Are Denton County Divorce Records Public?

Denton County divorce records are mostly accessible to the public unless they contain information that is exempt under state or federal laws. The Texas Public Information Act governs public access to divorce records and determines the process and requirements for obtaining them. For instance, the law requires public members to obtain divorce documents from agencies responsible for keeping them.

Under the state law, some divorce records are exempted from public access. Such records are generally redacted if they contain information that violates a concerned party’s right to safety or privacy. For example, data about minors in divorce cases is not included in public divorce records. Personal data and financial statements are also redacted from public view.

Who Can Access Denton County Public Records?

According to the Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, all persons or entities can access public records in Denton County. The law does not restrict access to public records based on the requestor’s location or citizenship status.

However, the law limits or restricts public access to public records that contain private or confidential information. Due to the sensitivity of such records, only the following groups of requesters are eligible to obtain them:

• The divorce petitioner and respondent.
• Immediate family relations of the case parties, including the case party’s offspring and parents.
• Legal representatives of the case parties
• Local or state government agencies, such as:
  • Denton County District Clerk’s offices
  • The Texas Department of State Health Services
  • The Office of the Attorney General.
  • The Texas Department of Public Safety
  • The Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  • The Texas Historical Commission.

In Denton County, government agencies require legally eligible parties to provide documents that prove their right to obtain the record. The parties may present a proof of identification or relationship document.

There are also opportunities for third-party requesters to obtain restricted public records in Denton County. In most cases, they are required to present a court order that authorizes them to obtain the record or a letter of authorization from the record subjects.

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

No, requesters do not need to provide a reason for requesting divorce records in Denton County. The state law prohibits record custodians from making such demands from requestors. To obtain records, inquirers must provide information about the requested document and pay the required search or copy fee.

How do you Request Divorce Records in Denton County?

Applicants can request divorce records in Denton County by following this guide:

1. Determine the agency responsible for keeping the record.
   The Denton County district clerk is the official record keeper of divorce decrees issued in the county. In contrast, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TxDSHS) provides divorce verification documents for divorce events from 1968 until the present date.
2. Select a preferred option for requesting the record
   Both record custodians offer in-person or mail-in access to divorce records in their custody.
3. Order Denton County divorce records through the preferred option
   To order a divorce verification document, interested parties must submit a completed request form via mail or in-person to the TxDSHS at:

Physical address
Collin County Clerk’s Office
Administration Building
2300 Bloomdale Road
Suite 2106
McKinney, TX 75071
Phone: (972) 548-4185 (McKinney)
Phone: (972) 424-1460, ext. 4185 (Metro)
Phone: (972) 881-3025 (Metro)
Phone: (972) 424-1460, ext. 3025 (Metro)
Fax: (972) 547-5731

DSHS—Vital Statistics Section
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756

Mail address
DSHS - VSS
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040.

Alternately, requestors can obtain divorce decrees and case files by submitting a record request form to the district clerk’s office at:

Mailing address
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, Texas 76202

Physical address
1450 East McKinney Street
Denton, Texas

1. Pay the required fees.

The district clerk’s office charges $5 per certified divorce record and $1 per page of the record. However, it costs $20 to obtain a divorce verification document from the TxDSHS. Note that mail orders may include fees for fast mailing options.

What Information is Included in a Denton County Divorce Record?

Denton County divorce records typically contain information on the following:

• The case parties’ names
• Case type and filing date.
• Divorce petitioner’s name and lead attorneys
• Number of the parties’ children under 18 years old.
• Marriage dissolution date.
• Court location
• Court disposition, including judgments.
• District court clerk’s name and signature.

Some information is not included in publicly accessible divorce records. For instance, record custodian agencies may redact financial information like alimony or child custody payments.

Fees for Accessing Denton County Divorce Records

In Denton County, the district court clerk may charge different fees based on the document type, request volume, and shipping fee. For example, the court clerk charges $1 per page of record requested. Requestors must also pay a separate fee of $5 to obtain certified divorce records. Mail-based orders may contain additional fees for overnight or express shipping. For example, the TxDSHS charges $16 for overnight return mail.

Note: There is no public information about fee waivers for divorce record requests. However, inquirers must contact the record custodian to find out if there are available waivers.

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

Texas state laws require government entities to respond to or process public record requests within 10 to 14 business days. However, the response time may differ based on the volume of requested documents and request options. For instance, the TxDSHS processes mail-in orders between six and eight weeks after receiving them. However, in-person orders are usually processed on the same day or 24 hours after the request.

Can I Request Divorce Records Online in Denton County?

Yes, interested parties can request divorce records through Denton County's online case search platform. To find records on the platform, users must type in the case party information or case number into their respective search boxes.

On the other hand, Texascourtrecords.us and other third-party search platforms offer online access to court records. These sites typically feature user-friendly interfaces that enable users to conveniently locate divorce information. Users may also download divorce documents from these sites. Nevertheless, third-party search sites are unregulated and may not offer accurate divorce information.

Are There Any Exceptions to Accessing Denton County Divorce Records?

Yes, there are restrictions or exceptions to accessing certain divorce records in Denton County. For instance, divorce records containing personal data, such as the case party’s social security number, are exempt from public access. Record custodians will only release exempted records to legally eligible persons or entities.