Can You Access Texas Divorce Records?
There are a number of reasons that someone may want to access divorce records. If you want to change your name or marry after your divorce, you will need a record of your divorce.
You and your spouse may also want to make changes to your divorce agreement. This will require you to look up your divorce records.
Since divorce can be very personal and has the potential to bring out private information in court, you may be wondering who else can see your divorce records.
If you have Googled “are divorce records public in Texas” or if you need a copy of your divorce records for any reason, you may find the answers to your questions here.
Types of Divorce Records
What you need to do to obtain your divorce records in Texas depends on what type of records you are looking for. There are several different types of divorce records in Texas. Each document type contains different information and is accessible by different people.
Divorce Certificate
A divorce certificate contains only the most basic information about your divorce. A Texas divorce certificate states that you got a divorce and states the time and place when the court finalized the divorce. Divorce certificates are the most commonly requested Texas divorce records. The certificate will be sufficient to prove that you are legally able to remarry. In most cases, only you, your spouse, and the lawyers who represented you both in the divorce can see a divorce certificate.
Divorce Decree
Another type of record with more information than the divorce certificate is the divorce decree. Texas usually allows only the parties to the divorce and their attorneys to access the divorce decree. A copy of a divorce decree in Texas contains all the divorce terms that you and your spouse agreed upon. For example, if the court decided that you or your spouse must pay child support, that information and the details about the support payments will be in the divorce decree. You may need to access your divorce decree if you are looking to file a petition to modify terms of the divorce decree relating to child support, spousal support, visitation or other issues.
Divorce Record
A divorce record is the case file from your divorce. This includes all the filings from your divorce case. In the state of Texas, divorce records are generally considered public. A third party can potentially find Texas public divorce records.
How Do I Access Divorce Records?
To request a divorce record, you must find the entity, such as the county clerk’s office, that created the document. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has resources that can help someone request divorce records. These resources include a list of local offices and tools for requesting divorce records online. You may have to pay a fee to access records. In addition to using the tools provided by the state of Texas, you can sometimes access divorce records through third party websites.
How Do I Access My Divorce Decree or Certificate?
Now that you know about the different types of divorce records, you may be searching “how to get a copy of divorce decree in Texas”. You must request your divorce decree from the district clerk in the district in which you got divorced. This is also true for divorce certificates. Since certificates and divorce decrees in Texas are not public, you may have to verify your identity before you can access your records.
Contact Us With Questions
With so many different types of Texas divorce records, finding what you need can be confusing. Contact The Larson Law Office with any questions you may have about the record search. Erik and Diana Larson are ready to devote their full attention and years of experience to your concerns.