Richardson Family Court Records Lookup

Richardson family court records are primarily handled by the Dallas County District Clerk, since most of Richardson falls within Dallas County. A small portion of the city extends into Collin County. If you need to find a divorce case, custody order, child support filing, or other family law record tied to Richardson, the Dallas County District Clerk in downtown Dallas is the main office to contact. For addresses in the Collin County portion of Richardson, the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney handles those cases. You can search both county systems online through their respective portals or through the statewide re:SearchTX system. If you are unsure which county your address falls in, a quick check of county boundary maps or a call to both clerks will resolve it.

Dallas County is the Primary Court for Richardson

Most of Richardson is in Dallas County. The Dallas County District Clerk at 600 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas handles family court records for those residents. Dallas County has one of the largest and most comprehensive family court systems in Texas, with multiple dedicated family district courts. If you live in the Dallas County portion of Richardson, all your family court filings go through Dallas County.

For Richardson residents in the Collin County portion of the city, the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney handles family court cases. The Collin County courthouse is at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney. The Collin County District Clerk's website is at collincountytx.gov. Both Dallas County and Collin County have online case search options, so you can check both without making a trip to the courthouse first.

Dallas County has multiple dedicated family district courts, including the 9th, 18th, 25th, 30th, 255th, 302nd, 303rd, 304th, and 305th Judicial Districts. Cases are assigned to these courts when filed. The online case search at dallascounty.org searches across all courts at once.

How to Find Richardson Family Court Records

The Dallas County online case search covers records from 1979 to the present for most case types. You can search by case number, party name, attorney, or date range. The system shows party names, case status, docket entries, and some document information. Document downloads require payment. This is the best place to start for the Dallas County portion of Richardson.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal covers both Dallas County and Collin County cases filed electronically since November 2018. It's a good way to search both at once. If your case appears in re:SearchTX, you can see which county it was filed in, which solves the question of which clerk to contact for certified copies.

For Collin County records, the District Clerk's website at collincountytx.gov provides case search access. Collin County uses an online system where you can search by party name and view basic case information. This covers cases for the northern portion of Richardson that falls in Collin County.

Note: Certified copies must come from the county where the case was filed. An online search tells you which county and gives you the cause number, but it doesn't produce a certified document you can use legally. For certified copies, contact the relevant county District Clerk directly.

Statewide Case Search Covering Richardson

The re:SearchTX portal lets you search family court cases from both Dallas County and Collin County in a single query, which is useful for Richardson given the city's split county jurisdiction.

Once you find the case in re:SearchTX, note which county it belongs to, then contact that county's District Clerk for certified copies or full document access.

Filing Family Court Cases in Richardson

Richardson residents file family court cases in the county where they live. For the Dallas County portion of Richardson, file at the Dallas County District Clerk at 600 Commerce Street, Suite 120, Dallas, TX 75202. For the Collin County portion, file at the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney. If you are unsure which county you're in, check your county before filing.

Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, one party must have lived in Texas for six months and in the county of filing for 90 days. If you've lived in Richardson for 90 days, you almost certainly satisfy the county residency requirement for whichever county your address falls in. The 90-day count is for county residency, not city residency specifically.

Dallas County sees a large volume of family cases. The Odyssey case management system and the county's online portal let you track your case from home. Electronic filing is mandatory for attorneys in both Dallas and Collin County district courts through eFileTexas.gov. Self-represented filers can use eFileTexas or file in person. All official Texas court forms are at txcourts.gov.

Child support in Texas is set by the statewide guidelines in Texas Family Code Chapter 154. For one child, the guideline amount is 20% of the obligor's monthly net resources. For two children, it is 25%. These percentages apply up to a cap on net resources that is periodically updated by the Texas Supreme Court.

Legal Resources for Richardson Residents

Richardson residents in the Dallas County area can get free or low-cost legal help from Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which serves Dallas County and the surrounding region. They handle family law cases for qualifying low-income individuals. Apply online or call their office to find out if you qualify. The income guidelines follow federal poverty level thresholds with some adjustments.

Dallas Volunteer Legal Services runs free legal clinics in the Dallas area that cover family law topics. TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides for divorce, custody, support, and other family court matters. The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov provides form packets and e-books. These resources work for cases in both Dallas County and Collin County courts.

To find a private family law attorney near Richardson, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 or search texasbar.com. Many DFW area attorneys handle cases in both Dallas and Collin County courts and can advise you on which county your case belongs in. For child support enforcement, contact the Texas Attorney General's office, which handles support enforcement statewide at no charge to qualifying parents.

Dallas County Family Court Records

Most of Richardson is in Dallas County. Family court cases for that portion of the city are processed through the Dallas County District Court. For full details on Dallas County courts, records access, and online search tools, visit the Dallas County family court records page.

View Dallas County Family Court Records

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Other qualifying cities near Richardson in the DFW area:

• Carrollton - Dallas/Denton County
• Lewisville - Denton County
• Garland - Dallas County
• Plano - Collin/Dallas County
• Dallas - Dallas County