Montague County Divorce Records
Montague County divorce records are maintained by the District Clerk's office in Montague, Texas. The District Clerk holds all divorce case filings and final decrees for this north Texas county. If you need to find a case, request copies of court documents, or confirm a divorce on record, the courthouse in Montague is where you start. The county has divorce records going back to 1921 in the District Clerk's files, with court records at the County Clerk going back to 1876. This page explains how to search, request, and understand Montague County divorce records.
Montague County Overview
Montague County District Clerk
Robin Woods serves as the District Clerk for Montague County. The office handles all divorce cases, civil filings, and family law matters for the district court. The courthouse is at 101 E. Franklin Street in Montague. The mailing address is P.O. Box 155 if you prefer to send written requests.
The County Clerk's office is run by Kim Jones and is a separate office from the District Clerk. The County Clerk handles land records, marriage licenses, probate, and court records going back to the 1870s. For divorce records, you go to the District Clerk. The county also has naturalization records at the District Clerk going back to 1885.
Montague County was incorporated December 24, 1857, from Cooke County. Marriage records go back to 1873 and land records to the same year. The county website at co.montague.tx.us has current department listings and contact information.
| Office | Montague County District Clerk - Robin Woods |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 155, Montague, TX 76251 |
| Physical Address | 101 E. Franklin, Montague, TX 76251 |
| Phone | (940) 894-2571 |
| Fax | (940) 894-2077 |
| Hours | Standard county business hours |
| Website | co.montague.tx.us |
The Montague County government website provides contact details for both the District Clerk and County Clerk, as well as other county departments.
The county's official website shows current office contacts and hours for the District Clerk who holds all divorce case records in Montague County.
How to Find Montague County Divorce Records
To search for divorce records in Montague County, you can go in person to the courthouse in Montague, send a mail request, use an online third-party platform for historical records, or check the statewide court portal for recent cases.
In-person visits to the District Clerk at 101 E. Franklin Street work well for current cases and certified copies. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. The clerk searches by name or cause number. Copy fees are $1 per page and certified documents cost $5 each.
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 155, Montague, TX 76251. Include full names, approximate dates, case number if available, and payment. For recent case information online, use the re:SearchTX statewide portal at re.search.txcourts.gov. You can search by party name or cause number at no cost.
For historical records, TexasFile at texasfile.com covers Montague County documents from 1873 to the present with a free basic name search. This is helpful for land records and other historical documents. The District Clerk has divorce records on file going back to 1921. The statewide DSHS divorce index at dshs.texas.gov covers divorces in Texas from 1968 forward.
Note: Montague County divorce records go back to 1921 at the District Clerk. For older cases, contact the office directly to find out what's available and in what format.
Divorce Filing in Montague County
Divorces in Montague County follow the same Texas state law that applies across all 254 counties. The governing statute is Texas Family Code Chapter 6. You file the Original Petition for Divorce at the District Clerk's office on E. Franklin Street. That filing starts the case and creates the public record.
Residency rules apply under Texas Family Code § 6.301. Either you or your spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months and in Montague County for at least 90 days before you can file here. If you don't meet that requirement yet, you'll need to wait or file elsewhere.
Texas allows no-fault divorce. The most widely used ground is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. You state the marriage has broken down due to conflict with no hope of reconciliation. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. Fault grounds such as cruelty under § 6.002, adultery under § 6.003, felony conviction under § 6.004, and abandonment under § 6.005 are also available if they apply.
After filing, Texas law requires 60 days before the judge can sign the final decree. This is the mandatory waiting period under Texas Family Code § 6.702. Once the wait ends, an agreed divorce can move quickly to a signed decree. Contested divorces may go through mediation or a hearing. Under community property rules in Texas Family Code Chapter 7, the court divides marital property in a way it finds just and right.
Required Wait: Texas requires a 60-day waiting period after filing before a divorce is final. Exceptions apply when family violence is a factor and a protective order is in place.
What Montague County Divorce Records Include
Each divorce case in Montague County creates a set of documents that the District Clerk stores permanently. The file starts with the Original Petition and grows to include responses, temporary orders, settlement agreements, and the signed Final Decree. If the case goes to hearing, transcripts and exhibits are added too.
A Montague County divorce record typically contains full names of both parties, the date of marriage, the date of the divorce decree, the case number, grounds for divorce, property division, child custody and possession details, support orders, and attorney names. These are the items the research confirms appear in this county's records. All of this is part of the public file unless a judge ordered otherwise.
Most divorce records in Montague County are public. You don't need to be a party to request copies. Information like Social Security numbers is redacted. Financial account numbers are not included in public records. If a judge sealed any portion of the case, you need a court order to access that portion. The Texas Government Code under Chapter 51 establishes District Clerks as official custodians of court records and sets the rules for public access.
Legal Help in Montague County
If you need help with a divorce case in Montague County, legal aid and referral services can connect you with the right resources. This part of north Texas is served by several organizations.
Lone Star Legal Aid covers north and central Texas and handles divorce, custody, and support cases for people who qualify based on income. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas also serves counties in north Texas including the Montague County area. Check their website or call to see if they cover your situation.
The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is at (800) 252-9690. You can search for attorneys licensed in Texas at texasbar.com. For self-help guides and official forms, go to texaslawhelp.org. All Texas Supreme Court approved divorce forms are free at txcourts.gov. These forms work in Montague County courts and are available in both English and Spanish.
Cities in Montague County
Montague County includes several communities in north Texas. The county seat is Montague. Other communities include Bowie, Nocona, Ringgold, and St. Jo. No cities in Montague County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All divorce filings from across the county go through the Montague County District Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Montague County. File in the county where you or your spouse currently lives and has lived for at least 90 days.