Williamson County, Texas Divorce Records
Williamson County divorce records are official documents that provide information about locally filed divorce proceedings. These records document proceedings from inception to finalization. They may also be required for certain official applications that require proof that the applicant’s marriage has been legally ended, such as applying for a marriage license to remarry.
Williamson County Divorce Stats: According to the United States Census Bureau 2024 ASC Statistics, 7.4% of males (21,594) and 11.8% of females (34,026)aged 15 years and older residing in Williamson County were reportedly divorced in 2024. These figures reflect a 0.75% increase in male divorcees and a 1.72% increase in female divorcees compared to the previous year (2023), which recorded 21,432 divorced males and 34,617 divorced females in the county.
Are Divorce Records Public in Williamson County?
Yes. Williamson County divorce records are subject to the Common Law Right of Access. The law grants the general public the right to access court case records, including divorce records. Therefore, divorce records in Williamson County are accessible to anyone, with a few exceptions.
Generally, certain information outlined in divorce records may be redacted pursuant to the Texas Government Code (GC) Chapter 552, Subchapter C, and other relevant state and federal laws, for privacy or other legal reasons. These include, but are not limited to:
- Social Security Numbers per GC Sec. 552.147
- Banking information GC Sec. 552.136
- Medical and mental health records
- Identifying information of minors
- Sealed records
How to Find Divorce Records in Williamson County
Williamson County divorce records are obtainable through the Williamson County District Clerk’s office and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The Williamson County District Clerk’s office is the primary custodian of divorce records, such as divorce decrees and case files. Meanwhile, verification letters for divorces recorded after 1968 are issued by the DSHS.
Generally, the procedure for searching and requesting divorce records in Williamson County may be summarized in the following steps:
- Step 1 - Compile identifiable information about the sought-after divorce record: These may include;
- Full names of both spouses
- Date of birth or ages of both spouses at the time of the event
- Date when the divorce was recorded
- The place where the divorce was recorded
- Both spouses’ social security numbers (if known)
-
Step 2 - Prepare relevant fees: According to the Williamson County District Clerk’s Fee Schedule, record seekers are charged the following fees for divorce records:
- Non-certified electronic copies: $1.00 for up to 10 pages plus $0.10 for each additional page.
- Certified copies: $5.00 per page.
On the other hand, divorce verification letters issued by the DSHS cost $20.00, and requesters may pay an additional $5.00 for expedited processing.
- Step 3 - Submit requests or use online resources provided by record custodians: Interested persons may use the Williamson County Court Case Lookup portal to search and access divorce decrees and other related records maintained by the County District Clerk. Alternatively, they may draft a written request for the desired divorce record and email it to DCrequest@wilco.org or visit the District Clerk’s office during regular business hours to request records in person.
On the other hand, record seekers request divorce verification letters from DSHS using the agency’s Application for Marriage or Divorce Records form. They may complete the application and submit it along with the required fees by mail or in person to the address detailed in the form. Alternatively, they may use the DSHS Order Vital Records portal to order Williamson County divorce verification online.
| Method | Where to Go | Info Needed | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | The Williamson County Court Case Lookup portal (for divorce cases’ public court records) And The DSHS’s Order Vital Records portal (for verification letters for divorces recorded between 1968 and the present) | Full names of both spouses Date of birth or ages of both spouses at the time of the event Date when the divorce was recorded The place where the divorce was recorded Both spouses’ social security numbers (if known) The applicant’s valid | There are no fees for using the Williamson County Case Lookup portal. Conversely, searches conducted through the DSHS’s portal are subject to a $20.00 fee per record. | The Williamson County Case lookup portal provides results instantly. Meanwhile, it takes the DSHS 20 to 25 days to process requests submitted through its portal. |
| In Person | The Williamson County District Clerk’s office And The DSHS’s Austin office | Identifiable information about the sought-after record and the applicant's valid ID (for the Williamson County District Clerk’s office) And A completed Application for Marriage or Divorce Records form and the applicant's valid ID (for the DSHS) | The Williamson County District Clerk's Office charges $1.00 for up to 10 pages, plus $0.10 for each additional page, for non-certified electronic copies, and $5.00 per page for certified copies And The DSHS charges $20.00 per verification | Same-day service may be possible in most cases |
| By Mail | The DSHS’s Austin office | A completed Application for Marriage or Divorce Records form and the applicant's valid ID | $20.00 | 6–8 weeks |
Overview of the Williamson County Court System
Williamson County District Courts have jurisdiction over family cases, including divorce cases, in the county. There are seven (7) District Courts operating within Williamson County, of which only three (3) preside over family cases. These include the 395th District Court, 425th District Court, and 480th District Court. Meanwhile, the Williamson County District Clerk is custodian of all district court records, including Williamson family court divorce filings. These District Courts and the District Court Clerk are situated in the same courthouse. The addresses and contact information of these courts and the District Clerk’s office are outlined below:
Williamson County District Court
405 Martin Luther King
Georgetown, TX 78626
Phone: (512) 943-1395 (395th District Court)
Phone: (512) 943-3380 (425th District Court)
Phone: (512) 943-1212 (Williamson County District Clerk)
Online Access to Williamson County Divorce Records
Interested persons may use the Williamson County Court Case Lookup portal to find Williamson divorce records online. It is a free public service tool that allows users access court records of different types of cases, including family, civil, criminal, and probate cases, handled by the Williamson County court system. Users may search for divorce records on the portal by selecting “Civil, Family & Probate Case Records” on the portal. Subsequently, they may search for records by case name, party name, attorney details, or date filed.
Indexes of divorce decrees from 1968 to the present are also accessible online through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vital Statistics Section’s Marriage and Divorce Indexes webpage. These indexes are compiled as annual files containing basic details about divorce decrees issued within each respective year. Details about each divorce decree documented in them include:
- file number
- Marriage date
- Names of both parties
- Ages of both parties
- Number of children under 18
- Date the marriage was dissolved
- County name and code where the decree was filed.
Record seekers may also access Williamson County divorce records online through third-party websites that offer public records search services. Most third-party websites charge users a fee for using their service, which may vary by provider. However, these sites are privately owned and are not official sources of divorce records. As a result, the records they provide may contain outdated or inaccurate information.
What’s Typically Included in a Williamson Divorce Record
Williamson County divorce records are comprised of different documents generated by or filed with the District Clerk in the course of a divorce proceeding. These include, but are not limited to:
- The petition for divorce
- Grounds for divorce
- Proof of service
- Response to the divorce petition
- Counter claims
- Child custody and visitation order
- Spousal support order
- Protective order
- Financial information
- Settlement agreement
- Final decree of divorce
- Post-judgement motions and orders
- Certificate of divorce
- Verification letter
Note: Certain information found in divorce records are considered confidential and inaccessible to the public under specific state and federal law. Such information is usually redacted from public divorce records. Some examples include, but are not limited to, financial information, social security numbers, and children's identifiable information.
| Information | Available to the Public? |
|---|---|
| The petition for divorce | Yes |
| Grounds for divorce | Yes |
| Final decree of divorce | Yes |
| Counter claims | Yes |
| Protective order | Sometimes |
| Children's identifiable information | No |
| Social security numbers | No |
| Financial information | No |
How to Get Certified Copies of Williamson Divorce Records
Interested persons may request certified copies of Williamson County divorce records through the Williamson County District Clerk. They would need to provide information about the sought-after record, such as the full names of both parties, the case number (if known), and the approximate date of divorce, to facilitate requests. Furthermore, the clerk charges a certification fee of $5.00 per page, in addition to the standard copy fee of $1.00 per page. Requesters may also need to present a valid ID. Requests may be made electronically by drafting and submitting a written request to the District Clerk by email at DCrequest@wilco.org. Alternatively, requesters may visit the clerk’s office during regular business hours to submit their written request in person.
Generally, the Williamson County District Clerk issues non-certified and certified copies of divorce records. The former are informational documents that are intended for personal use, while the latter are legally valid documents that can be used in official processes and applications.
| Type of Copy | Use Case | Who Can Request | Legally Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Copy | Remarriage, legal proceedings, legal name change, and certain financial transactions | Spouses named in the record and their authorized representatives | Yes |
| Non-certified Copy | Genealogy research, personal review, and personal verification of details about a divorce proceeding. | Anyone (if public) | No |
Williamson Divorce Records Summary
| Custodian | Available Record Type | Access Method | Fees & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson County District Clerk | Non-certified and certified copies of divorce records | In person, email, and online | Non-certified copies cost $1.00 for up to 10 pages, plus $0.10 for each additional page. Meanwhile, certified copies cost $5.00 per page plus the standard copy fee of $1.00 per page. |
| Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) | Divorce verification letter (1968 to the present only) | In person, by mail, and online | $20 per copy; includes only summary information (such as divorcees’ names, divorce date, case number, e.t.c.) |
| Third-Party Websites | Aggregated records | Online | Fees may vary by website, and the accuracy of records is not guaranteed. |