Access Plano Family Court Records
Plano family court records are maintained by the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney, since Plano is located in Collin County. With a population of around 290,000, Plano is the largest city in Collin County, and residents file family court cases for divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders through the county's family district courts. This guide explains how to search Plano family court records, how to request document copies, and what local resources exist for people dealing with family court matters.
Plano Quick Facts
Collin County District Clerk
The Collin County District Clerk in McKinney handles all district court records for Plano and the rest of Collin County. Family cases filed by Plano residents are indexed and maintained by the District Clerk at the Collin County Courthouse, which is located in McKinney, about 15 miles north of Plano. The District Clerk's website is at collincountytx.gov/districtclerk.
Collin County has multiple family district courts that handle divorce, custody, child support, paternity, adoption, and protective order cases. The county has seen rapid population growth, and its family court docket reflects the high volume of new filings from cities like Plano, Frisco, and McKinney. Cases are assigned by the District Clerk based on case type and court rotation. Once a case is assigned, all filings go to that court until the case is resolved or transferred.
| Office | Collin County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Collin County Courthouse McKinney, TX |
| Website | collincountytx.gov/districtclerk |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Plano residents who need to file a family court case or pick up records in person will need to travel to McKinney, the Collin County seat. Electronic filing through eFileTexas.gov is available for most district court filings, which reduces the need for in-person trips for many procedural steps.
Searching Plano Family Court Records
The statewide portal re:SearchTX covers Collin County district court records and is the most accessible free search tool for Plano family court cases. You can search by party name or cause number without creating an account. The portal shows case type, docket entries, current status, and some document images. It is a good starting point for most searches.
Collin County's own online case search at the District Clerk's website provides access to court records for district court cases. You can search by name or case number. Many documents are available to view online, and the system is regularly updated with new filings and orders. For older cases or documents not available online, a request to the clerk's office is the next step.
Copy fees for Collin County follow the standard Texas court rate schedule. Certified copies require a written request with cause number, party names, and fee payment. Mail requests are accepted at the District Clerk's office in McKinney. For urgent needs, in-person visits to the courthouse in McKinney allow for same-day copies in most cases.
Note: If you are not sure whether a case was filed in Collin County or an adjacent county, the re:SearchTX statewide search covers all Texas district courts in one search, which can save time when you don't know exactly where a case was filed.
Plano City Courts and Resources
The Plano Municipal Court at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074 handles traffic violations and Class C misdemeanors. Call (972) 941-2191 for citation questions. Municipal Court offers online case search and payment options. Plano Municipal Court does not handle family law matters; those go to the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney.
The Plano City Secretary at 1520 K Avenue, Plano, TX 75074 handles open records requests under the Texas Public Information Act. The office maintains city council agendas, minutes, election records, and official city documents. City records and family court records are separate systems; the City Secretary does not hold court filings.
Plano Police Department records are available through the Plano Police Department at 909 14th Street, Plano, TX 75074, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Online and in-person requests are accepted for crash reports and incident reports. Police reports may be needed in family court cases involving domestic violence or protective orders.
All family court case files are held by the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney, not by any Plano city office. The city-level offices above handle separate categories of records.
Family Cases in Collin County Courts
Plano residents file family cases under Texas Family Code statutes. Divorce cases go under Family Code Chapter 6. Residency requirements under Section 6.301 require six months in Texas and 90 days in Collin County. Texas mandates a 60-day waiting period from the filing date before a divorce can be finalized. Both agreed and contested divorces are handled in the same family district courts.
Collin County has seen rapid suburban growth in cities like Plano, and many family cases involve dual-income households with complex property and financial issues. Division of marital property in Texas follows community property rules under Family Code Chapter 7. Separate property claims require the claimant to trace the property back to its pre-marriage or inherited origin. Retirement accounts, stock options, and business interests are common dispute areas in Collin County cases.
Child custody cases follow Family Code Chapter 153. Texas courts default to joint managing conservatorship with one parent designated primary, giving the other the standard possession schedule. Plano has many two-working-parent households, and custody schedules are often negotiated with work schedules in mind. Courts can and do approve custom possession schedules if both parties agree.
The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division serves Collin County residents for support enforcement. Contact the AG's child support office at texasattorneygeneral.gov/child-support. Modifications to support orders must be filed in Collin County court if it was the original issuing court and jurisdiction has not changed.
Legal Help for Plano Residents
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas serves Collin County including Plano. Call (214) 748-1234 for their Dallas-area office or check their website for eligibility. The Collin County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. The State Bar of Texas referral line is (800) 252-9690, and you can search attorneys at texasbar.com.
TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has family law guides and forms. The Texas Courts Self-Help Center is at txcourts.gov. Court forms for family cases are at guides.sll.texas.gov through the Texas State Law Library. Electronic filing for all Collin County district court cases is available through eFileTexas.gov.
Collin County Family Court Records
Plano is located in Collin County, and all family court filings for the city go through the Collin County District Court in McKinney. The county page has more information on the clerk's office and how to access family court records in Collin County.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have family court records through nearby county clerks.
- Dallas - Dallas County
- Fort Worth - Tarrant County
- Arlington - Tarrant County