Martin County Divorce Records

Martin County divorce records are held by the District Clerk at the courthouse in Stanton, the county seat. Divorce cases filed in Martin County are on file there, and you can request copies in person or by mail. The county is in West Texas in the Permian Basin area. Because it is a small county, in-person requests are typically the fastest way to get what you need. The statewide re:SearchTX portal can also show you basic case information online before you make the trip to Stanton.

Martin County District Clerk

The District Clerk in Martin County handles all divorce records for the county. The office is at the courthouse on North St. Peter Street in Stanton. Staff can look up cases, provide copies, and handle certified record requests. Both in-person and mail requests are accepted. Bring a photo ID if you come in person.

Martin County is a small county in the Permian Basin. It borders Midland County to the south, which is one of the larger regional centers in West Texas. Because of the county's small size, the District Clerk's office manages a limited caseload and is generally accessible. Call ahead to confirm current hours before visiting.

How to Search Martin County Divorce Records

Searching for divorce records in Martin County works best by contacting the District Clerk's office directly. In-person visits allow you to look at the case file and get copies right away. Mail requests are also accepted. The statewide re:SearchTX system is another option for basic case lookups online. It searches court data from participating courts across Texas and can help you find a case number before you reach out to the clerk.

Martin County does not have a dedicated online portal for public case searches, so the statewide system and direct contact with the office are your best bets. When you contact the District Clerk, have the following ready: full names of both parties, approximate year of the divorce, and the cause number if you have it.

Divorce records from Martin County go back to the county's formation, though early records may be fragmented due to the county's attachment to other counties during its first years. Records from 1884 forward are generally intact. Copy fees are $1 per page, and certification costs $5 per document.

The Texas Judicial Branch website at txcourts.gov links to court resources and the re:SearchTX case search tool used across the state.

The Texas Judicial Branch provides access to court forms, the re:SearchTX portal, and information on family law procedures across all Texas counties including Martin County.

Note: For older records that may not be in electronic form, call the District Clerk ahead of time. Some older files may be stored off-site and require advance notice to retrieve.

Divorce Filing Process in Martin County

Filing for divorce in Martin County follows Texas Family Code Chapter 6. You start by filing an Original Petition for Divorce with the District Clerk in Stanton. From that point, every document added to the case becomes part of the official court record kept at the courthouse.

Before filing, one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code § 6.301: six months in Texas and 90 days in Martin County. The court will not take the case if neither spouse meets this standard.

Texas allows no-fault divorce under the ground of insupportability in Texas Family Code § 6.001. This means the marriage cannot continue due to conflict or discord with no real chance of resolution. You do not need to prove that one person was at fault. Fault-based grounds like cruelty under § 6.002 or abandonment under § 6.005 are also available but require more in the way of evidence and tend to make cases more contested.

After the petition is filed, Texas law requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period under Texas Family Code § 6.702 before a divorce can be finalized. If both parties agree on all terms, an Agreed Final Decree can be presented to the judge after the waiting period ends. Contested cases may go through mediation or a hearing. Property division follows community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7.

Official divorce forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court are free to download at txcourts.gov. Cases in Martin County must be filed electronically through the state's e-file system.

What Martin County Divorce Records Contain

A divorce record at the Martin County courthouse includes all court documents filed in the case. The Original Petition for Divorce is the first document. It names the parties, states the grounds, and sets out what the petitioner wants. Later filings may include a waiver of service, financial affidavits, agreed settlement terms, and temporary orders while the case is pending.

The Final Decree of Divorce is the most important document in the file. It is the signed court order that ends the marriage. It covers how property and debts are divided, what happens with children if there are any, child support amounts, and any spousal maintenance ordered. Certified copies of the Final Decree are what most people need for legal and financial purposes like name changes, remarriage, or updating benefits.

Most divorce records in Texas are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to get a copy. Some financial documents in the file may have restricted access. Records with sensitive information about children may also be limited. For state-level verification of a divorce in Texas from 1968 forward, the Texas DSHS offers a verification letter at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics.

Legal Help for Divorce in Martin County

Martin County is a small county, and local legal resources may be limited. The State Bar of Texas can help you find a family law attorney at (800) 252-9690 or through the search tool at texasbar.com. Attorneys in Midland or Odessa often serve the Martin County area.

For free self-help resources, TexasLawHelp.org has plain-language guides on divorce in Texas. Free court forms are at txcourts.gov. If you qualify based on income, Lone Star Legal Aid may be able to help. Their website has contact information and a screening tool for eligibility.

Cities in Martin County

Martin County's main city is Stanton, the county seat. All divorce filings for county residents are handled through the Martin County District Court in Stanton.

Other communities in Martin County include Tarzan and Ackerly. None of these communities have separate city pages, but all residents file divorce cases at the courthouse in Stanton.

Nearby Counties

Martin County is in the Permian Basin in West Texas. These neighboring counties each have their own District Clerk. File in the county where you or your spouse has lived for at least 90 days.