Search Lubbock Family Court Records
Lubbock family court records are held by the Lubbock County District Clerk and are accessible online through the Lubbock County Public Records portal or at the courthouse. Lubbock is the hub of the South Plains region with around 265,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Lubbock County. Family court cases for divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders are all filed here. This page explains how to find Lubbock family court records, how to get copies, and what help is available locally.
Lubbock Quick Facts
Lubbock County District Clerk
The Lubbock County District Clerk maintains all district court records for Lubbock, including family court filings. The District Clerk's office is part of the Lubbock County government located at the county courthouse. The official county website is at co.lubbock.tx.us, and the District Clerk department page is at co.lubbock.tx.us.
Lubbock County handles the full range of family law cases for residents of Lubbock and surrounding communities in the South Plains region. Family district courts hear divorce and legal separation cases, child custody and conservatorship matters, child support establishment and modification, paternity cases, adoption proceedings, and family violence protective order applications. Each case gets a cause number, and all filings in that case are indexed under the District Clerk for public access.
| Office | Lubbock County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Lubbock County Courthouse Lubbock, TX 79401 |
| County Website | co.lubbock.tx.us |
| Public Records Portal | publicrecords.lubbockcounty.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The Lubbock County Clerk is a separate office from the District Clerk and handles vital records, marriage licenses, and property records. For family court case files, the District Clerk is the right office. For marriage or divorce certificates that are processed through the vital records system, contact the County Clerk.
Searching Lubbock Family Court Records
The Lubbock County Public Records portal at publicrecords.lubbockcounty.gov offers a free registration-based search for case records. You can search by name or case number and view case images for civil, criminal, family, and probate case types. Registration is required to access case images, but the basic case search is accessible without an account. This portal is one of the more complete online tools for Lubbock County family court records.
The statewide portal re:SearchTX also covers Lubbock County district courts. It is a good choice if you want to search across multiple Texas counties or if you are not sure exactly which county handled a case. Re:SearchTX shows party names, docket entries, and case status for Lubbock County family cases without requiring account registration.
In-person access is available at the District Clerk's office in the county courthouse. Staff can search by name or cause number, pull case files, and make copies. Certified copies require a written request with cause number and party information plus payment of applicable fees. Mail requests are accepted at the courthouse address. For large requests, the office may contact you with a fee estimate before processing.
Note: Case images available through the public records portal can help you review documents before making a trip to the courthouse. For certified copies needed for legal purposes, contact the District Clerk's office directly since online document downloads are not the same as certified copies.
Lubbock Courts and City Resources
The Lubbock Municipal Court at 915 Avenue J, Lubbock, TX 79401 handles Class C misdemeanor and traffic matters for the city. Call (806) 775-1010 for citation questions. Online payment is available for many citations. Municipal Court is separate from the family district courts and does not handle divorce, custody, or child support cases.
The Lubbock County Public Records portal provides access to court case images and records beyond what the city offers. The portal covers multiple case types including family, civil, criminal, and probate. Registration is free and gives you access to case images that are not available through the basic search. This is the best online tool for researching Lubbock family court records in depth.
For public information requests related to city government documents, contact the Lubbock City Secretary at ci.lubbock.tx.us/city-secretary, City Hall, 1625 13th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401. The City Secretary handles Texas Public Information Act requests for city records. Family court filings are county-level records, not city records, and are not held by the City Secretary.
Family Cases in Lubbock Courts
Lubbock County family courts follow Texas state law. Divorce cases fall under Family Code Chapter 6, with the residency requirement of six months in Texas and 90 days in Lubbock County under Section 6.301. Texas requires a 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a divorce can be entered. Both fault-based and no-fault grounds are available under Texas law, with insupportability being the most common.
Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, which means the courts sometimes see cases involving students and young families. Cases involving short marriages, minimal assets, and no children can often be handled as agreed, uncontested divorces, which move faster and cost less than contested cases. The District Clerk's office can provide forms and basic procedural guidance, though staff cannot give legal advice.
Child custody and conservatorship cases in Lubbock County follow Family Code Chapter 153. Texas courts look at the best interest of the child in making custody determinations. The standard possession order under state law gives the non-primary parent possession on alternating weekends, extended summer possession, and certain holidays. Parents can agree to a modified schedule and submit it to the court for approval.
Child support in Lubbock is calculated using state guidelines under Family Code Chapter 154. Enforcement of support orders is handled by the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division at texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support. If you are owed support that is not being paid, the AG's office can help with wage withholding, license suspension, and contempt enforcement.
Legal Help in Lubbock
West Texas Legal Services (now part of Lone Star Legal Aid) provides free civil legal help to eligible residents in Lubbock and the surrounding South Plains region. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org. The Lubbock County Bar Association has information on local attorneys and may provide referrals. The State Bar of Texas referral service is at (800) 252-9690 and texasbar.com.
Self-help resources for Lubbock residents include TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org, the Texas Courts Self-Help Center at txcourts.gov, and the Texas State Law Library family law form guide at guides.sll.texas.gov. Electronic filing for Lubbock County district courts is available through eFileTexas.gov. The AG's child support services at texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support are also available for support enforcement and modification assistance.
Lubbock County Family Court Records
Lubbock is the county seat of Lubbock County. All family court filings in the city go through the Lubbock County District Court. For more information about the District Clerk, available resources, and record access, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other major Texas cities have family court records through their respective county district clerks.
- El Paso - El Paso County
- Austin - Travis County
- Corpus Christi - Nueces County