Are Comal County Divorce Records Public?

Yes, divorce records are public in Comal County. Texas Public Information Act guarantees public access to Comal County divorce records and other government documents. Also, the Texas Administrative Code and Comal County local court procedures outline the terms for accessing divorce records within Comal County, TX.

However, not all Comal County divorce records are publicly disclosable. Texas and federal laws do not permit public disclosure of divorce information that violates privacy or undermines the security of the subjects. Hence, members of the public cannot access sealed or sensitive Comal County divorce information.

Who Can Access Comal County Public Records?

Under Texas laws, anyone can access Comal County divorce records. These documents are accessible to the general public, law enforcement, government agencies, and judicial officers. However, notwithstanding the general access, accessible information depends on the requester. Although basic details such as the names of the subjects, the date of filing, and the outcome of divorce petitions are publicly accessible, non-involved individuals must obtain court orders or the consent of involved spouses to have full access to divorce information.

The Comal County District Clerk's Office will redact information that violates privacy or exposes the owners of divorce records to harm. For instance, financial account details, Social Security Numbers, and information about juvenile children are not publicly disclosable.

Individuals seeking to confirm eligibility to access Comal County divorce records should submit valid government-issued identification documents to the Comal County District Clerk's Office at:

150 N. Seguin Avenue, Suite 3009,
New Braunfels,
Texas 78130
Phone: (830) 221-1250
Fax: (830) 608-2006

Do I Need to State My Purpose and Use When Requesting Divorce Records in Comal County?

No, requesters do not need to state purposes to access Comal County divorce records. The Texas Public Information Act did not instruct individuals to state reasons when requesting divorce records. However, requests for Comal County divorce records should be for legitimate use. Comal County divorce record seekers can use the documents for genealogical and historical research, legal trials, personal collections, and other reasons allowable by Texas and federal laws.

How do you Request Divorce Records in Comal County?

Requests for Comal County divorce records can be online, through in-person visits, or by mail to the Comal County Clerk's Office. Requesters for Comal County divorce records should log into the Comal County District Clerk's Office Civil, Family Case Records Portal and use the search tools and applicable criteria to access divorce information.

Alternatively, you can visit or mail the Comal County District Clerk's Office for access to divorce records or fax requests to (830) 608-2006.

For information about payment for copies of Comal County divorce records, email the Comal County District Clerk's Office at DistrictClerksOffice@co.comal.tx.us.

What Information is Included in a Comal County Divorce Record?

The type of information on a Comal divorce record depends on the requester's relationship to the documents. Generally, a publicly accessible Comal County record contains basic information like:

• The names of the involved parties
• Case number
• Filing date
• Final judgment
• The name of the court that handled the divorce case.

By comparison, in addition to the basic divorce information, a Comal County divorce case file will contain:

• Petition for divorce
• Responses
• Orders and motions
• Financial details
• Social Security Numbers
• Legal reasons for divorce (for example, adultery, cruelty, or no-fault)
• Division of property
• Spousal support (if applicable)
• Child custody and support, and visitation rights.

Requesters should note that the Comal County District Clerk's Office will redact financial account details, Social Security Number, and information relating to minor children for privacy and security reasons.

Fees for Accessing Comal County Divorce Records

The following fees apply to copies of Comal County divorce records:

In-person requests

• Non-certified copies - $1.00
• Certified copies - $5.00 for the first page and an additional $1.00 per each subsequent page

Mail requests

• Non-certified copies - $1.00 per page
• Certified copies - $5.00 for the first page, an additional $1.00 per each subsequent page, and a $2.00 postage fee

Online requests

• $1.00 for the first 10 pages and $.10 for each extra page.

Veterans, seniors, and low-income earners who cannot afford to pay for copies of Comal County divorce records can complete Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs or an Appeal Bond forms and submit them to the District Clerk's Office for waivers or price reductions.

How Long Does It Take to Obtain Divorce Records in Comal County?

The time it takes the Comal County District Clerk's Office to deliver divorce records after requests depends on the complexity of the documents, the volume of requests to the clerk's office during the period, the completeness of requests, and the availability of the records. The following are estimates of the timeline for obtaining Comal County divorce records through various request methods:

• Online access through the Comal County District Clerk's Records Search Portal - same day if the request is for non-certified copies (requesters can download copies after payments). However, it takes 1 to 3 business days to process online requests for certified copies of divorce records.
• In-person requests - same day if the request does not require an extensive search for the documents

Mail requests - 7 to 14 business days

If the divorce records are archived, the delivery timeline may range between 1 and 4 weeks.

For faster deliveries, applicants should inquire if the Comal County District Clerk's Office expedited delivery services.

Can I Request Divorce Records Online in Comal County?

Yes, applicants can request Comal County divorce records online through the Comal County District Clerk's Office Civil, Family Case Records Portal. Also, Comal County divorce records may be accessible through third-party online databases like Texascourtrecords.us. Nonetheless, users of private websites should be cautious because they are independent platforms, and there are guarantees of the accuracy of their documents.

Are There Any Exceptions to Accessing Comal County Divorce Records?

Yes, there are exceptions to accessing Comal County divorce records. Although divorce records are public in Comal County, there are restrictions to information whose public access infringes on privacy or exposes their owners to danger. For these reasons, the Comal County District Clerk's Office will redact financial account details, Social Security Numbers, protective orders, and other sensitive divorce details.

Individuals seeking to access non-public details of Comal County divorces require judicial orders or subpoenas.