Randall County Divorce Records
Randall County divorce records are kept at the District Clerk's office in Canyon, Texas. You can search these records in person at the courthouse or use the statewide online portal to find case information. Randall County is part of the Texas Panhandle and shares the city of Amarillo with Potter County to the north. If you need to find a divorce case filed in Randall County, or if you need a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, the District Clerk in Canyon is the right place to start. Both in-person visits and mail requests are accepted for records going back many years.
Randall County Overview
Randall County District Clerk
The District Clerk in Canyon handles all divorce records for Randall County. The office stores case files, processes requests for copies, and maintains the official court docket. If you are searching for a divorce that was filed in Randall County, this is the office you need. Staff can look up cases by name or cause number and make copies for a small fee.
Randall County sits in the Texas Panhandle directly south of Potter County. The two counties share the city of Amarillo, which straddles the county line. If a divorce case was filed in the part of Amarillo that falls in Randall County, the records stay with the Randall County District Clerk. Cases filed on the Potter County side are at the Potter County courthouse. When in doubt about which county handles your case, check the address where you lived at the time of filing.
The courthouse is located in Canyon, which is about 15 miles south of downtown Amarillo. Canyon is also home to West Texas A&M University and serves as the hub for the southern Panhandle. The District Clerk's office handles family law cases for the 251st Judicial District.
| Office | Randall County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
2309 Russell Long Blvd Canyon, TX 79015 |
| Phone | (806) 468-5600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | randallcounty.com |
The Randall County official website has contact details and directions for the courthouse in Canyon.
The county site lists office hours, phone numbers, and mailing information for the District Clerk's office.
How to Find Randall County Divorce Records
You have two main ways to search for divorce records in Randall County. The first is to use the statewide re:SearchTX portal, which lets you search by party name or cause number across many Texas counties. The second is to visit or contact the District Clerk's office directly in Canyon. Both work well. Online searches are faster for basic info. In-person visits get you certified copies on the spot.
When searching online through re:SearchTX, type in the full name of one of the parties. The system will show case filings, docket entries, and case status. You can see when the case was filed, what motions were entered, and whether the divorce was granted. If you know the cause number, that search is even faster. The portal covers a wide range of Randall County cases going back several years.
To search in person, go to the courthouse at 2309 Russell Long Blvd in Canyon. Bring a photo ID. Tell the clerk the names of the parties and the approximate year of the divorce. Staff will look up the case and tell you the copy costs. Certified copies cost $5 per document plus $1 per page. Plain copies cost $1 per page.
For mail requests, write to the District Clerk at the address above. Include the full names of both parties, the year the case was filed, and a check or money order for the estimated fees. The office will confirm exact costs before sending copies.
Note: Amarillo divorce cases may be filed in either Randall County or Potter County depending on where the parties lived. Check both counties if you are not sure which one holds the record.
Filing for Divorce in Randall County
The divorce process in Randall County follows Texas Family Code Chapter 6. You start by filing an Original Petition for Divorce at the District Clerk's office in Canyon. The clerk assigns a cause number. That number stays with the case from start to finish and is used to pull records later.
Before you can file, at least one spouse must meet the residency rule. Under Texas Family Code § 6.301, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Randall County for at least 90 days before you file. If you just moved to the area, you may need to wait before the county can take the case.
Texas uses a no-fault ground called insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. This means the marriage has broken down without hope of repair due to conflict or discord. You do not have to prove that either spouse did something wrong. Fault grounds like cruelty or adultery are also available if applicable.
After the petition is filed, Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before the divorce can be granted. This rule comes from Texas Family Code § 6.702. The wait applies even in uncontested cases. Exceptions exist only in family violence situations. Once the waiting period is over, both parties can sign an agreed final decree or go before the judge if they disagree on terms.
Community property rules apply to how assets and debts get divided. Texas Family Code Chapter 7 guides the court to divide property in a way that is just and right. This can mean an equal split or an unequal one depending on the facts. Each party's separate property stays with that person.
What Randall County Divorce Records Include
A divorce case file in Randall County can have many documents. The first one filed is the Original Petition for Divorce. It names the parties, states the grounds, and asks the court for specific relief. After that comes service of process documents, answers, motions, and any temporary orders the judge may have signed along the way.
The Final Decree of Divorce is the most important document for most people. It is the court order that ends the marriage. The decree spells out who gets which property and debts, what the conservatorship arrangement looks like for any children, the possession and visitation schedule, child support amounts, and any spousal maintenance the court ordered. You need a certified copy of this decree to change your name, prove marital status, or handle financial and legal matters.
A typical Randall County divorce record contains:
- Names and contact information for both parties
- Date of marriage and county where marriage took place
- Grounds for divorce as stated in the petition
- Property and debt division terms
- Conservatorship orders and possession schedule for children
- Child support and medical support orders
- Spousal maintenance if applicable
Most records at the District Clerk's office are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to ask for copies. Some financial documents may be sealed if the court ordered it. Records about minor children may have limited access in certain situations. The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section keeps a statewide index of divorces from 1968 forward if you need a basic verification rather than a full decree copy.
Legal Help in Randall County
If you need help with your divorce in Randall County, a few resources are available in the area. Legal aid in the Panhandle is more limited than in large metro areas, but statewide resources cover the region.
West Texas Legal Services covers the Panhandle region and may be able to help with family law matters for people who meet income requirements. The Texas State Bar runs a referral service you can reach at (800) 252-9690 or search online at texasbar.com. This connects you with attorneys in your area who handle family law cases.
TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides for divorce cases across the state. The site covers how to file, what forms you need, and what to expect at each step. Official court forms are available at txcourts.gov at no charge. These are the same Supreme Court Approved Divorce Forms used throughout Texas. If you cannot afford court costs, you can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145.
Cities in Randall County
Randall County includes Canyon and parts of Amarillo. Canyon is the county seat and seat of the District Court. Amarillo spans both Randall County and Potter County, so divorce cases from Amarillo may be in either county depending on where the parties lived.
Other communities in Randall County include Canyon, Happy, Umbarger, and Lake Tanglewood. All divorce cases filed in Randall County go through the District Clerk's office in Canyon.
Nearby Counties
Randall County borders several Panhandle counties. If you are unsure which county filed your divorce case, check where you lived at the time. The address at filing determines which county has jurisdiction.