Real County Divorce Records

Real County divorce records are filed and stored at the District Clerk's office in Leakey, Texas. Real County is one of the smaller and more rural counties in the Texas Hill Country, and the District Clerk handles all family court filings including divorces, custody cases, and support matters. If you need to search for a divorce case filed in Real County, or if you need a certified copy of a final decree, the office in Leakey is the right place to contact. Mail requests and in-person visits are both accepted.

Real County District Clerk

The District Clerk in Leakey is responsible for all divorce records in Real County. The office keeps the official case index, stores filed documents, and handles requests for copies. Real County is part of the 38th Judicial District. Cases involving divorce and other family law matters are heard by the district judge assigned to the 38th District, who also serves other counties in the district.

Real County is a small Hill Country county in the Frio River canyon area of South-Central Texas. The county borders Bandera, Edwards, Kerr, Uvalde, and Kinney counties. Leakey sits along the Frio River and is the only incorporated city in the county. Because the population is small, the District Clerk's office is compact but handles requests for both current and older records. Older paper files may take more time to retrieve.

Real County does not have a full public website for the District Clerk. Use the re:SearchTX statewide portal for online case lookups, or call the office directly for older records.

How to Search Real County Divorce Records

The easiest online option is the re:SearchTX portal run by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It covers case filings from many Texas counties and is free to use. Search by party name or cause number. You will see docket entries, filing dates, and case status. For recent Real County divorces, this is a quick way to confirm a case exists before you request copies.

For older records or when you need certified copies, contact the District Clerk directly. Call (830) 232-5202 and ask about the case you are looking for. Have the full names of both parties and the approximate year ready. Staff can look it up and tell you what the fees will be for copies. Standard fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for a certified copy.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request to 146 S. Market St, Leakey, TX 78873. Include both party names, the approximate filing year, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The office will confirm fees before sending anything. Checks or money orders are the standard payment method for mail requests.

The Texas Vital Statistics Section at DSHS keeps a statewide index of divorces from 1968 onward. If you just need to confirm that a divorce happened in Texas and have the basic names and date, a verification letter from DSHS may be enough for your purpose.

Filing for Divorce in Real County

Divorce in Real County follows Texas Family Code Chapter 6. You file the Original Petition for Divorce at the District Clerk's office in Leakey. The clerk stamps it, assigns a cause number, and issues a citation for the other party. This paperwork forms the start of the official case record.

To file in Real County, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code § 6.301. One party must have lived in Texas for six months and in Real County for 90 days before filing. If neither spouse has lived in Real County long enough, you may need to file in a different county.

Texas allows divorce on no-fault grounds. The most common is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. It means the marriage has broken down because of ongoing conflict with no chance of fixing things. Fault grounds like cruelty under § 6.002, adultery under § 6.003, and abandonment under § 6.005 are also valid options when the facts support them.

After filing, Texas law sets a 60-day waiting period before any divorce can be granted. This rule is in Texas Family Code § 6.702. It applies even when both parties agree and want the case done quickly. There is an exception in family violence cases where the court can waive the wait. If both sides agree on all the terms, they sign an agreed final decree and present it to the judge after the 60 days are up.

What Real County Divorce Records Include

A divorce case file in Real County contains all the documents that were filed throughout the proceeding. The Original Petition starts the record. After that come the citation and service documents, any answer filed by the other spouse, temporary orders, agreed or contested motions, and the Final Decree of Divorce. Each document is stamped with a date and filed in the official case folder.

The Final Decree of Divorce is the key document for most people. It is the court order that ends the marriage. It covers property division, conservatorship of children, the possession schedule, child support amounts, and spousal maintenance if the court ordered it. Certified copies of the decree are needed for name changes, social security updates, remarriage, and many financial transactions.

Under Texas Family Code Chapter 7, Real County courts divide community property in a way that is just and right. Property each spouse brought into the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, is separate and stays with that person. The division of community property is part of the decree and becomes part of the public record.

Real County divorce records are generally public. You do not need to be a party to request them. Some exhibits like tax returns may be sealed. Financial information about children is sometimes restricted. The clerk can tell you what is available when you ask.

Legal Resources for Real County

Real County is rural, and local legal representation can be hard to find. The nearest cities with family law attorneys are Uvalde and Kerrville. You can search for attorneys who cover the area through the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com or call (800) 252-9690 for a referral.

For people who cannot afford an attorney, TexasLawHelp.org is a good starting point. It has step-by-step guides for Texas divorce, along with links to all official court forms. Supreme Court Approved Divorce Forms for uncontested cases are free at txcourts.gov. These cover divorces with and without children.

If you cannot pay court costs, you can ask the court to waive them. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. You will need to show the court that you meet the income threshold. Forms and instructions are available at the courthouse or online.

Cities in Real County

Real County has one incorporated city, Leakey, which serves as the county seat. All divorce cases filed in Real County are handled at the District Clerk's office in Leakey. No cities in Real County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Real County is bordered by several Hill Country and South Texas counties. If you are unsure which county holds a particular divorce record, check where the filer lived at the time of the case.