To find divorce records in Texas, go to one of two places: the district clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was granted, which keeps the complete court file and issues certified copies of the Final Decree of Divorce, or the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Unit, which maintains a statewide index of divorces reported since 1968 and issues short divorce verifications. Which office you use depends on what you actually need.
Decide Which Document You Need
A Final Decree of Divorce is the full court order signed by the judge. It spells out how property was divided, which parent has custody, whether anyone pays spousal support, and every other term the parties agreed to or the judge imposed. It lives at the district clerk’s office in the county that granted the divorce.
A Divorce Verification, sometimes called a Report of Divorce, is a short DSHS document that confirms a divorce happened and lists the names of both parties and the date the marriage ended. It says nothing about custody, property, or support. Texas law requires attorneys to submit a report to the district clerk with each final divorce judgment, and the clerk files those reports with the Vital Statistics Unit by the ninth day of the following month.1State of Texas. Texas Health and Safety Code 194.002 – Report of Divorce or Annulment A verification works as quick proof of marital status. It will not work when someone needs the actual terms.
If you need the full terms of the divorce, request the decree from the district clerk. If you only need to show that a divorce exists, the verification from DSHS is cheaper and simpler.
What To Gather Before You Search
A failed search almost always traces back to missing or wrong information. Before you contact any office, pull together:
- Full legal names of both spouses, including maiden names and any name changes. A misspelling is the single most common reason a search returns nothing.
- The approximate date of the divorce. The year is usually enough, but a closer date helps when the names are common.
- The county where the divorce was granted. You need this to contact the right district clerk. If you don’t know it, the DSHS statewide index can help identify it.
Check every detail against any paperwork or family records you have. DSHS fees are non-refundable even when no record is found, so a transposed digit or a wrong spelling costs you the full fee and weeks of waiting.
Start With a Free Online Search
Texas runs a free statewide court records search called re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov. It covers all 254 counties and lets you look up divorce cases by party name, see basic case data and upcoming hearings, and in many counties view scanned court documents. The depth varies: larger counties tend to have more digitized, and smaller or rural counties may only show the case index.
Many individual district clerks also run their own online portals with case search features, which can carry more detail for that county than the statewide tool. Searching is free on both. Certified copies still require a mail or in-person request with payment.
An online search is often enough to confirm that a divorce exists, identify the county, and pull the cause number you’ll need when you order a certified copy.
Request a Certified Copy From the District Clerk
Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from the district clerk who serves as custodian of the court records.2Northern District of Texas. Marriage/Divorce Records That office also holds every motion, exhibit, and filing from the case.
Fees vary by county, and most clerks charge a per-page or per-document rate. Call the specific district clerk’s office before sending anything to confirm current fees, accepted payment methods, and whether they take mailed, in-person, or online requests. Many clerks process in-person requests the same day or the next, which makes the district clerk the fastest route when you know the county.
Divorce case files are court records, not vital records, so the district clerk generally makes them available to anyone under the Texas Public Information Act. Government records in Texas are presumed public, and a government office cannot ask why you want them.3Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Open Records Policy The main exception is a file a judge has sealed or restricted.
Request a Verification From DSHS
Not everyone can get a certified verification from DSHS. Texas limits certified copies to a “properly qualified applicant”: the person named in the record, an immediate family member by blood, marriage, or adoption (including children, spouses, parents, siblings, and grandparents), a legal guardian, or an authorized legal representative such as an attorney acting on the person’s behalf.4Legal Information Institute. 25 Texas Admin Code 181.1 – Definitions Government agencies and some others qualify if they can show a direct, tangible interest tied to a statutory requirement or personal property right.
If you qualify, submit the Marriage/Divorce Application, Form VS-142.9, by mail or online.5Texas Department of State Health Services. Vital Applications and Forms DSHS charges $20 per divorce verification.6Texas Department of State Health Services. Costs and Fees
By Mail
Complete Form VS-142.9 and mail it to the Vital Statistics Unit in Austin with a check or money order payable to DSHS. Don’t send cash. An unsigned check or a submission without payment comes back unprocessed. Mail-in processing currently averages 25 to 30 business days from the date DSHS receives the application.7Texas Department of State Health Services. Processing Times
Online
The Texas.gov portal accepts electronic applications through the DSHS Online Vital Records Application. Pay by credit card and you’ll get an immediate confirmation. Online processing currently averages 20 to 25 business days.7Texas Department of State Health Services. Processing Times Either way, DSHS mails the verification or a notice of search results through the U.S. Postal Service. Those timelines are averages, not guarantees, so plan ahead if you’re working against a legal deadline.
When a File Is Sealed or Restricted
A judge can restrict access to a divorce file when privacy or safety concerns justify it. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 76a, which governs sealing court records, explicitly excludes cases that originate under the Family Code.8South Texas College of Law Houston. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 76a – Sealing Court Records Because divorces arise under the Family Code, sealing works differently in these cases. A party seeking to limit access typically files a motion for a protective order in the family court, asking the judge to shield specific documents or information. Courts have broad discretion in family cases to protect children, prevent harassment, or guard sensitive financial data.
When a file is sealed or restricted, only the parties, their attorneys, and authorized court personnel can view it. Anyone else needs a subsequent court order to get access.
Getting a Texas Divorce Record Recognized Abroad
If a foreign government needs to accept a Texas divorce decree, you’ll likely need an apostille, a certificate that authenticates the document for international use. The process has two steps. First, request a certified copy of the decree from the district clerk in the county where the divorce was granted, and tell them you need it for apostille purposes.9Texas Department of State Health Services. Records for Foreign Governments (Apostille)
Second, send that certified copy to the Texas Secretary of State’s office for the apostille. DSHS doesn’t handle apostille fees or processing; that falls entirely to the Secretary of State. Check the Secretary of State’s website for current fees and mailing instructions before sending anything. At the time of this writing, the Secretary of State was processing mailed apostille requests with wait times of several weeks.