Kleberg County Divorce Records
How To Find a Divorce Record In Kleberg County in 2026
KlebergRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to divorce records in Kleberg County, Texas. Members of the public may locate divorce decrees, case filings, final judgments, and related court documents through official county and state resources. Available record categories include dissolution of marriage filings, final divorce decrees, property settlement agreements, child custody orders, and spousal support determinations.
Divorce records in Kleberg County are maintained primarily by the District Clerk, as divorce proceedings in Texas are filed in the district courts. Members of the public may search for these records through several official channels, including online case search systems, in-person visits to the courthouse, mail requests, and state vital records portals.
Online Searches
1. Clerk of Court Case Search
The District Clerk of Kleberg County maintains case records for divorce proceedings filed in the district courts. Members of the public may contact the District Clerk's office directly to inquire about available online search tools. Basic case information is available at no charge, while copies of documents may require payment of applicable fees.
2. State Vital Records
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) maintains a statewide index of divorce records. Members of the public may order vital records online through the official Texas.gov application. This portal allows requestors to obtain divorce verification letters for events that occurred in Texas. The Local Vital Record Offices directory maintained by Texas DSHS identifies the Kleberg County Clerk as the local custodian for certain vital record functions.
In-Person Searches
District Clerk — Family Law Division:
Kleberg County District Clerk
700 E Kleberg Ave
Kingsville, TX 78363
Phone: (361) 595-8548
District Clerk - Kleberg County, Texas
- Search divorce case files by party name or case number
- View filed documents at public access terminals
- Request certified copies of final decrees and orders
- Receive staff assistance for locating archived records
County Clerk — Vital Records:
Kleberg County Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 1327
Kingsville, TX 78364
Phone: (361) 595-8548
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Kleberg County Clerk's Office
By Mail
Written Request:
- Mail to: Kleberg County District Clerk, 700 E Kleberg Ave, Kingsville, TX 78363
- Include the following:
- Full legal names of both parties
- Approximate date of divorce
- Case number, if known
- Requestor's full name and contact information
- Specified purpose of the request, if required
- Payment for applicable copy fees
- Self-addressed stamped envelope for return correspondence
- Processing time: Requests are processed within approximately one to two weeks, subject to volume and record availability
By Phone
Limited Information Available:
- District Clerk: (361) 595-8548
- Staff may confirm:
- Whether a case exists in the system
- The assigned case number
- Current case status
- Original filing date
- Staff cannot provide:
- Detailed document contents by phone
- Copies of filed documents
- Confidential or restricted information
Through Attorneys
An attorney licensed in Texas may access divorce case files on behalf of a client, including requesting documents that may be subject to restricted access. The State Bar of Texas operates a lawyer referral service for members of the public seeking legal representation in family law matters.
Information Needed for Search
Essential Information:
- Full legal names of both spouses at the time of filing
- Maiden names, if applicable
- Approximate date of divorce or filing
- Case number, if previously obtained
Helpful Information:
- Date and location of marriage
- Prior residential addresses in Kleberg County
- Names of attorneys of record, if known
Search in Correct County
In Texas, divorce proceedings are filed in the county where either spouse resided at the time of filing. Members of the public who are uncertain of the filing county may need to search multiple counties. Under Texas Family Code § 6.301, at least one spouse must have been a domiciliary of Texas for six months and a resident of the county where the suit is filed for 90 days preceding the filing date.
Time Considerations
Recent Divorces:
- Newly finalized cases may require several days to weeks before appearing in the case management system
- Allow processing time following the final hearing before submitting a records request
Older Divorces:
- Records predating electronic filing may be archived in paper format
- Archived cases may require additional retrieval time
- Not all historical records have been digitized
What If You Cannot Find a Record
Common Issues:
- Incorrect county of filing
- Name variations between married and maiden names
- Spelling discrepancies in the index
- Case still pending and not yet finalized
- Very old records held in off-site storage
- Case sealed by court order
Next Steps:
- Contact the District Clerk at (361) 595-8548
- Attempt alternate name spellings
- Search under both spouses' names
- Check the Texas DSHS vital records index
- Retain a licensed attorney to conduct a professional records search
What Are Kleberg County Divorce Records?
Kleberg County divorce records are official court documents generated during and after divorce proceedings filed in the district courts of Kleberg County, Texas. These records constitute part of the permanent court file and are maintained by the District Clerk as the official custodian of district court records.
Types of Divorce Records:
Court Case Files
The complete case file for a divorce proceeding includes:
- Petition for divorce (Original Petition for Divorce)
- Respondent's answer or waiver of service
- Financial affidavits and disclosure statements
- Temporary orders issued during the pendency of the case
- Agreed or contested parenting plans
- Marital settlement agreements
- Motions, responses, and court orders
- Transcripts of court hearings, if prepared
- Final Decree of Divorce
Final Decree of Divorce
The Final Decree of Divorce is the controlling legal document that dissolves the marriage. It establishes:
- The official date of dissolution
- Division of marital property and debts
- Spousal maintenance orders, if applicable
- Child conservatorship (custody) arrangements, if applicable
- Child support obligations, if applicable
- Name restoration, if requested
Certified copies of the Final Decree of Divorce are available through the District Clerk's office upon payment of applicable fees.
Supporting Documents
- Original marriage certificate (submitted as exhibit)
- Financial disclosure inventories
- Property appraisals and valuations
- Parenting plan attachments
- Post-divorce modification orders
Purpose of Divorce Records:
Legal Purposes
- Establishing proof of marital status for remarriage
- Documenting name changes with government agencies
- Supporting immigration proceedings
- Verifying property transfer authority
- Estate planning and beneficiary designations
- Social Security benefit determinations
Personal Purposes
- Genealogical and family history research
- Personal record-keeping
- Verification of divorce terms and obligations
Legal Framework:
Divorce proceedings in Texas are governed by the Texas Family Code, which establishes the grounds, procedures, and requirements for dissolution of marriage. Under Texas Family Code § 6.001, a court may grant a divorce on the ground of insupportability when the marriage has become insupportable due to discord or conflict of personalities. Public access to court records is governed by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code § 552.001 et seq.
Are Kleberg County Divorce Records Public?
Divorce records filed in Kleberg County district courts are public court records under Texas law. Members of the public may access basic case information and most filed documents without demonstrating a specific need. However, certain categories of information within divorce files are subject to restriction or redaction under applicable state and federal law.
What Is Public:
- Case number and original filing date
- Names of the parties (petitioner and respondent)
- Names of attorneys of record
- Scheduled court hearing dates
- Court orders and judgments, including the Final Decree of Divorce
- Property division orders
- General case status and docket entries
What May Be Restricted:
Financial Information
- Social Security numbers (redacted pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21c)
- Bank account and financial account numbers (redacted)
- Detailed tax returns (may be filed under seal)
- Credit card and loan account numbers (redacted)
Children's Information
- Residential addresses of minor children
- Names of schools children attend
- Medical and psychological records pertaining to children
- Child custody evaluations (may be sealed by court order)
- Guardian ad litem reports (subject to restricted access)
Sensitive Personal Information
- Domestic violence allegations and supporting evidence (may be sealed)
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment records
- Medical records submitted as exhibits
- Personal addresses of domestic violence victims
Sealed Records:
A court may seal divorce records upon a showing of good cause. Sealed cases are not accessible to the general public without a court order. Cases involving allegations of family violence, abuse, or other sensitive circumstances may be subject to partial or complete sealing.
Who Can Access Records:
| Requestor Category | Level of Access |
|---|---|
| General Public | Public documents; redacted sensitive information |
| Parties to the Case | Full access to own case file |
| Licensed Attorneys | Case file access; may petition for sealed records |
| Law Enforcement | Statutory access to restricted information |
| Researchers and Media | Public portions; court permission required for sealed records |
Restrictions on Use:
Access to divorce records may not be used for stalking, harassment, identity theft, or any purpose that violates a protective order. Permitted uses include legal proceedings, background research, genealogical research, news reporting protected by the First Amendment, and personal verification.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Divorce Records in Kleberg County?
The District Clerk of Kleberg County charges standard fees for copies and certified copies of divorce records. Current fees are established pursuant to Texas Government Code § 51.318, which governs fees charged by district clerks in Texas.
Standard Fee Schedule:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy (per page) | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy (per document) | $5.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page |
| Divorce verification letter (via DSHS online portal) | $20.00 per record |
| In-person search assistance | No charge for basic index search |
- Fees are subject to change; members of the public should confirm current fees with the District Clerk's office prior to submitting a request.
- Accepted payment methods at the courthouse include cash, money order, and personal check made payable to the Kleberg County District Clerk. The DSHS online portal accepts major credit and debit cards.
- Indigent parties who are themselves a party to the case may petition the court for a fee waiver under applicable Texas law.
- Inspection of public records at the courthouse is available at no charge; fees apply only to copies and certifications.
- The Texas DSHS online vital records ordering system charges a separate fee for divorce verification letters issued at the state level.
What's Included in Divorce Records in Kleberg County
A complete divorce case file maintained by the Kleberg County District Clerk contains the following categories of documents:
Basic Case Information
Case Caption:
- Assigned case number
- Court name and cause number
- Full legal names of petitioner and respondent
- Name of the presiding judge
- Names and bar numbers of attorneys of record
Filing Information:
- Date of original filing
- Filing fees paid and receipts
- Case type designation (divorce/dissolution)
- Jurisdictional basis
Initial Pleadings
Original Petition for Divorce:
- Petitioner's identifying information
- Respondent's identifying information
- Date and place of marriage
- Date of separation, if applicable
- Grounds for divorce as stated by petitioner
- Information regarding minor children, if applicable
- Claims regarding marital property
- Requests for spousal maintenance
- All relief requested by petitioner
Respondent's Answer:
- Respondent's admissions or denials
- Counterpetition, if filed
- Respondent's independent requests for relief
Financial Affidavits and Inventories:
- Income from all sources for both parties
- Monthly living expenses
- Marital assets (real property, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, personal property)
- Marital liabilities (mortgages, loans, credit card debt)
Discovery Documents
- Interrogatories and sworn answers
- Requests for production and responsive documents
- Depositions, if taken
- Subpoenaed financial records
- Business financial statements, if applicable
Property-Related Documents
- Marital property inventory and appraisement
- Real property appraisals
- Business valuations
- Retirement account statements
- Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), if retirement accounts are divided
Children-Related Documents (If Applicable)
Parenting Plan / Conservatorship Orders:
- Designation of managing and possessory conservator
- Standard or modified possession schedule
- Holiday and summer possession schedule
- Decision-making authority for education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities
- Geographic restrictions on the child's primary residence
Child Support:
- Child support calculation worksheet
- Income information for both parties
- Health insurance and childcare cost allocations
- Amount and payment schedule ordered by the court
- Income withholding order
Custody Evaluations (If Ordered):
- Evaluator's report and recommendations
- Home study findings
- Child interview summaries (may be sealed)
Support Documents
Spousal Maintenance:
- Type and duration of maintenance ordered
- Payment amount and schedule
- Conditions for modification or termination
Settlement Documents
Agreed Final Decree of Divorce / Marital Settlement Agreement:
- Complete resolution of all contested issues
- Property division terms
- Debt allocation
- Spousal maintenance provisions
- Child-related provisions
- Attorney fee allocations
- Signatures of both parties and notarization
Court Orders and Final Judgment
Temporary Orders:
- Temporary conservatorship
- Temporary child support
- Temporary use and possession of property
- Temporary restraining orders or injunctions
Final Decree of Divorce:
- Court's findings of fact and conclusions of law
- Complete property division
- All conservatorship and support orders
- Name restoration, if granted
- Judge's signature and court seal
- Date of entry
Post-Judgment Documents (If Applicable)
- Petitions to modify conservatorship or support
- Court orders on modification requests
- Contempt motions and enforcement orders
- Income deduction orders
- Liens filed against property
What Is Typically Confidential or Sealed
- Social Security numbers (redacted from all public copies)
- Financial account numbers (redacted)
- Residential addresses of minor children
- Domestic violence evidence (may be sealed by court order)
- Mental health evaluations
- Substance abuse treatment records
- Mediation communications (confidential by statute)
- Settlement negotiation correspondence (not part of the court record)
How to Get Proof of Divorce in Kleberg County
Proof of divorce in Kleberg County may be obtained in two primary forms: a certified copy of the Final Decree of Divorce from the District Clerk, or a divorce verification letter from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Certified Copy of Final Decree of Divorce:
Members of the public may obtain a certified copy of the Final Decree of Divorce directly from the Kleberg County District Clerk. The following steps apply:
- Identify the case number by contacting the District Clerk's office or searching available case indexes.
- Submit a written request in person, by mail, or as directed by the clerk's office.
- Provide the full names of both parties and the approximate date of divorce.
- Pay the applicable certification fee (currently $5.00 plus $1.00 per page).
- Receive the certified copy bearing the court's official seal, which constitutes legally recognized proof of divorce.
Kleberg County District Clerk
700 E Kleberg Ave
Kingsville, TX 78363
Phone: (361) 595-8548
District Clerk - Kleberg County, Texas
Divorce Verification Letter (State Level):
The Texas DSHS issues divorce verification letters for divorces that occurred in Texas. Members of the public may order vital records online through the official state portal. A divorce verification letter confirms that a divorce was granted but does not contain the full terms of the decree. This document is accepted for many administrative purposes, including name changes with the Social Security Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety.
Kleberg County Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 1327
Kingsville, TX 78364
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Kleberg County Clerk's Office
The Local Vital Record Offices directory maintained by Texas DSHS confirms that the Kleberg County Clerk serves as the local office for certain vital record functions, including local divorce record access.
Can a Divorce Be Confidential in Kleberg County?
Divorce proceedings in Kleberg County are presumptively public under Texas law; however, certain records or portions of records may be made confidential under specific legal circumstances.
Circumstances Under Which Divorce Records May Be Confidential:
- Court-ordered sealing: A party may file a motion to seal records, and the court may grant the motion upon a finding that the need for confidentiality outweighs the public interest in access, pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 76a.
- Domestic violence cases: Residential addresses and identifying information of family violence victims may be withheld from public records under Texas Family Code § 85.007 and related protective order statutes.
- Children's information: Names, addresses, and school information of minor children are subject to redaction in publicly accessible copies.
- Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers: Automatically redacted from all public copies pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21c.
- Mediation records: Communications made during court-ordered mediation are confidential by statute and are not part of the public court record.
- Mental health and medical records: Records submitted as exhibits that contain protected health information may be filed under seal.
- Sealed settlements: Confidential settlement agreements incorporated by reference but not filed in full may remain outside the public record.
Members of the public seeking access to records that may have been sealed must file a motion with the district court and demonstrate a legitimate legal basis for access.
How Long Does Kleberg County Keep Divorce Records?
Kleberg County divorce records are retained for extended periods consistent with Texas state records retention requirements established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Retention Periods by Record Type:
- Final Decrees of Divorce and permanent court orders: Retained permanently. These records are never destroyed and remain accessible indefinitely through the District Clerk's office.
- Complete case files (contested divorces): Retained for a minimum of 10 years following the close of the case, with permanent retention for cases involving child custody orders.
- Case files (uncontested, no children): Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure.
- Docket sheets and case indexes: Retained permanently as part of the official court record.
- Temporary orders and interlocutory documents: Retained as part of the complete case file for the applicable retention period.
- Electronic records: Cases filed electronically are maintained in the court's case management system and are subject to the same retention schedules as paper records.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission publishes the Local Schedule TX governing retention of court records by county offices. Older records that have been archived may require additional retrieval time but are not subject to destruction under applicable schedules for permanent records.