Access Austin Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Austin dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Travis County District Clerk's office at the Travis County Civil Courthouse. If you need to search for a dissolution case, request a copy of a Final Decree, or confirm filing details, the District Clerk is your starting point. Austin is the county seat of Travis County and the state capital of Texas. The District Clerk is a constitutional office that serves as custodian of all pleadings, instruments, and papers filed in the district courts. You can search cases online through the Travis County portal, use the re:SearchTX system, or visit the Civil Courthouse at 1000 Guadalupe Street during business hours.
Austin Overview
Travis County District Clerk - Austin
Austin residents file for dissolution of marriage at the Travis County District Court. The Travis County District Clerk is the custodian of all court records filed with the district courts. Dissolution cases are assigned to the family district courts within the county system. The Civil Courthouse on Guadalupe Street in downtown Austin handles all family law filings.
The District Clerk's office processes new filings, maintains all existing case files, issues citations, and provides copies of court documents. Certified copies of a divorce decree are available from this office. The Travis County District Clerk is Velva L. Price. Dissolution records include the petition, citation, any temporary orders, the final decree, property settlements, and custody orders if children are involved.
| Office | Travis County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Travis County Civil Courthouse 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 Civil Courthouse is in central Austin near the state capitol complex. Metered parking and garages are available nearby. Security screening is required at the entrance. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can help with filing new cases, looking up existing records, and ordering copies of dissolution documents.
The Travis County government website provides information on the District Clerk's office and online access to dissolution of marriage records for Austin and all of Travis County.
Travis County's District Clerk manages certified court document requests for dissolution cases, including final decrees, original petitions, and custody orders filed in Austin.
Search Austin Dissolution Cases
You can search dissolution of marriage cases filed in Austin through the Travis County District Clerk. The clerk's site at traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk has case information tools and a certified court documents request page. Travis County also uses the Odyssey case management system, so records are accessible through re:SearchTX.
The traviscountycourt.org site at traviscountycourt.org/court-records provides additional detail on how to access county records, what information you need to search, and what documents are available. Divorce records come from the District Clerk, not the County Clerk. Marriage records come from the County Clerk. These are two separate offices with separate record systems.
To search, use the full name of at least one party and an approximate filing date. A cause number makes the search faster. Once you find the case, you can request certified copies at a fee of $1 per page plus $5 for certification. The clerk can also process requests by mail.
Note: Online tools show case-level information. The actual text of decrees and other documents generally requires a formal request to the clerk's office.
The Austin Municipal Court page clarifies that the municipal court handles traffic and city ordinance matters only, and all dissolution of marriage cases go to Travis County District Court.
Austin Municipal Court is located at 6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 175, and handles only Class C misdemeanors. Dissolution of marriage is a Travis County District Court matter.
How to File for Dissolution in Austin
Dissolution of marriage in Austin follows Texas Family Code Chapter 6. The case is filed at Travis County District Court. Each filing creates records that become part of the case file and are maintained by the District Clerk.
Before you file, you must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code Section 6.301. At least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Travis County for 90 days before the petition is filed. If you recently moved to Austin, check whether you meet this requirement before you try to file.
Texas law allows both no-fault and fault-based grounds. The most common is "insupportability" under Texas Family Code Section 6.001. This means the marriage has broken down because of conflict or discord and there is no reasonable chance of reconciliation. No wrongdoing by either party needs to be proven. Fault grounds include cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, three years of living apart, and confinement in a mental hospital.
The filing process starts with an Original Petition for Divorce. The other party must be served or sign a Waiver. If both spouses agree on all issues, the case can move forward as an agreed dissolution. Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before the Final Decree can be signed. Travis County courts accept e-filing through eFile Texas. If children are involved, a conservatorship order and parenting plan must be included in the decree. Child support follows the guidelines in Texas Family Code Chapter 154.
Travis County has legal self-help resources at the courthouse for residents filing without an attorney. Ask the clerk's office where the self-help center is located when you arrive.
re:SearchTX - Travis County Cases
The re:SearchTX portal provides free public access to case records from Texas courts using the Odyssey system. Travis County courts are part of this system. You can search Austin dissolution cases by party name or cause number and see the filing date, court assignment, case type, and docket history.
The portal is run by the Texas Office of Court Administration and does not require an account for basic searches. It is a good way to confirm a case number or track the status of an active dissolution before reaching out to the clerk. For actual documents, certified copies, or any records needed for legal use, contact the Travis County District Clerk at (512) 854-9457.
Texas DSHS Divorce Verification
Texas DSHS Vital Statistics keeps divorce verification records from 1968 to the present. A verification letter confirms the names of both parties, the county where the case was filed, and the date the dissolution was granted. It is not a full court record, but it is an official document confirming the event.
Order a verification at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics/marriage-divorce-records. The fee is $20. You can also use the Texas.gov portal at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. For the actual Final Decree or case documents, you need to go through the Travis County District Clerk.
Legal Aid and Self-Help in Austin
Austin has several organizations that can help with dissolution of marriage cases. Some serve low-income residents for free. Others offer referrals or legal guidance.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid serves Travis County. Reach them at (512) 374-2700 or trla.org. Austin Volunteer Lawyers offers free clinics for people who qualify. The State Bar of Texas referral service is at (800) 252-9690, and their attorney directory is at texasbar.com.
For self-help guides and forms, visit texaslawhelp.org. Official court forms are at txcourts.gov. Plain-language guidance on the court process is at texascourthelp.gov. The Texas State Law Library at sll.texas.gov is free and open to the public.
Travis County Dissolution Records
Austin is in Travis County, and all dissolution of marriage cases are filed with the Travis County District Court. For more on the county court system, fees, online access, and clerk contact details, visit the Travis County dissolution records page.
Nearby Texas Cities
Other qualifying Texas cities with dissolution of marriage records near Austin:
- San Antonio - Bexar County District Clerk, about 80 miles southwest
- Houston - Harris County District Clerk, about 165 miles east
- Corpus Christi - Nueces County District Clerk, about 210 miles south
- Lubbock - Lubbock County District Clerk, about 320 miles northwest