Nolan County Divorce Records
Nolan County divorce records are maintained by the District Clerk's office in Sweetwater. The District Clerk keeps all divorce filings, court orders, and final decrees for cases filed in the county. If you need to find a divorce case or get a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, start at the Nolan County Courthouse at 100 East Third, Suite 200. You can visit in person or mail a written request to the clerk's office. All official court filings in Nolan County must follow Texas state law and rules and cannot be submitted by fax or email. Call ahead to confirm current hours and what you'll need to bring with your request.
Nolan County Overview
Nolan County District Clerk
Jamie Clem serves as Nolan County District Clerk. The office is in Suite 200 at the Nolan County Courthouse, 100 East Third, Sweetwater. The District Clerk keeps all divorce records for the county, along with civil cases, felony criminal cases, family law matters, and probate. If you need any record from a divorce case filed in Nolan County, this is the office to contact.
Nolan County was incorporated August 21, 1876. It's named for Philip Nolan, one of the first American traders to travel to Texas. The county seat is Sweetwater, where the first post office opened in 1879. The County Clerk has birth, death, and court records dating from 1900, marriage records from 1881, probate records from 1884, and land records from 1889. The District Clerk maintains all divorce records separately from these county clerk records.
One important rule for Nolan County: official court filings cannot be accepted by fax or email. You must file in person or by mail. This is clearly stated by the county and applies to all filings. If you're submitting a records request, mail is accepted, but fax is not a valid delivery method. The county website at co.nolan.tx.us has more details.
| Office | Nolan County District Clerk (Jamie Clem) |
|---|---|
| Address |
100 East Third, Suite 200 Sweetwater, TX 79556 |
| Phone | (325) 235-2111 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours (documents not processed after 4:30 PM) |
| Website | co.nolan.tx.us |
The Nolan County website has office information, fee schedules, and notes on filing requirements. County Clerk Sharla Keith can be reached at (325) 235-2462 if you need marriage records rather than divorce records. The County Clerk is in Suite 108 at the same address.
The county homepage lists office contact information, important filing rules, and resources for county residents who need divorce records or other court documents from the Nolan County District Clerk.
How to Search Nolan County Divorce Records
Nolan County is a smaller West Texas county. Online search access to local court records may be limited. Your main options for finding a divorce case are visiting the clerk's office in Sweetwater or mailing a written request. Remember, fax requests are not accepted.
For an in-person visit, go to Suite 200 at 100 East Third, Sweetwater, TX 79556. Be sure to arrive before 4:30 PM, as documents and issuances are not processed after that time. Bring your ID and any case information you have. Staff can search by party name or cause number.
To mail a request, write to the District Clerk at the same address above. Include full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed, your contact information, and your payment. Plain copies cost $1 per page and certified copies are $5 per document plus the per-page fee. Call (325) 235-2111 first to confirm current fees and processing times.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal may have some Nolan County data. Search by party name or cause number. For older records, TexasFile covers Nolan County document copies from 1960 to present with a free basic search after registration. This is most useful for deed research but may index some additional court documents.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics verification service covers divorces reported to the state from 1968 to present. If you only need to confirm a divorce was filed in Texas without getting the full decree, a DSHS verification letter may be sufficient for your purpose.
Divorce Filing Process in Nolan County
To file for divorce in Nolan County, at least one spouse must meet the residency rules under Texas Family Code § 6.301. One spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Nolan County for at least 90 days before filing. If you meet these requirements, you file at the District Clerk's office in Suite 200.
Most Texas divorces are filed on the no-fault ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. This means the marriage has broken down due to conflict and there's no realistic chance of fixing it. You don't have to prove the other person did anything wrong. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, and abandonment are available under sections 6.002 through 6.005 of the Family Code, but they require more evidence and tend to complicate the process.
After you file, Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period under Texas Family Code § 6.702. The divorce cannot be finalized until 60 days have passed from when the petition was filed. This applies even in fully agreed cases. The exception is in cases involving family violence.
Nolan County has several standard forms and pro se resources available. These include Request for Issuance, Request for Writ of Withholding, Notice of Current Address, Pro Se Notice, Parentage and Suit Affecting forms, Texas Certificate of Adoption, and Expunctions Information. Standard statewide divorce forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court are also free to download from txcourts.gov. Property division follows community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7.
What Nolan County Divorce Records Include
Divorce case files at the Nolan County District Clerk's office hold all the documents submitted or issued during the case. The Original Petition for Divorce starts the file. It names both parties, states the grounds, and says what the filing spouse is asking for. Any response from the other spouse is in the record as well. Temporary orders for custody, support, or property use issued by the court during the pendency of the case are part of the permanent record.
The Final Decree of Divorce is the key document. It's the signed court order that ends the marriage and sets all the terms the court ordered. That includes how property and debts are split, any conservatorship orders for children, the possession and access schedule, child support amounts, and spousal maintenance if ordered. You'll need a certified copy of the decree if you plan to remarry, change your name, or need to show proof of your marital status for legal or financial purposes.
Most Nolan County divorce records are public. You don't have to be a party to the case to get copies of the petition or the decree. Financial documents like tax returns that were submitted to the court may be sealed. Information about minor children may have limited access. Ask the clerk's office what's available for any specific case. Normal fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document plus per-page fees for certified copies. All filings and payments must be made in person or by mail since fax and email are not accepted for official documents.
Legal Help for Nolan County Residents
Nolan County residents who need help with a divorce have access to several statewide resources, even though in-person legal aid offices in Sweetwater may be limited. The best starting point for free self-help materials is the TexasLawHelp website. It has step-by-step guides for filing for divorce in Texas and links to all the official forms. Texas Law Help resources are also listed on the Nolan County clerk's own resource pages.
Standard court forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court are available at no cost through the Texas courts forms page. These include forms for divorces with children, without children, and for agreed cases where both parties want the same terms. The Nolan County clerk also has several specific forms on hand including pro se notices, parentage forms, and expunction information sheets.
For attorney referrals, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 or search the directory at texasbar.com. Family law attorneys in Abilene and the surrounding area handle cases in West Texas counties including Nolan. If you think you can't afford filing fees, ask the District Clerk about a fee waiver. The form is the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs, available under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145.
Cities in Nolan County
Sweetwater is the county seat and largest city in Nolan County. All divorce cases for Nolan County residents are filed at the District Court in Sweetwater.
Other communities in Nolan County include Roscoe, Blackwell, and Decker. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All county residents file divorce cases through the Nolan County District Clerk at 100 East Third, Suite 200, Sweetwater.
Nearby Counties
Nolan County is in West-Central Texas. These counties border or are near Nolan County. Your divorce must be filed in the county where you or your spouse lives.