Online Searching For Divorce Records Texas
Jul 8th, 2009 by Dave Kelly
Texas Divorce Records are considered public records in all states although there may be variations in the way they are governed and treated from one state to another. To search divorce records in any of the states, there are basically two options: government or private. Government sources are generally thought to be free, albeit largely the contrary in Texas while higher expectations are placed upon private ones. Either will work and is a matter of individual preference or situation.
The government department which is in charge of Government Divorce Records in Texas is the Texas Department of State Health Services and the service is provided out of its Vital Statistics Unit under the Report of Divorce Index section. These indexes can be downloaded free of charge from the department’s website. There are close to a hundred thousand divorce files maintained by the office but its function to this end is limited to primarily providing verification letters associated with divorce.
Requests for letters of verification cost $20.00 each even if no records can be located from the search. They are considered searching fees and are hence already expended upon a commencement of the process. Only Texas Divorce Records from 1968 onwards are indexed at the Vital Statistics Office of Texas and a ‘No record found’ from a divorce search is often recognized as single-status (marital) verification. If one is issued, a letter of verification will state the names of the parties involved, the county where the divorce was granted and its court case number.
Before 1968, Reports of Divorce Indexes were not filed with State offices but Free Public Divorce Records had already long been kept at county level. For records from that era, you must still obtain them only through the office of the District Clerk in the county where the divorce took place. Certified copies of documents other than verification letters also have to be obtained in this manner even for divorces from 1968 and after.
From background checks to divorcees applying for marriage license, the folks in Texas conduct Government Divorce Records Search for a multitude of reasons and purposes. When the subject has resided in multiple states before, it can get onerous as state databases are not linked. This brings private record providers into the fold nicely as their databases typically cater to all states one-stop. The top-tier ones also offer much better overall professional standards and services.
Commercial Divorce Records Texas providers are a great relief for a small fee and there are plenty to expect and choose from. Online record search is the most popular and not without reasons. It’s convenient, instant and competitively priced but scams abound so shop around a little before committing any fees. Good information and tips are readily found free of charge at review and other promotional sites. These guys know their business and their recommendations are rarely off the mark.
