Access Atascosa County Family Court Records
Atascosa County family court records are maintained by the District Clerk in Jourdanton, the county seat located south of San Antonio. These records include divorce case files, child custody and conservatorship orders, child support filings, paternity actions, and protective orders heard in the county's district courts. You can search Atascosa County family court records through the LGS Online Solutions portal with a free registration, use TexasFile for recorded documents, or visit the courthouse at 1 Courthouse Circle Drive in Jourdanton. The District Clerk, Margaret Littleton, manages all family court case files for this growing South Texas county.
Atascosa County Overview
Atascosa County District Clerk
The District Clerk in Jourdanton handles all family court case files for Atascosa County. District Clerk Margaret Littleton maintains divorce records, custody orders, support cases, and other family law filings. The office is located in the Atascosa County Courthouse at 1 Courthouse Circle Drive, Suite 4B. Staff can help you search for cases by name or cause number during office hours.
The County Clerk, Theresa Carrasco, operates a separate office at Suite 102 in the same building. The County Clerk handles vital records, marriage licenses, probate records, and recorded property documents. For certified marriage certificates, contact the County Clerk at (830) 767-2511. For family court case files like divorce decrees and custody orders, contact the District Clerk. The two offices share a building but serve different functions.
| Office | Atascosa County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Courthouse Circle Dr, Ste 4B, Jourdanton, TX 78026 |
| Phone | (830) 769-3011 |
| Fax | (830) 769-1332 |
| MLITTLETON@CO.ATASCOSA.TX.US | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Office | Atascosa County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Courthouse Circle Dr, Suite 102, Jourdanton, TX 78026 |
| Phone | (830) 767-2511 |
| Fax | (830) 769-1021 |
The LGS Online Solutions portal provides online access to Atascosa County court records, including civil, family, criminal, and probate case files, with free registration available.
How to Search Atascosa County Family Court Records
Atascosa County uses the LGS Online Solutions portal at public.lgsonlinesolutions.com for online court records access. You need a free account to search. Guest login provides index-only access. With a paid subscription, you can view document images. The portal covers criminal, civil, probate, and family records. Search options include case number, party name, attorney name, and filing date, with filters for record type.
To use the portal, click "New Account" at the bottom left, provide a valid email, and verify registration. Once logged in, click "Search" at the top, select the office and record type, and enter your criteria. You get the first five document images free before a subscription is required. Subscriptions vary by county and can be monthly or annual. This is useful if you need to track a case over time or pull multiple documents.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal is another option for cases filed electronically since November 2018. Re:SearchTX provides unofficial copies. For certified documents, contact the District Clerk. TexasFile at texasfile.com covers property records going back to 1856, which can be useful for divorce cases involving real estate transfers.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Atascosa County District Clerk must respond to records requests within ten business days. You can submit requests by mail to the courthouse or by email to the District Clerk. Complaints about non-compliance go to the Open Records Division of the Texas Attorney General's office.
Types of Family Court Records in Atascosa County
The District Clerk in Jourdanton keeps a full range of family law case files. Divorce records include the original petition, temporary orders, the final decree, and modifications. Case files show party names and addresses, attorney information, docket entries, court orders and judgments, divorce decrees, custody orders, and support orders. Property division details and debt assignments are also part of the public file.
Child custody and support cases not connected to a divorce are filed separately. Paternity suits to establish legal parentage also go through the District Clerk. The court can issue conservatorship orders, possession schedules, and child support obligations through these cases. Since Atascosa County borders Bexar County (San Antonio), some residents may have ties to courts in both jurisdictions. Cases must be filed in the county where the residency requirement is met.
Vital records fees in Atascosa County are: birth certificates $23.00, death certificates $21.00, and marriage licenses $8.00. These go through the County Clerk, not the District Clerk. Some family law documents may have restricted access. Juvenile records are confidential. Sealed cases require a court order to access. Social Security numbers are redacted from all public-facing court documents in Texas.
Note: Atascosa County is growing due to its proximity to San Antonio, so the District Clerk's office handles a higher volume of family court filings than many comparable-sized rural counties.
Filing Family Court Cases in Atascosa County
To file a family court case in Atascosa County, one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code section 6.301. One spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months and in Atascosa County for at least 90 days before filing. If you recently moved to Jourdanton or another community in the county, you may need to wait before filing here rather than in Bexar County.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in all civil and criminal cases in Atascosa County. Attorneys use eFileTexas.gov to submit filings electronically. Self-represented parties can file in person at the District Clerk's office. The clerk's office can provide guidance on the filing process and what forms are needed. For e-filing support, contact the District Clerk directly.
After filing, Texas requires a 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be granted under Texas Family Code section 6.702. The waiting period starts on the day the petition is filed. It applies to all divorces, including agreed cases. Only a verified history of family violence can shorten this period. Even if both parties sign an agreed decree the day after filing, the court cannot grant the divorce until the 60 days have passed.
Custody and conservatorship in Atascosa County follow Texas Family Code Chapter 153. Joint managing conservatorship is the default. Child support follows Texas Family Code Chapter 154, with amounts based on the noncustodial parent's net monthly income. Property in a divorce is divided under community property law in Texas Family Code Chapter 6.
Copy Fees and Public Access
Family court records in Atascosa County are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. The District Clerk must respond to records requests within ten business days. Standard copies of court documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of the per-page cost. Court filing fees vary by case type.
The LGS portal gives five free document images before a subscription is required. Index searching on the portal is free with a basic account. For in-person copies at the courthouse, payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Online subscriptions through LGS vary in price. Contact the District Clerk for a current fee schedule. For complaints about records access denials, contact the Open Records Division of the Texas Attorney General.
Legal Help and Self-Help Resources
Atascosa County's proximity to San Antonio gives residents access to a wider range of legal services than more remote rural counties. TexasLawHelp.org has free guides on divorce, custody, and child support in plain language. Lone Star Legal Aid serves the San Antonio area and may be able to help Atascosa County residents who qualify based on income. Their website and phone listings are available through TexasLawHelp.
The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov has form kits for divorce, custody modifications, paternity, and protective orders. The Texas Judicial Branch self-help page at txcourts.gov is designed for self-represented litigants. Court rules and forms are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. Divorce index records at the state level are at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics, though certified copies come from the clerk. Nearby San Antonio in Bexar County has extensive family law resources.
Cities in Atascosa County
Jourdanton is the county seat of Atascosa County. All family court cases from Atascosa County residents are filed at the District Court in Jourdanton.
Other communities in Atascosa County include Pleasanton, Poteet, Charlotte, and Lytle. None of these communities meet the threshold for a dedicated city page. Nearby San Antonio in Bexar County is the closest major city and has extensive legal and court resources for the region.
Nearby Counties
Atascosa County sits just south of San Antonio and shares borders with Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, Live Oak, Frio, and Medina Counties. If you are near the county line, verify your 90-day residency before filing.