Mason County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Mason County dissolution of marriage records are filed and kept by the District Clerk in the city of Mason. If you need to search for a divorce case or get copies of a final decree, the District Clerk's office on West Dockery Street is your starting point. Records go back to 1858. You can contact the clerk by phone or mail, or visit in person during regular hours. The clerk can look up records by name or cause number.
Mason County Overview
Mason County District Clerk
The District Clerk in Mason handles all dissolution of marriage filings and maintains case records for Mason County. The office processes new court filings, stores case files, and provides copies of documents on request. Staff can look up cases by party name or by cause number. The office is located at the Mason County Courthouse on West Dockery Street.
Mason County is a small rural county in the Texas Hill Country. It sits in a scenic part of Central Texas that draws ranchers and retirees. The county has one district court that handles all civil and family matters including divorce cases. Given the county's small size, the District Clerk's office is modest but efficient. Records here date back to 1858.
The county's previous website is no longer active. For current contact information and services, call the District Clerk directly at the number listed below.
| Office | Mason County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 W. Dockery St. Mason, TX 76856 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 702, Mason, TX 76856 |
| Phone | (325) 347-5252 |
| Fax | (325) 347-5226 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Texas Courts system offers statewide access tools and a searchable portal that may include Mason County dissolution of marriage cases filed in district court.
The re:SearchTX portal is a statewide court records system where you may be able to locate Mason County dissolution of marriage case records by searching by party name.
How to Find Mason County Dissolution Records
Mason County does not have its own online case search tool. To look up a dissolution of marriage case, contact the District Clerk by phone at (325) 347-5252 or send a written request to P.O. Box 702, Mason, TX 76856. You can also check the statewide re:SearchTX portal, which may include some Mason County district court records. Search by party name or cause number if you have it.
When you contact the clerk, have the full legal names of both parties and an approximate year for the case. A cause number makes the search faster if you have one. For older cases going back many decades, the clerk may need a bit of extra time to pull the physical file. Call first to ask about retrieval time for older records.
To get certified copies of a Final Decree of Divorce, you can visit in person or mail a request with payment. The clerk will tell you the per-page fee and certification cost when you inquire. Bring your ID for in-person requests. Mail requests require payment in advance, so get the fee amount before sending anything.
Filing for Divorce in Mason County
The process for filing a dissolution of marriage in Mason County follows Texas state law. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 6, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Mason County for 90 days before filing. You file the Original Petition for Divorce with the District Clerk and pay the filing fee. The clerk assigns a cause number to track the case.
The other spouse must be served with the petition or sign a Waiver of Service. After service, a 60-day waiting period is required by law before the court can grant the divorce. This is true whether the case is agreed or contested. If both parties agree on all terms, an Agreed Final Decree can be submitted to the judge after the waiting period ends.
Texas law allows divorce on no-fault grounds under the insupportability provision in Section 6.001. This is the most widely used ground. Fault grounds like cruelty, abandonment, and adultery are also available but require proof. Property division follows Texas Family Code Chapter 7, which calls for a just and right division of community property. If children are involved, Chapter 153 governs conservatorship and child support matters.
60-Day Waiting Period: Texas requires at least 60 days from the date the petition is filed before a court can finalize a dissolution of marriage. Exceptions apply in family violence cases.
What Is in a Mason County Divorce Case File
A dissolution of marriage case file in Mason County contains all papers filed from the start to the finish of the case. The Original Petition opens the file. Service documents, any agreements, financial disclosures, and temporary court orders all get added during the case. The Final Decree of Divorce is the last and most important document in the file.
The Final Decree is the judge-signed order that ends the marriage. It details how property and debts are split, any spousal support terms, and if children are in the picture, the full custody and child support arrangement. Certified copies of this decree are what most people need for name changes, updating financial accounts, or proving marital status.
Dissolution records in Mason County are generally open to the public. You don't need to be a party to ask for them. Some financial exhibits may be sealed by the court. Records involving minor children may also have limited public access. The clerk can tell you what is open in any specific file you ask about.
Fees for Dissolution of Marriage in Mason County
Filing fees in Mason County are set by the court according to state law. For a basic divorce case without children, fees typically run in the $200 to $300 range. Cases with children cost a bit more. Call the clerk at (325) 347-5252 to confirm the exact current fee before you file. Fees can change and it is always best to verify.
Other costs include service fees, copy fees, and certification charges. Certified copies of the Final Decree cost per page plus a flat certification fee. Plain copies cost less. If you are mailing a request, call first to get the exact cost so you send the right payment amount.
Fee waivers are available for people who qualify based on income. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with the court. The form is available at txcourts.gov or from the clerk. The judge reviews your financial information and decides whether to grant the waiver.
Legal Help for Mason County Residents
Mason County is a small rural county, so local legal help can be hard to find. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Lone Star Legal Aid both serve parts of Central Texas and may cover Mason County depending on your location. Check eligibility at trla.org or lonestarlegal.org. Both organizations provide free legal help to people who meet income requirements.
For a paid attorney, the State Bar of Texas referral service is available at (800) 252-9690 or at texasbar.com. Family law attorneys in Fredericksburg, Kerrville, or San Antonio may take cases in Mason County. Many offer a reduced-fee or free first consultation.
Self-help resources are available for free at texaslawhelp.org, which has guides and forms for Texas family law. The Texas Court Help site at texascourthelp.gov provides step-by-step guidance for filing without a lawyer. Court forms are also at txcourts.gov.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Mason County in the Texas Hill Country. File in the county where you or your spouse has lived for at least 90 days.