College Station Family Court Records
College Station family court records are filed with the Brazos County District Clerk. College Station is in Brazos County, which is part of the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area. All family law cases for College Station residents including divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, and adoption go through the Brazos County district courts in Bryan, the county seat. The District Clerk maintains all case files and processes public records requests. If you need to look up a family court case or get copies of a court order or divorce decree tied to College Station, this is the office to contact. Online case search options are available through the statewide re:SearchTX portal and through any county access tools Brazos County provides.
College Station Overview
Brazos County District Clerk Handles College Station Cases
College Station is in Brazos County. The county seat is Bryan, which is adjacent to College Station and about 5 miles north. The Brazos County District Clerk's office in Bryan handles all family court filings and maintains case records for both cities. If you are a College Station resident filing for divorce or a custody modification, you will file at the Brazos County courthouse in Bryan.
Brazos County has district courts that handle family law cases along with other civil and criminal matters. The courts are assigned cases as they are filed. The District Clerk assigns a cause number when you file, and your case is placed on the docket of one of the district courts. You can track your case's progress using the statewide case search tools or by contacting the District Clerk directly.
| Office | Brazos County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 E 26th St Bryan, TX 77803 |
| County Website | brazoscountytx.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Re:SearchTX | Search Brazos County Cases |
Bryan is just a short drive from College Station. The Brazos County Courthouse is in downtown Bryan. Bring a photo ID when visiting the District Clerk. If you have a cause number, that will make any search faster. The clerk's office can pull case information and process copy requests during regular business hours.
Searching College Station Family Court Records
Start with the statewide re:SearchTX portal. It covers cases filed electronically in Brazos County courts since November 2018. You can search by party name, cause number, or date. Basic case index information is free. Document previews and downloads may require a small fee. Registration is required to access documents, but not to search case indexes.
For older cases not in re:SearchTX, contact the Brazos County District Clerk. You can request a name search in person or by mail. Send your request to 300 E 26th St, Bryan, TX 77803, with the full names of the parties and an approximate year of filing. Include payment for any applicable fees. The clerk will search the records and provide a response.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics division maintains a statewide index of divorce filings and finalizations. This is useful if you just need to confirm that a divorce was finalized in Texas without knowing the specific county. For the actual court file and certified copies, you still need the county clerk where the case was filed.
Note: Cases sealed by the court and records involving minors are confidential and won't appear in public searches. Contact the court if you need access to sealed records.
Texas Courts Topics Portal
The Texas Courts Topics portal is a centralized resource for finding specific information about Texas court procedures, including family court rules and processes used in Brazos County courts that serve College Station.
The portal links to local rules, standing orders, and court-specific information that may apply to your family court case filed in Brazos County. Check it before your first hearing to make sure you know what's expected.
Filing Family Court Cases in College Station
College Station residents file family court cases at the Brazos County District Clerk in Bryan. Texas residency rules under Texas Family Code Section 6.301 require at least one party to have lived in Texas for six months and in Brazos County for 90 days before filing for divorce. College Station is entirely within Brazos County, so 90 days in the city satisfies the county requirement.
Many family court cases in College Station involve student families given the proximity to Texas A&M University. Texas law treats student status and student housing the same as any other residence for purposes of the residency rule. If you have lived in College Station for at least 90 days, you can file in Brazos County regardless of whether you are a student.
Texas has a 60-day mandatory waiting period between filing the petition and finalizing a divorce. Even if both parties agree on all terms from day one, the court cannot sign the final decree until 60 days have passed after filing. Cases involving children may take longer due to the required conservatorship orders, parenting plans, and child support orders that must be included in the final decree.
Official Texas court forms are at txcourts.gov. The Texas State Law Library provides detailed guides at guides.sll.texas.gov. Attorneys must file electronically through eFileTexas.gov in Brazos County district courts.
Legal Help for College Station Residents
Legal aid options in the Bryan-College Station area include organizations that cover Brazos County. Legal Aid of Central Texas and Lone Star Legal Aid both have coverage in parts of this region. Call each to find out which one serves Brazos County and whether your income qualifies. They handle family law cases for eligible individuals, including divorce, custody, and protective order matters.
Texas A&M University School of Law operates a legal clinic that may offer limited family law assistance or referrals. If you are connected to the university, check whether any student legal services are available. For the general public, TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides covering every major family court case type. The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov provides form kits and instructions.
For child support help, the Texas Attorney General handles enforcement statewide at no cost to qualifying parents. Call the AG's office or apply online. The State Bar of Texas referral line at (800) 252-9690 connects you to licensed family law attorneys in the Bryan-College Station area if you want to hire private counsel.
Brazos County Family Court Records
College Station is in Brazos County, and all family law filings go through the Brazos County District Court in Bryan. For county-level details on courts, fees, and records access, visit the Brazos County family court records page.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Other qualifying cities near the Bryan-College Station area: