Ward County Divorce Records

Ward County divorce records are on file at the District Clerk's office in Monahans. The District Clerk holds all divorce case files, including petitions, judgments, and Final Decrees of Divorce for cases filed in the county. If you need to look up a divorce case, get copies of a decree, or confirm that a divorce was filed in Ward County, the District Clerk in Monahans is the right office to contact. You can visit in person or send a mail request.

Ward County District Clerk

The Ward County District Clerk in Monahans maintains all divorce records for the county. The 143rd Judicial District Court serves Ward County and hears divorce and family law matters. Staff can look up cases by name or cause number and provide copies of court documents. The courthouse is in Monahans, the county seat, and is open Monday through Friday during business hours.

Ward County is in the Permian Basin region of West Texas. All divorce filings for county residents go through the courthouse in Monahans. The Ward County website at co.ward.tx.us has contact details for county offices including the District Clerk.

The Ward County official website at co.ward.tx.us provides courthouse information and contact details for county offices including the District Clerk in Monahans.

The site lists the address and services for the Ward County courthouse, where all divorce case files are maintained by the District Clerk.

How to Get Ward County Divorce Records

The best way to get Ward County divorce records is to go to the courthouse in Monahans during business hours. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties in the divorce. Staff can search by name or cause number and provide copies. Certified copies of the Final Decree of Divorce are available on the same day for most requests.

If in-person is not possible, send a written mail request to the Ward County District Clerk, 400 S. Allen Ave., Monahans, TX 79756. Include the full names of both spouses, the approximate year the divorce was filed, and the cause number if you have it. Include payment for copy and search fees. Mail requests take additional processing and delivery time.

The statewide re:SearchTX system may have index information for Ward County cases. Checking there first can give you the cause number to speed up a formal request. For statewide divorce verification, the Texas DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics offers a verification letter for $20 covering divorces from 1968 to present.

Ward County Divorce Fees

Filing a divorce petition in Ward County costs around $300 or more, set by Texas state law. Cases with children may be slightly higher. Standard copy fees run $1 per page, and certified copies add $5 per document. A name search without a case number typically adds a $5 search fee.

If you cannot afford to pay, you can request a fee waiver by filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Free forms are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms. Call the District Clerk to confirm current fee amounts before filing.

Filing for Divorce in Ward County

Divorce in Ward County follows Texas Family Code Chapter 6. One spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months and in Ward County for at least 90 days before filing, per Texas Family Code § 6.301. If you live in Monahans or any other part of Ward County and meet this test, the courthouse in Monahans is where you file.

Most divorces in Ward County use the no-fault ground of insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001. This means the marriage has broken down and cannot be fixed. No one has to prove any wrongdoing. Fault grounds, including cruelty, adultery, abandonment, and felony conviction, are also available when applicable.

After filing, a mandatory 60-day waiting period applies under Texas Family Code § 6.702. No divorce can be granted until those 60 days pass. The exception applies when a family violence protective order exists. After the waiting period, agreed cases close quickly. Contested cases go to mediation or a court hearing before the judge signs the Final Decree.

Texas community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7 govern property division in Ward County divorces. Marital property is divided in a just and right manner. Separate property that each spouse owned before the marriage, plus gifts and inheritances kept separate, remains with the original owner.

Legal Help for Ward County

The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. Find a family law attorney near Monahans at texasbar.com. Lone Star Legal Aid at lonestarlegal.org may also assist qualifying low-income residents in West Texas with divorce and family law matters.

Free Texas divorce forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org provides self-help guides for divorce, custody, and child support in plain language.

Communities in Ward County

Ward County includes Monahans and a few smaller communities. All divorce cases for residents go through the Ward County District Court in Monahans.

Communities in Ward County include Monahans, Pyote, and Barstow. City and municipal offices do not maintain divorce records. All family law case files are at the District Clerk's office in Monahans.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Ward County. Confirm your home is in Ward County before you file here.