Retrieve Free Grayson County Divorce Records (Verify Status)

Search free Grayson County divorce records right away using convenient online databases and official record custodians described in this brief resource. Divorce information is a matter of public record, and anyone can look up basic information about filings online, thanks to both state and federal statutes regarding public records.

This article explains how to access basic divorce information and how authorized individuals can request copies of divorce papers and certificates seamlessly in Grayson County, Texas.

How To Conduct a Grayson County Divorce Records Search for Free

The Grayson County Judicial Records Search system allows individuals to look up divorce records for free. To use the system:

• Visit the Grayson County Judicial Records Search page
• Ensure Grayson County is selected as the location in the dropdown list
• Click Civil, Family & Probate Records
• On the next page, select Party from the Search By dropdown list
• Enter the full last name and first name of one of the parties involved in the divorce
• Note that partial searches are not supported
• Click Search

The results page will show all civil, family and probate cases matching the provided details in a table. The Type/Status column will indicate which ones are divorce cases and the status of the case. Click on the case number of the desired case to view more details, such as the name and date of birth of the petitioner and whether a decree was granted.

Those who would prefer not to use an online search tool have the option of contacting the district court directly:

District Court Records Justice Center
200 S. Crockett Street
Sherman, TX 75090

Alternatively, requests for records can be made to the County & District Clerk at:

Sherman County & District Clerk
P.O. Box 270
Stratford, Texas 79084

Phone: 806-366-2371
Fax: 806-366-5670
Email: [email protected]

The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and does not close for lunch.

While using the online search tool is free, the County & District Clerk charges a fee for searches they perform.² The fee depends on whether normal or certified copies are requested.

Ordinary copies cost $1.00 per page, with an additional fee of $5.00 for certified copies. Search fees are non-refundable, even if a record is not found. Due to this, it’s important to provide the clerk with as much information as possible to enable the clerk to track down the desired information.

Note that only authorized individuals can request certified copies, and proof of identity is required as part of the request process.

The District Clerk has access to records for divorces that took place within Grayson County. If the divorce request was filed in a different county, the clerk will not have access to those records.

If the exact residence of the divorcee is unknown or the searcher is unsure of the date on which the divorce took place, it may be necessary to contact the clerk of court in neighboring counties as well.

Records are not held at the town or city level. As such, the Clerk of the District Court is the primary custodian for all divorce records for Grayson County.

This applies even to the bigger cities such as:

• Sherman
• Denison
• Whitesboro
• Howe
• Pottsboro

Some historic records may be available via the Regional Historic Resource Depository program, including those from Grayson County.^{3, 4} There are 23 depositories spread across Texas. However, this should be a last resort, as they do not offer a convenient, searchable divorce index.

The volume and type of records at each depository vary, and where divorce records are available, they will most likely be in microfiche format with limited indexing.

How To Use the Texas Department of State Health Services To Retrieve Statewide Divorce Information

Divorce filings made after 1968 are available in a centralized state database. Interested parties can order copies of vital records online via the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Order Records tool.^{5, 6} There is a fee for using this service.⁷

Note this tool can only be used to get verification that a divorce is on file in Texas. The divorce verification letter is not equivalent to a certificate or decree.

The online search tool is aimed at those who would like to request copies of their own documents rather than those who are looking up their family tree or conducting other forms of research. As part of the request process, searchers will be asked to provide proof of identity in the form of a U.S. driver’s license or ID, along with the date the divorce occurred.

Certified copies of divorce records are available via the Texas Department of State Health Services. Searchers can download and print an application form to request divorce records and then submit the application by mail.⁹

Standard requests should be sent to:

DHSS – VSS
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040

Requests take 6 to 8 weeks to be processed.

The application must be signed and sent alongside a photocopy of the applicant’s ID. There is a fee of $20.00 for divorce records.

Urgent requests can be sent to the following address for expedited processing:

DSHS – VSS MC 2096
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756

There is an additional fee of $5 for expedited processing, and the department aims to have such requests mailed within 25 business days of receipt.

Further details and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the Texas Department of State Health Services website.¹⁰ Grayson County Public Health Department is the local office for Public Health Region 2/3.

Does Grayson County Provide Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage Information to the Public?

Grayson County and other parts of Texas provide public divorce records. The records are accessible in accordance with the Public Information Act & Texas Government Code 552.¹¹

Texas recognizes the concept of a common law marriage. If a common law couple decides to split up, they have the choice of filing for a divorce.

This is colloquially known as a common law divorce, although in truth, it follows the same legal proceedings as a standard divorce. Another option is simply waiting for two years after separation.

At this point, Texas law will presume the common law marriage did not exist unless proven otherwise.

Anyone can use public records resources to determine if a divorce decree was issued, and there is no requirement to provide proof of identity or a reason for the search. These records generally contain more specific information.

Only authorized individuals can request a copy of a divorce certificate or certified copies of court documents. In contrast to the public records mentioned above, documents available to authorized individuals are more detailed and therefore less accessible in most areas.

To have the best chance of successfully finding divorce records, searchers should try to collect as much information as possible about the parties involved. This includes their full names, dates of birth and the date when the divorce took place.

If the location and date of the divorce are unknown, searching one of the Regional Historic Resource Depositories may be useful. However, the process could be time-consuming.

Third-party providers may help in searching various online databases for divorce or separation records unavailable from the county, including those that took place elsewhere. Information from these third-party providers can’t be used for official purposes, however, unless endorsed by state or local governments.

With the resources listed above, it’s possible to find Grayson County divorce records either for free or at a low cost for personal use, such as genealogical research.