page walks you through how to find Kendall County divorce records and what to expect along the way.
Kendall County Overview
Kendall County District Clerk
The District Clerk in Kendall County is the official keeper of all divorce records. That office stores the original case files, handles requests for copies, and processes new filings. It serves the 216th Judicial District, which covers Kendall County. The courthouse is in Boerne, which is the county seat. Staff can help you find older cases and newer ones. Most divorce records go back several decades and are indexed by party name and cause number.
Boerne is a smaller city, so the clerk's office handles a manageable volume of cases compared to larger urban counties. That said, Kendall County has grown significantly in recent years as people move into the Hill Country area from San Antonio and Austin. That growth has brought more court filings, including family law cases. The District Clerk keeps up with all of it.
| Office | Kendall County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
Kendall County Courthouse 201 E. San Antonio Ave. Boerne, TX 78006 |
| Phone | (830) 331-8600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.kendall.tx.us |
The Kendall County website at co.kendall.tx.us provides contact information for the District Clerk's office and links to county departments. If you need to reach the clerk ahead of a visit, calling first is a good idea to confirm hours and what you should bring.
The screenshot below shows the Kendall County homepage, where you can find the District Clerk's office contact page and related county services.
The county site links to the clerk's page, which lists filing fees, contact details, and general information about requesting court records in Boerne.
Search Kendall County Divorce Records
You have two main ways to search for divorce records in Kendall County. The first is online through the statewide court search portal. The second is in person at the courthouse in Boerne. Online searches are good for finding basic case info like the cause number, filing date, and party names. In-person visits give you access to the full file, which includes all documents submitted to the court.
The Texas Office of Court Administration runs re:SearchTX, which is a free statewide portal that lets you look up case information from courts across Texas. You can search by party name or cause number. Kendall County courts participate in this system, so you can often find divorce case summaries there without going to the courthouse. It shows docket entries and case status but not the actual documents.
For certified copies of the Final Decree of Divorce, you need to contact the District Clerk directly. You can send a written request by mail or visit in person. Bring photo ID when you go to the courthouse. Staff can pull up the case by name or cause number and tell you what documents are on file. Plain copies cost less than certified copies. Certified copies are typically needed for legal and official purposes.
Note: The re:SearchTX portal may not show every document in a case file, especially older ones. For complete records, contact the Kendall County District Clerk directly.
Filing for Divorce in Kendall County
To file for divorce in Kendall County, you must meet Texas residency requirements. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 6, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Kendall County for at least 90 days before the petition is filed. This is set out in Texas Family Code § 6.301. If you just moved to the area, you may need to wait until you meet the 90-day county residency rule.
The process starts when the filing spouse, called the petitioner, submits an Original Petition for Divorce at the District Clerk's office. The other spouse, called the respondent, must then be served with the petition and a citation. If both spouses agree on all terms, they can sign a waiver of service and work toward an agreed Final Decree of Divorce, which is the fastest path through the system. Contested cases take longer and may involve mediation or a court hearing.
Texas allows no-fault divorce based on "insupportability" under Texas Family Code § 6.001. That means the marriage has broken down due to conflict or discord with no chance of fixing it. You do not have to prove anyone did something wrong. Fault grounds also exist, including cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, and others. Most people in Kendall County, like the rest of Texas, file on no-fault grounds.
60-Day Waiting Period: Under Texas Family Code § 6.702, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period after the petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized. Limited exceptions apply in cases involving family violence.
Property is divided under Texas community property rules, found in Texas Family Code Chapter 7. The court splits marital property in a way that is just and right based on the facts of the case. Anything you owned before the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, is generally your separate property and stays with you.
Kendall County Divorce Filing Fees
The cost to file for divorce in Kendall County is set by the District Clerk and includes several statutory fees. A typical divorce filing runs around $300, though the exact amount varies depending on whether children are involved and what surcharges apply. Cases with children usually cost a bit more. These fees go toward court administration, security, and other county court costs.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a waiver. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 allows you to file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. You will need to show that you qualify based on your income and financial situation. Standard court forms for this are available at txcourts.gov. The court reviews the request and decides whether to waive the fees.
Copies of records from the clerk's office also carry per-page fees. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a certified copy of your Final Decree of Divorce for legal use, expect to pay a few dollars per page plus a certification charge. Call the Kendall County District Clerk at (830) 331-8600 to get the current fee schedule before you visit.
Tip: Fees can change without much notice. Always confirm the current amounts with the District Clerk's office before you go to file or pick up records.
What Is in a Kendall County Divorce Record
A divorce case file in Kendall County holds all documents submitted during the proceedings. The Original Petition for Divorce is the first item. It lays out the grounds for the divorce and what the filing spouse wants from the court. As the case moves forward, more documents get added, including responses, agreements, financial affidavits, and any temporary orders issued while the case is open.
The Final Decree of Divorce is the key document most people need. It is the court's signed order that ends the marriage. It spells out all the terms, including how property and debts are divided, whether spousal support is ordered, and if children are involved, their conservatorship arrangements and possession schedule. Child support amounts are also in the decree. This document is what you need to change your name, remarry, or handle other legal and financial matters that depend on your marital status.
Divorce records in Kendall County typically include the following information:
- Full names of both spouses
- Date and county of marriage
- Grounds for divorce as stated in the petition
- Division of community property and debts
- Conservatorship and possession terms for children
- Child support and spousal maintenance orders
- Date the court signed the final decree
Most Kendall County divorce records are public. Anyone can request them. Some financial documents attached to the case may be sealed. Records involving minors can have limited access in certain situations. The District Clerk can tell you what parts of a specific file are available for public review.
For a basic divorce verification, meaning confirmation that a divorce was granted without a full copy of the decree, you can also contact the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Section. They keep a statewide index of divorces from 1968 to the present. This index confirms the names, date, and county but does not include the decree itself.
Legal Help and Self-Help Resources
People in Kendall County who need help with a divorce case have a few options. The Texas courts system offers approved self-help forms for divorce at no cost. You can get them at txcourts.gov. These forms cover divorces without children, divorces with children, and uncontested situations. They are reviewed and approved by the Texas Supreme Court and are widely used by people who represent themselves.
TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has guides, instructions, and links to court forms for divorce and family law matters. It is a good first stop if you are not sure where to begin. The State Bar of Texas also runs a lawyer referral service you can reach at (800) 252-9690. You can search for local attorneys online at texasbar.com.
Legal aid organizations may be able to help if you have low income. Lone Star Legal Aid covers parts of the Boerne area and handles family law cases. Their number is (800) 733-8394. You can learn more about eligibility and services at lonestarlegal.org. Not everyone qualifies, but it is worth calling to find out.
Note: Self-help forms work best for straightforward, uncontested cases. If there are disputes over property or children, talking to a family law attorney is usually the better move.
Texas Vital Records and Divorce Verification
The Texas Department of State Health Services keeps a statewide divorce index through its Vital Statistics Section. This index covers divorces reported since 1968. It holds basic facts like the names of both parties, the county where the divorce was granted, and the date. It does not hold the actual court file or decree. For a verification letter from the state, you can submit a request directly to DSHS or use an authorized service like VitalChek, which processes requests online and sends them to the state agency.
If you need the actual case documents, including the Final Decree, you have to go through the Kendall County District Clerk. The state index is useful for confirming facts or for situations where you only need proof that a divorce happened, not the full file. The Texas Government Code under Texas Government Code Chapter 51 defines the duties of District Clerks as official custodians of court records, which includes all family law case files.
Cities in Kendall County
Kendall County includes Boerne and several smaller communities. All divorce cases from residents in the county are filed at the Kendall County District Court in Boerne, regardless of which community the parties live in.
Boerne is the largest city in Kendall County but falls below the 100,000-population threshold. Other communities in the area include Fair Oaks Ranch and Comfort. All divorce filings go through the Kendall County District Clerk in Boerne.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or sit near Kendall County. If you are unsure which county handles your case, check where you have lived for the past 90 days. That is the county where you file under Texas Family Code § 6.301.