Access Medina County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Medina County dissolution of marriage records are held at the District Clerk's office in Hondo, Texas. This is where all divorce cases for the county are filed and stored. If you need to look up a divorce case, request certified copies of a final decree, or check the status of a pending dissolution, the Hondo courthouse is the place to start. The office keeps records back to 1848 and can be reached by phone, mail, or in-person visit. The statewide re:SearchTX system also covers Medina County cases online.
Medina County Overview
Medina County District Clerk
The Medina County District Clerk is located in the county courthouse at 1100 16th Street in Hondo. This office handles all dissolution of marriage filings for the county. Staff store case documents, process requests for copies, and help the public find records by party name or cause number. The office is open weekdays and closes at 5:00 PM.
Medina County is in the 38th Judicial District and sits west of San Antonio. The county covers a mix of residential communities and ranch land. If you or your spouse has lived in Medina County for the required time under Texas law, you file for divorce here. The county website is at medinacountytexas.org and has office contact information.
| Office | Medina County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1100 16th St. Hondo, TX 78861 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 817 Hondo, TX 78861 |
| Phone | (830) 741-6040 |
| Fax | (830) 741-6045 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | medinacountytexas.org |
Searching Medina County Divorce Records
You can look up Medina County dissolution of marriage records in person at the Hondo courthouse, by mail, or online through re:SearchTX. In-person visits work well when you need the full file or a certified copy fast. The clerk's office at 1100 16th St. can pull records by name or cause number. Bring your photo ID.
The re:SearchTX portal covers all Texas district courts including those in the 38th Judicial District that serves Medina County. You can search for free by party name or cause number. Results show docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. This is a good way to confirm a case exists before making the trip to Hondo.
For mail requests, write to P.O. Box 817, Hondo, TX 78861. Include both parties' full names, the filing year, the cause number if you have it, payment for copy fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (830) 741-6040 first to confirm current copy fees before sending your request.
Have this ready when you search:
- At least one party's full legal name
- Approximate year of filing or divorce
- Cause number if available
- Photo ID for certified copies
The Medina County official website has county department information including the District Clerk's contact details for dissolution of marriage records in Hondo.
Check the Medina County site before your visit to confirm hours and any changes to office contact information at the Hondo courthouse.
Filing for Divorce in Medina County
Dissolution of marriage filings in Medina County follow Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Each document filed becomes part of the permanent case record at the Hondo courthouse. The District Clerk stores these records and makes them available for public inspection and copy requests.
The residency requirement under Section 6.301 says one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Medina County for 90 days before the petition is filed. It does not matter which spouse is the petitioner. Either one can file as long as the residency rule is met.
Texas law allows divorce on the no-fault ground of insupportability under Section 6.001. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. You simply state that the marriage has become insupportable due to conflict with no reasonable expectation of reconciliation. The court can grant the divorce on this ground alone. Fault-based grounds like cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, or abandonment remain available as alternatives.
The petitioner files the Original Petition for Divorce with the District Clerk and pays the filing fee. The respondent is then served or signs a waiver. If both spouses agree on all the terms, the case can proceed as an agreed divorce. Otherwise it may involve temporary orders, discovery, mediation, and a final hearing before the judge signs the decree. The District Clerk records each step and stores all resulting documents.
Waiting Period: Texas law under Section 6.702 requires a mandatory 60-day wait from the filing date before any divorce can be finalized. Limited exceptions apply in family violence situations.
What Medina County Dissolution Records Contain
A Medina County dissolution of marriage file starts with the Original Petition for Divorce and service documents. As the case proceeds, additional papers are added, including financial disclosures, temporary orders, and any agreements between the parties. The file closes with the Final Decree of Divorce, which is the signed court order ending the marriage.
The Final Decree spells out how property and debts are divided, addresses spousal maintenance if applicable, and if children are involved, sets out the conservatorship arrangement, possession schedule, and child support amount. Certified copies of the Final Decree are used to update legal records, transfer property, change names on government ID, and close joint financial accounts.
Most records in the Medina County District Clerk's office are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to request a copy. Financial records submitted under seal and documents involving children may have restrictions. The clerk will let you know if any documents in the file are not available to the public.
Online Access to Medina County Records
The re:SearchTX portal provides free online access to Medina County dissolution of marriage case records. It covers all Texas district courts and shows case dockets, party names, filing dates, and hearing information. You can search by name or cause number at no cost. No account is needed for basic searches.
Once you find a case on re:SearchTX, you can use the cause number to contact the District Clerk directly for copies. The portal gives you the reference details you need to make a focused request. It does not usually include scanned documents, but it shows the case status and docket history.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics database has divorce verification records from 1968 to 2006. You can order a letter at the DSHS website. These letters confirm a divorce occurred and provide basic case information, but they are not a replacement for a certified copy of the decree from the courthouse.
The re:SearchTX portal is a free statewide tool for searching Medina County dissolution of marriage cases filed in the 38th Judicial District.
Search re:SearchTX by party name to find Medina County divorce cases and get the cause number needed to request copies from the Hondo courthouse.
Legal Help in Medina County
Medina County residents who need legal help with a divorce and cannot pay attorney fees have options. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid serves counties in South Texas including Medina and provides free civil legal services to qualifying residents. Call (888) 988-9996 or visit trla.org to apply and learn about eligibility requirements.
TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org offers free step-by-step divorce guides and official court forms in both English and Spanish. This resource is especially useful for Medina County residents who want to file on their own. The State Bar of Texas has a referral line at (800) 252-9690 and a searchable attorney directory at texasbar.com.
All official Texas divorce forms are posted at txcourts.gov. These are the same forms accepted at the Medina County courthouse. If you are filing without legal representation, using the official forms helps prevent delays and rejection at the filing counter.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics unit provides divorce verification letters for Medina County records from 1968 through 2006.
A DSHS letter is useful when you need a quick confirmation of a past Medina County divorce without requesting the full court file from Hondo.
Cities in Medina County
Hondo is the county seat of Medina County and home to the District Clerk's office where all dissolution of marriage cases are filed. All county residents file their divorce cases at the Medina County District Court in Hondo.
Nearby Counties
Medina County borders several South and Central Texas counties. Confirm your home county before filing to make sure you meet the 90-day residency requirement for the right court.