Find Divorce Records in Travis County
Travis County divorce records are on file at the District Clerk's office in Austin. The District Clerk is the official custodian of all divorce decrees, case filings, and court orders for cases filed in the county. You can search these records online, visit the courthouse in person, or send a mail request. Travis County is home to Austin, the state capital, and handles one of the larger volumes of divorce cases in Texas. Whether you need a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, want to look up a case number, or just need to confirm a divorce took place, the District Clerk is where you start.
Travis County Overview
Travis County District Clerk
The Travis County District Clerk is a constitutional office created by the Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 9. The clerk is elected every four years and serves as the recorder and custodian of all court records, including divorce filings, judgments, and orders. The office indexes and secures all case records, collects filing fees, and manages funds held in litigation.
Velva L. Price serves as the District Clerk for Travis County. The main civil courthouse is on Guadalupe Street in Austin. Records requests go to the downtown office. The clerk handles divorce filing information, certified court documents, and name change certificates. The office also processes passport applications and coordinates jury panel selection.
| Office | Travis County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address |
Records Request P.O. Box 679003 Austin, TX 78767 |
| Physical Address |
1000 Guadalupe Street, Room 103 Austin, TX 78701 |
| Phone | (512) 854-9457 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk |
The Travis County Clerk is a separate office that handles marriage licenses, property records, and birth and death certificates. Contact them at 5501 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751, phone (512) 854-9188. The County Clerk's website is at countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov.
The Travis County Clerk website at countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov provides a starting point for understanding which records are held at the county level and how to request them.
The County Clerk page explains that divorce records are handled by the District Clerk, not the County Clerk, and provides guidance for directing your request to the right office.
The Travis County District Clerk portal at traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk is where you access case search tools, request certified copies, and find filing instructions for divorce cases.
Popular services shown on this page include certified document requests, certificate of divorce and name change, original petition copies, and Final Decree of Divorce copies.
Searching Travis County Divorce Records
You can search Travis County divorce records online, in person, or by mail. Online access is free for most cases. The District Clerk's portal covers family and civil cases from 2006 to the present. Criminal cases go back to 2008. Older records may require a direct request or an in-person visit.
The Travis County District Clerk offers a free online search for digital copies of court records. You can find cases by party name, cause number, or filing date. Physical copies of documents must still be requested from the office even if you find the case online. The statewide re:SearchTX system also covers Travis County and can help you locate case numbers before you make a formal request.
For in-person visits, go to 1000 Guadalupe Street, Room 103, in Austin. Bring a photo ID. Staff can search by name or cause number and make copies. Bring the full names of both parties and an approximate year for the filing if you do not have the cause number. For mail requests, send a written request with the same details to P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767. Include a check or money order for copy fees.
Note: Travis County also has a separate marriage and divorce records information page at traviscountycourt.org/marriage-divorce-records that explains the difference between a divorce certificate and a divorce decree and what each one is used for.
Travis County Divorce Fees
Filing fees in Travis County follow the state fee schedule. A divorce without children costs roughly $350 to file. Cases with children run a bit more because of additional statutory surcharges. These fees cover the filing, service costs, and various court facility surcharges set by the state.
Copy fees at the Travis County District Clerk are $1 per page with a $5 certification fee per document. A name search without a cause number costs $5. Certified copies of the Final Decree of Divorce are commonly needed for name changes, remarriage applications, and Social Security updates. The clerk can provide these on the same day for in-person requests.
People who cannot afford court costs can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Forms are available at the courthouse and at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms. The Texas DSHS also provides divorce verification letters for $20 through dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics for cases from 1968 to the present, though these are not the same as certified copies of decrees.
Tip: Contact the District Clerk at (512) 854-9457 before your visit to confirm current fees and whether the record you need is available digitally or only on paper.
Divorce Filing Process in Travis County
Filing for divorce in Travis County is governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 6. The process follows state law. Each document you file becomes part of your case record, which the District Clerk stores at the courthouse.
To file in Travis County, either you or your spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months and in Travis County for the last 90 days before filing. This is set by Texas Family Code § 6.301. Austin residents who meet this requirement file here. Parts of some communities near the county border may fall under neighboring counties like Williamson or Hays, so it is worth confirming your address before filing.
Texas allows no-fault divorce. The most common ground is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001, meaning the marriage has broken down because of conflict with no reasonable hope of fixing it. Fault grounds such as cruelty, adultery, abandonment, conviction of a felony, and living apart for three or more years are also available when the facts support them.
Once you file, the other spouse is served with the petition or signs a waiver. Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before a judge can sign the Final Decree of Divorce, under Texas Family Code § 6.702. If both spouses agree on all terms, the case can close quickly after that period ends. Disputes over property, children, or support may require mediation or a court hearing.
Property in Travis County divorces is divided under Texas community property rules in Texas Family Code Chapter 7. The court splits marital property in a just and right manner. What you had before marriage and what you received as gifts or inheritances is generally separate property and stays yours.
Travis County Divorce Record Contents
A divorce record in Travis County includes the complete case file from the District Clerk. The core document most people need is the Final Decree of Divorce. It sets out all terms the court approved, including property division, any orders for children, spousal support if awarded, and name changes if requested.
Other documents in a divorce file can include the Original Petition for Divorce, the Citation served on the respondent, a Waiver of Service if the other party signed one, financial inventories, temporary orders, a Parenting Plan if children were involved, and any settlement agreements. Certified copies of the decree are needed for name change applications, insurance updates, Social Security records, and proof of marital status for future marriage.
Most divorce records at the Travis County District Clerk are public. You do not have to be a party to get copies. Some financial documents filed under seal may be protected. The Texas Government Code and the Texas Public Information Act govern public access to court records. If you have questions about what is accessible in a specific case, call the District Clerk at (512) 854-9457.
Legal Resources in Travis County
Several organizations in Travis County offer help with divorce cases. Some provide free legal help for people who qualify. Others charge a reduced fee for a first meeting. You do not have to hire a lawyer to get a divorce in Texas, but having help with the paperwork can matter.
Lone Star Legal Aid handles family law cases in the Austin area for people with low income. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org to check eligibility. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also has offices serving Travis County. Self-help forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court are free to use and are available at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms.
The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. You can search for attorneys by location and practice area at texasbar.com. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has step-by-step guides for divorce, custody, and other family law matters in plain language.
Cities in Travis County
Travis County includes Austin and a number of surrounding communities. All divorce cases for Travis County residents go through the District Court in Austin.
Communities in Travis County include Austin, Pflugerville, Manor, Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, Sunset Valley, Lakeway, and Bee Cave. Most divorce filings from residents in these areas go through the Travis County District Court. Parts of some cities near the county line, like Cedar Park or Leander, may fall under Williamson County jurisdiction.
Nearby Counties
These counties are adjacent to Travis County. If you are not sure which county you should file in, check which county your home address falls in. You need to file where one of the spouses has lived for at least 90 days.