Find Divorce Records in Motley County
Motley County divorce records are kept at the District Clerk's office in Matador. The District Clerk handles all divorce case files, from the initial petition through the Final Decree of Divorce. If you need to look up a divorce case, get a certified copy of a decree, or verify a filing, start with the Motley County District Clerk. Motley is one of Texas's smallest counties by population, but all divorce cases for county residents go through the same court process under Texas state law. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or by phone. Staff can help you locate records by name or cause number.
Motley County Overview
Motley County District Clerk
The Motley County District Clerk's office is in Matador. In a small county like Motley, the District Clerk and County Clerk functions are combined under one clerk. D'anna Russell serves as both District Clerk and County Clerk. This combined setup is common in the smallest Texas counties. The office handles divorce records, civil cases, felony criminal cases, and other court filings.
Motley County is part of the 110th Judicial District, which also includes Briscoe, Dickens, and Floyd Counties. All divorce cases filed in Motley County go before the 110th District Court. The courthouse in Matador is where court proceedings happen and where the permanent case files are stored.
The county website at co.motley.tx.us has contact details and some general information about the clerk's office. Processing times for record requests are typically one to two business days, though complex requests may take up to five days.
| Office | Motley County District Clerk (D'anna Russell) |
|---|---|
| Address |
701 Main & Dundee Matador, TX 79244 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 660, Matador, TX 79244 |
| Phone | (806) 347-2621 |
| Fax | (806) 347-2220 |
| mcdcc@co.motley.tx.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.motley.tx.us |
The Motley County website has information about the combined clerk's office and how to contact staff for records requests.
The county homepage provides office contact details, fee information, and links for residents seeking divorce records or other court documents in Motley County.
How to Search Motley County Divorce Records
Motley County is a very small county and online search access to local court records is limited. Your main options are visiting the clerk's office in person in Matador or sending a written request by mail. Both work. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 660, Matador, TX 79244. In-person visits are at 701 Main & Dundee during business hours.
To find a case, provide as much information as you can. The clerk can search by party name or cause number. Include:
- Full names of both parties to the divorce
- Approximate year the case was filed
- Cause number if available
- Date of birth, if known
The statewide re:SearchTX portal may have some Motley County case information. This is a free tool maintained by the Texas Office of Court Administration. Search by party name or cause number to see what's available. For a county this small, records online may be sparse, but it's a quick check before you contact the office.
Some older Motley County divorce records may be available through third-party research tools. TexasFile has Motley County document copies from 2000 to present with free basic name search after registration. This covers property records but may also index some court documents.
If you only need to confirm a divorce happened in Texas and don't need the actual decree, the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office can issue a verification letter. This service covers divorces reported in Texas from 1968 to present. The letter won't have all the case details, but it does confirm the divorce is on file with the state.
Divorce Filing in Motley County
To file for divorce in Motley County, at least one spouse must meet the residency rules under Texas Family Code § 6.301. That means living in Texas for six months and in Motley County for at least 90 days before filing. If you don't meet the 90-day requirement for Motley County but you do for another Texas county, you'd file there instead.
The most common reason people file for divorce in Texas is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. This means the marriage has fallen apart due to conflict and there's no real chance of saving it. No one has to prove fault. You don't have to show that the other person did anything wrong. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, abandonment, and felony conviction are available but require more evidence and tend to make the process more complicated.
Texas requires a 60-day waiting period after you file. Under Texas Family Code § 6.702, the court cannot finalize a divorce until at least 60 days after the petition is filed. This applies even in fully agreed cases. The only exception is in family violence situations. So the minimum time from filing to final decree is about two months, and it often takes longer.
When the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce, the case is closed. The decree becomes the permanent record on file at the Motley County District Clerk's office. It stays there permanently. Certified copies are $5 per document plus $1 per page for copies. You can pay cash, check, money order, or credit card through Certified Payments. For credit card payments, the bureau code for the district is 8882394 and you use the date as the reference number. Property is divided under community property principles in Texas Family Code Chapter 7.
Motley County Divorce Record Contents
A divorce case file in Motley County holds every document filed with the court during the divorce proceeding. The Original Petition for Divorce starts the file. It names both spouses, states the ground for divorce, and lists what the filing spouse is requesting. Any response from the other party is also in the file. If the court issued temporary orders for custody, support, or property during the case, those are part of the file too.
The most important document in the file is the Final Decree of Divorce. This is the signed court order that officially ends the marriage. It sets out all the agreed or court-ordered terms: who gets what property, how debts are divided, conservatorship of any children, the possession schedule, child support amounts, and any spousal maintenance. A certified copy of this decree is what you need for legal purposes like a name change, remarriage, or proving marital status to a government agency or financial institution.
Most documents in a Motley County divorce case file are public record. You don't have to be a party to the case to get copies. Some financial source documents attached to the file, like tax returns or bank statements, may be sealed. Information identifying minor children may also have some restrictions. Ask the clerk's office what's available when you make your request. Normal copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certified copies.
Legal Help for Motley County Residents
Getting through a divorce without legal help is harder in a rural county where in-person services are limited, but you have options. Several free and low-cost resources serve small Texas counties.
The TexasLawHelp website has plain-language guides on Texas divorce law and all the forms you need to file. The Texas Supreme Court has approved standard divorce forms that are free to download through the Texas courts forms page. Forms for divorce without children, divorce with children, and uncontested divorces are all available there at no cost.
The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral line at (800) 252-9690. You can also find attorneys online at texasbar.com. Many attorneys in the Panhandle Plains area handle family law cases. If you can't afford court filing fees, ask the clerk about filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. Income-based fee waivers are available under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145.
The Nolan County section lists available pro se forms too, including Request for Issuance, Pro Se Notice, Parentage forms, and Texas Law Help resources, many of which apply equally to Motley County filers.
Cities in Motley County
Motley County has a very small population, with Matador as the county seat and only community of notable size. All divorce cases for county residents are handled at the Motley County District Court in Matador.
No cities in Motley County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Residents of Matador and surrounding rural areas all file divorce cases through the Motley County District Clerk's office.
Nearby Counties
Motley County is in the Texas Panhandle Plains region. The following counties border Motley County or are in the same judicial district. Your divorce must be filed in the county where you or your spouse actually lives.