La Salle County Divorce Records
La Salle County divorce records are filed with the District Clerk in Cotulla, the county seat of this South Texas county located along the border region. The District Clerk is the official keeper of all court records in La Salle County, including every divorce case filed here. If you need to search for a past divorce case, obtain a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, or confirm whether a divorce was granted in La Salle County, the clerk's office in Cotulla is your starting point. The office is in the La Salle County Courthouse and is open to the public during normal business hours.
La Salle County Overview
La Salle County District Clerk
The District Clerk's office in Cotulla keeps all La Salle County divorce records. The office processes petitions when they are filed, maintains the court docket, and stores completed case files. Staff can search the index by party name or case number and make copies on request. If you need a certified copy of a decree, you request that at the same office.
La Salle County is part of the 111th Judicial District of Texas. This district court handles civil and family law cases, including divorce, for the county. The District Clerk in Cotulla is the sole official custodian of those records. The courthouse sits in downtown Cotulla near Interstate 35, which runs through the county.
Visit lasallecountytexas.org for contact information and county office details. Confirm hours before you make the trip, since schedules can change and the county serves a small population.
| Office | La Salle County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
La Salle County Courthouse 101 Courthouse Square Cotulla, TX 78014 |
| Phone | (830) 879-2117 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | lasallecountytexas.org |
The La Salle County website lists county offices and contact details, including current information for the District Clerk.
Checking the county site before your visit helps confirm hours and any recent changes to office procedures or fees.
How to Search La Salle County Divorce Records
The most direct way to search La Salle County divorce records is to contact the District Clerk in Cotulla by phone or visit in person. Have the full names of both parties and a rough year for the case ready. With that information, the clerk can search the county index and locate the case. If you already have a cause number, the search is much faster.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal is a free tool provided by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It covers many Texas counties, including La Salle, and is worth checking online before you call the courthouse. Recent cases are more likely to appear in the system. Older records may only be available in person.
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics keeps a statewide divorce index covering divorces reported since 1968. A verification letter from DSHS confirms that a divorce was granted and identifies the county but does not provide the actual court record or decree. Only the La Salle County District Clerk can provide certified copies of case documents.
Note: In-person visits to Cotulla are the most reliable way to access older La Salle County records that have not yet been digitized.
Divorce Filing in La Salle County
To file for divorce in La Salle County, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in La Salle County for at least 90 days before the petition is filed. This rule is found in Texas Family Code § 6.301. You file the Original Petition for Divorce with the District Clerk in Cotulla and pay the filing fee at that time. The other spouse must then be served with the petition or sign a Waiver of Service.
After the petition is filed, there is a 60-day waiting period required by Texas Family Code § 6.702. The court cannot grant the divorce until that window has passed. In cases involving family violence, the court may waive the waiting period. Once the waiting period ends and both parties are in agreement, an uncontested case can go to the judge for a Final Decree. Contested cases require a hearing.
Texas recognizes no-fault divorce under the insupportability ground in Texas Family Code § 6.001. This means neither party has to prove the other did something wrong. Fault grounds such as cruelty under § 6.002, adultery under § 6.003, and abandonment under § 6.005 are also allowed when those facts exist. Property gets divided according to community property law in Texas Family Code Chapter 7.
Texas Supreme Court-approved divorce forms are available free at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms. These forms work in any Texas county including La Salle County. For electronic filing, check if the 111th Judicial District participates in the Texas eFile system.
What La Salle County Divorce Records Contain
The La Salle County District Clerk holds the full case file for every divorce granted in the county. The file starts with the Original Petition for Divorce and includes service documents, any temporary court orders issued during the case, and the Final Decree of Divorce at the close. All documents in the file are part of the official court record.
The Final Decree is the central document. It is a court order signed by the judge that establishes the terms of the divorce. Property division is set out in detail, including real estate, vehicles, accounts, and debts. If spousal maintenance was ordered, that amount and duration appear in the decree as well. For cases with children, the decree includes conservatorship orders, the possession schedule, and child support. Certified copies of the decree are needed for name change requests, Social Security updates, and other legal matters.
La Salle County divorce records are generally open to the public. You don't have to be a party in the case to ask for copies. Some documents, like sealed financial records or items protected by a court order, may not be accessible. The clerk's staff can review what is in a given file and let you know what you can get before you pay for copies.
Legal Help for La Salle County Residents
La Salle County residents have access to several legal resources even in a rural setting. Texas does not require you to hire a lawyer for divorce, but a lawyer is helpful when significant property or children are involved. Free and low-cost legal aid is available for people with limited income.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid serves South Texas, including counties in and around La Salle County. Their services cover family law including divorce and custody. The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 can help you find an attorney in the area. You can search for licensed Texas attorneys at texasbar.com.
Free legal guides and information on the Texas divorce process are at texaslawhelp.org. This site covers the full process from start to finish in everyday language. All Texas divorce forms approved by the Supreme Court are free at txcourts.gov. The DSHS vital statistics page at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics handles requests for statewide divorce verification letters.
Cities in La Salle County
Cotulla is the county seat and the main community in La Salle County. Its population does not reach the threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All La Salle County divorce filings go through the District Clerk in Cotulla. Residents throughout the county, including those in Encinal, use the Cotulla courthouse for all court filings.
Nearby Counties
These counties border La Salle County in South Texas. If you need to find a divorce record and are not sure which county it was filed in, these are the neighboring areas to check.