Blanco County Family Court Records
Blanco County family court records are filed and maintained by two offices at the courthouse in Johnson City: the County Clerk and the District Clerk. These records cover divorce cases, child custody orders, child support actions, paternity cases, and protective orders heard in Blanco County's courts. You can search an index of older records online through the county's QuickLink portals, or you can contact the clerk offices directly to request copies of current and recent case files. Both offices are located at the Blanco County Courthouse and are open Monday through Friday. If you know what you are looking for, reaching out by phone first can save a trip.
Blanco County Overview
Blanco County Clerk and District Clerk
Two clerk offices handle records in Blanco County. The County Clerk, currently Laura Walla, manages birth and death records, marriage licenses, probate files, land records, and some court records going back to 1876. The District Clerk, Celia Doyle, handles family court case files including divorce petitions, final decrees, custody orders, and support orders. Both offices are based at the Blanco County Courthouse in Johnson City.
For family court records specifically, the District Clerk is your primary contact. You can reach that office at (830) 868-0973. The mailing address is P.O. Box 382, Johnson City, TX 78636. The fax number is (830) 868-7788. If you need a marriage license or a copy of a marriage record, contact the County Clerk at (830) 868-7357. You can also mail requests to P.O. Box 65, Johnson City, TX 78636.
| County Clerk | Laura Walla |
|---|---|
| County Clerk Address | P.O. Box 65, Johnson City, TX 78636 |
| County Clerk Phone | (830) 868-7357 |
| County Clerk Fax | (830) 868-4158 |
| District Clerk | Celia Doyle |
| District Clerk Address | P.O. Box 382, Johnson City, TX 78636 |
| District Clerk Phone | (830) 868-0973 |
| District Clerk Fax | (830) 868-7788 |
Blanco County is a smaller Texas county, and its court system reflects that. The clerk offices tend to be staffed by a small team. Calling ahead is a good idea, especially if you need a specific record pulled or a certified copy prepared. They handle requests the same day in many cases if you come in person with a clear description of what you need.
The QuickLink system gives online access to index records. You can use it to confirm a case exists and get a case number before you contact the clerk. That makes in-person or mail requests faster and easier. The system covers index records from 1876 through 1991 for both the County Clerk and District Clerk. For anything after 1991, you will need to contact the office directly.
The Blanco County Clerk QuickLink portal provides 24-hour online access to index records going back to 1876, covering court cases, land records, and more.
Searching Blanco County Family Court Records
The two QuickLink portals give you the best starting point for online research. The County Clerk portal at kofilequicklinks.com/Blanco covers index records from 1876 to 1991 and allows name-based searching. The District Clerk portal at kofilequicklinks.com/blancoTX_DC covers court records in a similar date range. These are index records only. You can see case names and basic filing information, but you cannot download full documents from the portals. To get actual copies of documents, you need to contact the clerk's office.
The District Clerk QuickLink for Blanco County includes civil minutes, criminal cases, and court dockets going back to the late 1800s through 1991.
The District Clerk QuickLink has several record books available online. These include Civil and Criminal Minutes of the District Court from 1876 to 1959, Civil Minutes from 1959 to 1991, Criminal Cases from 1878 to 1955, Criminal Minutes from 1959 to 1991, and the Post Index Book covering 1991 to 1997. There are also naturalization records from 1867 to 1927 and an Execution Docket from 1939 to 1966. For cases filed after 1997, the District Clerk's office is the only option.
For statewide searches, use the re:SearchTX system run by the Texas Judicial Branch. This tool covers filings submitted through the state e-filing system since November 2018. It is a good tool for recent cases. Keep in mind that re:SearchTX provides unofficial copies. The District Clerk is the official custodian and the only source for certified copies.
To search in person, visit the Blanco County Courthouse in Johnson City. Public access terminals may be available, and staff can help you locate a case by name or cause number. Bring a photo ID and be ready to pay copy fees. Cash, check, and sometimes credit cards are accepted, but call ahead to confirm payment methods if you are traveling from out of town.
Family Court Records in Blanco County
The District Clerk in Johnson City keeps all family law case files for Blanco County. Divorce cases make up the bulk of these records. A full divorce file includes the original petition, any temporary orders, the final decree of divorce, and post-decree modifications if the parties returned to court later. When children are part of the case, the file also holds a conservatorship order and a possession schedule laying out when each parent has the children.
Custody and child support cases can be filed on their own, separate from a divorce. Paternity cases fall into this category as well. The court can set or change a possession schedule and order one parent to pay support through these standalone cases. The Texas Attorney General handles enforcement of child support orders separately. If you have questions about enforcement, contact the AG's Child Support Division, not the clerk's office.
Blanco County records go back to 1876, though a courthouse fire that year destroyed many early documents. The research notes confirm the fire, and some early records may be incomplete or missing as a result. For anything from that era, treat index results as a starting point and verify with the clerk's office about what physical records actually survive.
Note: Adoption records and juvenile court files are confidential under Texas law and are not included in the public case index.
Filing a Family Court Case in Blanco County
To file for divorce in Blanco County, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement set by Texas Family Code section 6.301. That means one spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months and in Blanco County for at least 90 days before the petition is filed. If neither spouse meets that threshold, you will need to file in a county where one of you has lived long enough.
After you file, Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. This is set by Texas Family Code section 6.702. The clock starts the day the petition is filed, and you cannot shorten this period except in narrow cases involving family violence. Most uncontested divorces in small counties like Blanco take longer than 60 days once service of process and scheduling are factored in.
Attorneys in Texas must file through the state's e-filing system at eFileTexas.gov. This became mandatory for civil and family cases statewide. People who represent themselves are encouraged to use e-filing but are not required to do so. You can still file paper documents in person at the District Clerk's office in Johnson City. The clerk's staff can tell you what forms are needed for your specific case type.
Texas is a community property state. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 6, the court divides marital assets in a just and right manner. Community property is generally anything earned or acquired during the marriage. Separate property, which each spouse keeps, includes what they brought into the marriage and any gifts or inheritances they kept separate throughout. The final decree spells out the division in detail.
Copy Fees and Access Rules
Most Blanco County family court records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Texas Public Information Act. You do not need to be a party to the case to ask for a copy. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page, with certification fees added on top for certified copies. The clerk's office recommends contacting them for the current fee schedule since some fees may vary by document type.
Mail requests should be sent to P.O. Box 65 for the County Clerk or P.O. Box 382 for the District Clerk, both in Johnson City, TX 78636. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request to avoid a postage fee. Describe the record you need as clearly as possible: full names of the parties, approximate filing year, and case type. The more detail you give, the faster the clerk can locate and process your request.
In-person visits allow you to use the courthouse public terminals or get help from staff directly. Payment methods at the courthouse typically include cash, check, and money order. Call ahead at (830) 868-0973 for the District Clerk or (830) 868-7357 for the County Clerk to confirm current hours and payment methods before making the trip from out of town.
Note: Records involving minor children, sealed domestic violence cases, and some sensitive financial documents may have restricted access even when the rest of the case file is public.
Self-Help and Legal Resources
If you are navigating a family court matter in Blanco County without a lawyer, several free tools are available. The Texas Judicial Branch runs a self-help resource center with guides for people who represent themselves. The site explains what to expect at each stage of a case and how to handle court procedures on your own.
The Texas State Law Library has a free guide to family law forms at guides.sll.texas.gov. It covers forms for divorce, custody, paternity, and protective orders. Texas does not have many official fill-in-the-blank forms, so the guide explains where to find templates and how to use them. This is one of the more useful resources for self-represented litigants.
TexasLawHelp.org provides plain-language guides, step-by-step instructions, and links to local legal aid groups. For Blanco County residents who cannot afford a lawyer, the nearest legal aid office may be able to help with low-income family law cases. The site also has interactive forms for some case types that walk you through the process question by question.
If you need official court forms, the Texas Judicial Branch has them at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. The Blanco County District Clerk can also tell you what forms are accepted for local filings. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are handled by the County Clerk and, at the state level, by the Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Unit.
Cities in Blanco County
Johnson City is the county seat and handles all family court filings for Blanco County. Blanco is the other incorporated city in the county.
Neither Johnson City nor Blanco meets the threshold for a dedicated city page. All family court cases from Blanco County are filed and handled at the courthouse in Johnson City.
Nearby Counties
Blanco County sits in the Texas Hill Country. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check where you lived for the 90 days before filing.