Find Family Court Records in Brazos County
Brazos County family court records are on file with the District Clerk's office in Bryan, covering all family law cases for the county including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders. If you are searching Brazos County family court records for cases in Bryan, College Station, or anywhere else in the county, the District Clerk is the official source for case information and document copies. You can search online through the statewide re:SearchTX system or request records directly from the courthouse. The county serves a large university community and a growing population across the Brazos Valley region.
Brazos County Overview
Brazos County District Clerk Office
The Brazos County District Clerk in Bryan is the official keeper of all family court case records. This office maintains divorce filings, custody orders, child support decrees, paternity judgments, and protective order records. If you need a certified copy of a court order or want to check if a case is active, this is where you go.
Brazos County covers Bryan and College Station, which together make up one of Texas's fastest-growing metro areas. Texas A&M University is located in College Station, which contributes to the county's large and mobile population. Many family law cases involve people who live or work in College Station but whose cases are filed at the Brazos County courthouse in Bryan. Both cities are well within the county's jurisdiction, and the District Clerk handles all family law filings for the entire county.
You can visit the courthouse in Bryan to search records in person. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Bring photo ID. For certified copies, you will pay a per-page fee plus a certification charge. Plain copies cost less. The courthouse is located at the Brazos County Courthouse complex in Bryan.
| Office | Brazos County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 E 26th Street Bryan, TX 77803 |
| Phone | (979) 361-4230 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | brazoscountytx.gov |
How to Search Brazos County Family Court Cases
The re:SearchTX portal is the statewide tool for searching Texas court records online, including Brazos County. It is run by the Texas Judicial Branch and covers cases filed electronically since November 2018. You can search by party name, cause number, or date. Results include docket entries, filing dates, and document previews. Registration is free. For official copies, contact the District Clerk directly.
If you are looking for older Brazos County family court records, an in-person visit to the courthouse is the best approach. The local system may have records going back further than what re:SearchTX shows. Staff can assist you in finding cases by name or number. Some older cases may only exist in paper form in the office's archives.
For electronic filing of new cases, eFileTexas.gov is the official system. Attorneys must use it for all family court filings. Self-represented parties are encouraged to file electronically as well. Customer support for eFileTexas is available at 855-839-3453.
Note: The Brazos County courthouse complex handles both the 85th and 361st District Courts. Both courts hear family law matters in the county.
Resources for Brazos County Family Cases
The Texas courts self-help page is a useful starting point for anyone handling a family court case without a lawyer in Brazos County.
Self-represented litigants in Brazos County can use these Texas Judicial Branch resources for guidance on how family court proceedings work.
The Texas State Law Library guide for children and family law is another helpful resource. It links to forms for divorce, custody, modification, paternity, and protective orders. Texas has relatively few standardized fill-in forms, but the forms that do exist are listed here along with instructions on where to get them.
These law library resources cover form kits for SAPCR cases, modification suits, and protective orders that are filed at the Brazos County courthouse.
Filing Requirements in Brazos County
To file for divorce in Brazos County, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Brazos County for 90 days before filing. This residency rule comes from Texas Family Code Section 6.301. If you live in College Station but recently moved to Brazos County, you may need to wait to meet the 90-day county residency requirement.
Texas law also requires a 60-day waiting period after the divorce petition is filed before a judge can sign the final decree. This waiting period is set by Texas Family Code Section 6.702. Courts can waive this rule in limited cases involving documented family violence. For most couples, the process takes at minimum two to three months even if both sides agree on everything.
Child custody cases in Brazos County are governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 153. The law presumes that joint managing conservatorship is in the best interest of the child. When parents can agree on a parenting plan, the court generally approves it. When they cannot agree, the judge decides based on the child's best interests. Records from all contested and agreed custody cases are kept at the District Clerk's office.
Fee waivers are available for qualifying parties. You file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Forms for this are available at the courthouse and through txcourts.gov.
What Family Court Records Include
Brazos County family court files generally contain the original petition, any responses filed by the other party, temporary orders issued by the court, and the final decree or order. Divorce files also include financial affidavits, asset inventories, and any agreed settlement agreements. Cases involving children include parenting plans and possession schedules.
Most of these documents are public records under the Texas Public Information Act. You do not have to be a party to the case to request copies. The Texas Attorney General enforces access rights and handles disputes over public records at texasattorneygeneral.gov. Some information is protected, including children's names in certain filings, sealed records, and financial account numbers.
Vital records like marriage licenses for Brazos County are kept by the County Clerk. Divorce record indexes are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services, but official certified copies of divorce decrees come from the District Clerk's office in Bryan, not from DSHS.
Legal Aid in Brazos County
Lone Star Legal Aid covers the Bryan-College Station area and provides free family law help to people with low income. Call (800) 733-8394 to check eligibility. TexasLawHelp.org has free guides on divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders that apply directly to Brazos County cases.
The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is available at (800) 252-9690. Many family law attorneys in Bryan and College Station offer a first consultation at a reduced rate. If your case involves child support enforcement, the Office of the Texas Attorney General handles child support enforcement statewide. You can reach the Child Support Division at 800-252-8014.
Cities in Brazos County
Brazos County includes Bryan and College Station, both of which qualify as major cities. All family court filings go through the District Clerk's office in Bryan regardless of which city you live in.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Brazos County. File where you meet the residency requirement.