Are Divorce Records Public in Texas? (See Any TX Divorce Free)

Are divorce records public in Texas? Any Texas resident who wants to access divorce records for one reason or another may wonder whether these records are available to the public. A public member may wish to change their name or get married after a divorce, in which case they will need access to their divorce records.

These records are accessible to anyone through the Department of State Health Services and Vital Statistics. What’s more, this department allows residents to download divorce records free of charge. Additionally, some third-party websites also offer access to divorce and other public records. The following guide will explain the divorce process and how to access these records.

Texas Public Records

The Texas government allows the residents in the state to access a wide range of public records. Even so, some records are partly or wholly restricted, depending on the record type. For instance, records that reveal confidential information such as trade secrets will not be available to the public.

These public records include any records, information, or documents that government agencies or officers create, maintain, and preserve according to the law.¹ Members of the public can access these records through the government agencies that filed the records. Examples of public records that are available to the public include:

• Vital Records
• Court Records
• Census Data
• Arrest warrants
• Bankruptcies
• Tax liens and judgments
• Texas property records
• Texas deed records
• Texas Criminal Records (Texas Arrest Records)

It’s important to note that government agencies may charge a negligible search or retrieval fee. One effective way to obtain these documents is through third-party websites such as backgroundcheck-repair.

Texas Vital Records

Texas vital records are listed as follows:

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Birth
• Death

Birth Records in Texas

The Texas government allows anyone born in the state within the last 75 years, their immediate family members, and authorized legal personnel to access birth records. Births older than 75 years can be accessed through the Department of Health, Texas.⁶

A resident can order a birth certificate copy through the state’s Department of State Health Services. This department will provide both non-certified and certified birth certificate copies. Access to birth records is limited to the person named or their immediate family member.

Death Records in Texas

Death certificates within the last 25 years are accessible to authorized legal personnel and immediate family members. Residents can access death certificates older than 25 years through the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section.

Texas Marriage Records

Marriage records in Texas refer to detailed documents that prove a marriage was contracted in the state. These records will have all the essential details highlighted in the marriage certificate. A marriage record will contain:

• Names of the parties involved
• Time of marriage ceremony
• Location of the ceremony
• Marriage License
• Post-nuptial documents

A few marriage records will also include affidavits of parental consent and marriage application.

Are divorce records public in Texas? The Texas government considers marriage records as public records. As such, residents can request, inspect, and make copies of the marriage documents.

Even so, certain records are subject to restrictions. For instance, though plain marriage certificates are available to anyone in Texas, only the parties named on these records, designated attorneys, and immediate family members can obtain certified copies.

Marriage and divorce records are part of Family Court records in Texas. These records will also include the personal information of the members involved, and it’s critical to maintain them should the parties involved wish to make changes. Therefore, though divorce and marriage records are accessible, they are more challenging to obtain and locate than other public records.

Where Do I Get Texas Marriage License Records?

In the US, a marriage license refers to a legal document that sanctions a marital union between two people. Anyone who wishes to marry in Texas must obtain a marriage license before the ceremony.

Additionally, the two individuals who intend to enter matrimony must fulfill all the marriage requirements given out by the Texas government. One example of a marriage requirement is parental consent for underage parties applying to get married.

Once both parties have met the legal requirements for marriage, they bill the clerk of the county where the wedding will occur, who will then issue a marriage license to the spouses. This license also grants an authorized officiant permission to conduct the marriage ceremony. A Texas marriage license is only valid for marriages held in the state.

The Texas government usually issues formal marriage licenses to couples who want to get married in the state and have fulfilled the legal requirements. The formal license allows the spouses to go forward with the marriage ceremony, making them qualified to receive a marriage certificate. After the officiant solemnizes the marriage, they will issue a signed marriage certificate to the couple.

Common Law Marriage Licenses in Texas

Texas is among the few states in the US that approve and recognize common law marriage. There is no solemnization ceremony in this marriage, but the couple will not receive a marriage certificate.²

In spite of this, according to the law and society, their marriage is legal, and they can get a divorce through the usual legal process. In Texas, licenses are not needed in common-law marriages because there is no formal marriage ceremony.

To qualify for common law or informal marriage, both spouses must be above 18 years. Moreover, they should have cohabitated for an extended period before applying with the government. Lastly, the neighborhood should recognize them as a couple.

Any couple wishing to register for a common law marriage license should go to the county clerk’s office in their area and submit a form of Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage.

How Do I Obtain a Marriage License Record in Texas?

Any Texas resident must visit the office of the County Clerk to obtain a marriage license.⁵ One can get the marriage license in person, by mail, or online depending on the county in which they reside.

To receive the marriage license by mail, the spouses will complete and submit an Application for Marriage License form. Both parties should not currently be married or related to each other. Additionally, they must satisfy all the requirements of the state.

The couple should visit the local county clerk’s office to ask for the marriage license fee and requirements needed to obtain the license, which may vary from county to county. The requester may find this information posted on the county clerk’s website, and this is common for performing a spouse background check.

How Do I Get a Marriage Certificate in Texas?

County clerks are also responsible for providing marriage certificate copies in Texas. The requester will submit a request form to the Department of Vital Statistics in the office of the county clerk, where the involved parties conducted the marriage.

The county clerk’s office requires the following information to search and release marriage certificate copies:

• Full names of the two spouses
• Marriage date
• City/County of marriage
• Name and address of the requester
• Purpose of the request

The applicant will also have to present a government-issued ID such as a military ID, Passport, and Driver’s License.

Divorce in Texas (Are Divorce Records Public in Texas?)

A divorce record is an umbrella term that includes comprehensive information about the divorce case process in Texas. Everything in the divorce proceedings, including decrees, certificates, and judgments, will become a part of a divorce record.

The office of the Clerk of Court creates a divorce record when two people who are in matrimony decide to get rid of the legal tenets that surround the marriage. These tenets may include reversal, dissolution, or annulment of marriage.

Ending a marriage contract will require a legal decision since both spouses will lose the public benefits that come with getting married and will have negative feelings during the whole divorce process. Are divorce records public in Texas? Divorce records are accessible to the public because government bodies create and maintain these documents.

Despite this accessibility, divorce records are some of the most difficult public records to locate. This is because the laws and statutes that cover divorce will restrict the accessibility of these documents to the parties involved in the process and the legal professionals.

Even so, divorce is part of court records, and there are methods residents can use to locate and gather these records reliably, such as third-party websites. Since divorce records contain personal information such as finances, information on minors, and sensitive criminal information such as domestic abuse, these parts of the records will not be available to the public.

Public Divorce Records Texas

Texas makes some records public for searching, which is especially useful for people asking, how to request my divorce decree online.

Texas Divorce Certificate

A divorce certificate is the most common divorce record accessed by the public. A certificate will contain the least and safest information, which is why it’s widespread. This information includes

• A statement that the two parties are divorced
• Location of the divorce
• Time and date of the divorce

Divorce certificates are usually issued when one party wants to change their name or get remarried after a divorce.

Texas Divorce Decree

A divorce decree differs from a divorce certificate in that a decree will contain the information in the certificate together with other details of the divorce case, such as findings and judgment. Additional information contained in a divorce decree includes but is not limited to:

• Child support
• Spousal support
• Property division
• Visitation agreement
• Child custody

In the divorce proceedings, all the agreed-upon information, such as how the debt and assets will be divided among the spouses, whether either party will return to their maiden name, and who owns and controls life and death insurance, will be noted in the divorce decree.

The presiding judge signs the decree, including the case number. This case number is necessary when parties want to make changes to the document. A divorce decree can be accessed by the two parties involved in the divorce as well as the legal personnel present during the proceedings.

Texas also allows other members to access the divorce decrees in special circumstances.

Texas Divorce Record (Are Divorce Records Public in Texas?)

A divorce record includes the information found in a divorce decree and divorce certificate, as well as documented information about the divorce proceedings.³ A divorce record technically describes a divorce file that contains all the details of a divorce case. Many courts preserve these files for the future, and the information may be retrieved when one of the divorcees wishes to fight, change, or contest any judgment made during the case.

Divorce records are similar to other court records in that they can be retrieved the same way as criminal and court records. The requester must provide valid identification, some preliminary information, and the required fees.

Filing for Divorce in Texas

The purpose of a divorce in Texas or elsewhere is twofold: to sever the marital tie and to divide debts and assets. Additionally, if the marriage has lasted for a significant period and one of the spouses is unable to support themselves, then an alimony issue may arise.

Also, if minor children are involved, then child support and custody will be part of the divorce proceedings.

Requirements for Filing and Divorce in Texas

In Texas, before a person files for divorce or dissolution of marriage, they should meet the state’s residency requirement. These requirements include:

• Residing in the state for at least half a year before filing
• Living in the county where the party wishes to file for at least 90 days

Sometimes, the requester may qualify for an agreed or uncontested divorce. In this case, both spouses reach a marital settlement agreement that covers all the legal issues concerning the divorce, which include:

• Dividing property and debts
• Alimony or spousal maintenance
• Child support, visitation, and custody

Furthermore, both parties should agree that the marriage is ‘insupportable’ due to conflicts, and there is no reasonable expectation for reconciliation. This requirement is one of the grounds (no-fault reason) for divorce in Texas.

If one of the spouses claims one or more fault-based grounds as provided for by the law, then an uncontested divorce will be out of the option. The uncontested divorce process is simple with easy-to-access forms and procedures and will not need the services of a lawyer.

The Texas government provides different divorce forms depending on the situation. Once the spouse fills out the paperwork, they will submit it to the clerk’s office and pay a filing fee. Once the spouse has filed the divorce paper, they will enter either a contested or uncontested divorce.

Once the respondent has filed an answer, both spouses must disclose certain documents and information about their retirement plans, assets, and other financial matters within 30 days. The divorcing parties can request the court to issue a temporary order to preserve the property as the divorce proceeding progresses. This order should restrict one or both parties from selling, hiding, mortgaging, and damaging assets belonging to one or both parties.

How To File for a Divorce in Texas

Residents who qualify for an uncontested divorce will start by filing the original divorce petition together with other supporting documents. One of these documents will be the marital settlement agreement that outlines the division of assets and the parties’ agreement about any minors involved.

The documents will be filed with the court, and each spouse will receive a copy. After filing, the parties must attend a court hearing where the judge will verify the paperwork and provide a divorce decree.

In case the parties enter a contested divorce, then they will hire lawyers to help them try and reach an agreement regarding the issues.

The proceedings may also involve a facilitator who focuses the discussion. This process needs the approval of both parties, and it can be stopped at any time by either of the parties. The agreements that result from the process will be added to the divorce decree.

What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Texas?

If a requester has a legally recognized reason for getting a divorce, then they have grounds for divorce. These grounds serve as a justification to sever a marital relationship.

Texas has both fault-based and no-fault grounds for divorce. To receive a no-fault divorce, the interested party will have to state in the original petition that the marriage has become insupportable due to discord or conflict. The requester can also prove that the parties have not cohabited or lived apart for at least three years.

Fault-based grounds for divorce include:

• Adultery
• Cruel treatment that makes cohabitation insupportable
• Felony conviction and imprisonment for a minimum of one year
• Abandonment for a minimum of one year
• Mental hospital confinement for at least three years without any likelihood of permanent ‘adjustment.’

It’s well to note that these reasons add complexity to the process as they require proof; thus, there is no reason to use them.

Division of Property in a Divorce in Texas

In most cases, a divorce proceeding will involve the division of assets and debts.

Generally, each party will maintain the property acquired before marriage or an inheritance or gift.⁴ It could also be property the property got as compensation for personal injury (apart from the loss of earning capacity). In case of a dispute, the party that claims separate property will have to offer convincing and clear evidence of the nature of its separation.

On the other hand, property gained during marriage is considered community property. The judge will equitably divide the property if the parties do not agree.

How Is Alimony and Child Support Awarded in Texas?

In Texas, alimony is called maintenance, and it will be ordered if:

• The marriage lasts ten years, and the person seeking maintenance does not have sufficient income, earning ability, or property to provide for their minimum needs.
• The party seeking alimony cannot or should not seek gainful employment because of being custodians to a child that requires substantial care resulting from mental or physical disability.
• The party supposed to pay maintenance has a conviction for or received deferred adjudication for a criminal offense that constitutes an act of family violence. Additionally, this offense must have occurred two years before the filing date or while the divorce case is still pending.

The party that seeks maintenance must be diligent in seeking employment, gaining skills, and becoming self-supporting unless the party can’t work outside the home due to a mental or physical disability. The judge will consider the amount, manner of payment, duration, and nature of the maintenance.

Are Texas Divorce Records Public?

Divorce records can be retrieved in three ways they include:

1. In-Person

Each municipality and government body, including districts, cities, and counties, has its own prices on record searching and reproduction. The opening hours and processes vary from region to region. The best information is found with the local registrar or clerk.

To get the contact information of the records’ issuer, visit the records page of the Department of Health and Human Services.⁷

The marriage and divorce records section will give the requester information on all the district and county clerks. The requester will visit the clerk’s office, submit an application form, and pay a $20 fee by check, cash, money order, or credit and debit card.

2. By Mail

Any requester who wants to get divorce records by mail will have to print and fill out the application form. Then they will submit the form with a photocopy of a government ID and a $47.95 verification, processing, and delivery fee. The information should be sent to:

DSHS Vital Statistics
PO Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

3. Online

The Texas government provides an online platform where interested parties can get copies of vital records,⁸ including divorce verification. Divorce verification dating from 1968 to the present can be ordered online and will take approximately 20-25 days. The requester will have to pay $20 for every copy through a debit or credit card.