Collin County Family Court Records
Collin County family court records are filed with the District Clerk in McKinney and cover all family law cases filed in the county's district courts, including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders. Collin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas and the United States, with a population surpassing one million. The District Clerk's office in McKinney handles a high volume of family law filings for residents of Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, Carrollton, and dozens of other communities throughout North Texas. You can search Collin County family court records online through the re:SearchTX statewide portal, visit the courthouse at 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney, or contact the clerk's office to submit a records request.
Collin County Overview
Collin County District Clerk
The Collin County District Clerk's office in McKinney is the official custodian of all family court case records for the county. With over a million residents, Collin County is one of the busiest court systems in North Texas. The District Clerk's office handles filings for divorce, custody, support, paternity, and protective orders across multiple district courts. All case files are maintained at the Collin County Courthouse Complex in McKinney.
Collin County has eight district courts handling family law and civil matters: the 199th, 219th, 296th, 366th, 380th, 401st, 416th, 417th, and 469th District Courts. Family law cases are distributed among these courts. All filings and records go through the same District Clerk. Whether you live in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, or a smaller Collin County community, your family court case will be on file with the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney.
| Office | Collin County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 2100 Bloomdale Rd., Suite 12116, McKinney, TX 75071 |
| Phone | (972) 548-4320 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | collincountytx.gov |
The Collin County official website at collincountytx.gov has department directories, court calendars, and links to online services. The District Clerk's page provides information on records requests, filing procedures, and fee schedules. The Collin County Clerk handles marriage licenses, deed records, and probate separately from the District Clerk's family court files.
Searching Collin County Family Court Records
Collin County maintains an online records search portal at collincountytx.gov/district_clerk. The county's Tyler Technologies Odyssey system provides public access to case information including party names, case status, and hearing dates. You can search by name, cause number, or attorney. This is one of the more robust county-level online search systems in North Texas.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal is another free tool for searching Collin County family court records. It covers cases filed through the state e-filing system since November 2018. Use the county filter to narrow results to Collin County. The system shows party names, case status, and docket entries at no charge and is available 24 hours a day.
re:SearchTX provides free online access to Collin County family court cases filed through the state's electronic filing system since 2018.
For in-person searches, visit 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney during business hours. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse. Staff can assist you with name-based or cause number searches. For document copies, you will need to request and pay for them through the clerk's office. Certified copies are available for cases you need to present as official records to another court or agency.
The Texas Open Court Information System at topics.txcourts.gov also lists Collin County docket information. If you are looking for a recently filed case that has not yet appeared in search results, check both the county portal and re:SearchTX, since indexing can sometimes take a few days after filing.
Types of Family Court Cases in Collin County
Collin County's district courts handle all types of family law cases. Divorce cases make up a significant portion of the family court docket in this high-growth county. Divorce files include the petition, any temporary orders, the final decree, and post-decree modifications. Cases with children include detailed conservatorship orders, a possession and access schedule, and child support calculations based on the Texas Family Code guidelines.
Suits affecting the parent-child relationship are filed when custody, support, or visitation issues arise outside of a divorce. These include paternity cases, custody modifications, and support establishment proceedings. Collin County sees a high volume of these cases due to its large and growing population. The District Clerk's office processes these filings for residents across all eight district courts that serve the county.
Protective order cases are part of the family court docket. Texas maintains a statewide protective order registry under Monica's Law that allows public searches by name, county, or birth year. Collin County residents can also contact the District Clerk directly to inquire about specific protective order filings. Some details in protective order files may be restricted to protect the safety of those involved.
Note: Collin County adoption records, juvenile court files, and sealed domestic violence cases are not part of the public case index and require a court order to access.
Filing Family Court Cases in Collin County
Residency requirements under Texas Family Code section 6.301 require that at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Collin County for 90 days before filing a divorce petition. Given that many Collin County communities like Plano and McKinney have seen rapid population growth, it is not uncommon for new residents to need to wait before they qualify to file here.
Attorneys must file through eFileTexas.gov, the state's mandatory electronic filing system. E-filing is required for attorneys in Collin County civil and family courts. Self-represented parties may also use e-filing or submit paper documents at the clerk's office. The BVS 165 statistical form must accompany all divorce petitions. Filing fees vary by case type. Contact the District Clerk at (972) 548-4320 or check the county website for the current fee schedule before filing.
Texas requires a 60-day waiting period from the date of filing before a divorce can be finalized, per Family Code section 6.702. In a busy court system like Collin County, contested cases often take much longer than the minimum waiting period due to scheduling and the complexity of cases involving significant assets or custody disputes. Texas is a community property state, and the final decree will specify how marital property and debts are divided under Family Code Chapter 6.
Fees and Public Access to Collin County Records
Collin 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 request copies of public records. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Check the Collin County District Clerk's website for the current fee schedule, as fees can change.
In-person payments at the McKinney courthouse are accepted by cash, check, or money order. The office may also accept credit cards. For mail requests, make payment to the Collin County District Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents returned by mail. Processing time for mail requests is typically five to ten business days. For urgent needs, visiting the courthouse in person is the fastest option.
Attorneys filing family court cases in Collin County must use the eFileTexas system, which links directly to the District Clerk's Odyssey records management system in McKinney.
Note: Sensitive financial exhibits, records involving minors' identifying information, and sealed cases may have restricted access even when the main case file is publicly available.
Legal Help and Self-Help Resources
Collin County residents have access to a range of legal resources due to the county's proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The Texas Judicial Branch self-help resource page provides guides for people representing themselves in family court. The page covers filing steps, hearing procedures, and what to expect throughout the case.
The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov has a comprehensive guide to family law forms. This resource explains where to find petition templates, how to fill them out, and what to file with the clerk. The official Texas court forms page provides forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court for use in all district courts including those in Collin County.
TexasLawHelp.org connects residents with free legal help and has step-by-step guides on divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders. Legal aid organizations serving North Texas and the DFW area may be available to Collin County residents who qualify based on income. For child support questions, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division handles enforcement through texasattorneygeneral.gov.
Cities in Collin County
Collin County is home to several major North Texas cities. All family court cases from any Collin County city or community are filed with the same District Clerk in McKinney.
Qualifying cities in Collin County with their own pages include Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, and Carrollton. Other Collin County communities include Prosper, Celina, Wylie, Murphy, Sachse, Fairview, Lucas, and Parker. Residents of all of these communities file their family court cases with the Collin County District Clerk in McKinney.
Nearby Counties
Collin County is in the DFW metroplex and borders several North Texas counties. Cases must be filed in the county where you have lived for 90 days.