El Paso County Family Court Records
El Paso County family court records are filed with the District Clerk in El Paso, the county seat of this far West Texas county with a population of roughly 870,000. These records include divorce cases, child custody and support orders, paternity filings, and protective orders heard across the county's multiple family district courts. You can search El Paso County family court records online through the county's Odyssey Public Access portal, the District Clerk's website, or the statewide re:SearchTX system. In-person visits and mail requests are also accepted at the El Paso courthouse. The District Clerk's office maintains all case files and handles public records requests.
El Paso County Overview
El Paso County District Clerk
The District Clerk's office in El Paso handles all family court filings for El Paso County. District Clerk Norma Favela Barceleau and her staff maintain divorce case files, custody and support orders, and protective order records. The office is located at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office handles a very high volume of cases, so plan your visit accordingly and bring all identifying information for the records you need.
El Paso County has many district courts hearing family matters. The 41st, 65th, 120th, 171st, 205th, 210th, 243rd, 327th, 388th, and 448th Judicial District Courts all handle family law cases in El Paso. Cases are assigned based on filing date and court rotation. With nearly a million residents, El Paso County is one of the largest counties in Texas by population, and the family court system reflects that scale.
| Office | El Paso County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| District Clerk | Norma Favela Barceleau |
| Address | 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103, El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Phone | (915) 546-2021 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | epcounty.com/districtclerk |
The El Paso County Clerk, Delia Briones, handles vital records, marriage licenses, property recordings, and official documents. The County Clerk is at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105, phone (915) 546-2071. Document copies are available from 1963 to present. For family court case files, you want the District Clerk at Suite 103. For a marriage license, birth certificate, or land record, the County Clerk at Suite 105 is the right office.
The El Paso County District Clerk website at epcounty.com/districtclerk provides links to the Odyssey Public Access portal, records request forms, and contact information for the clerk's divisions.
Search El Paso County Family Court Records Online
El Paso County uses the Tyler Technologies Odyssey Public Access portal for online case searches. This system is available at portal-txelpaso.tylertech.cloud. You can search criminal, civil, family, and probate cases from one interface. The portal shows case type, parties, status, docket entries, court calendar information, and jail booking records. The system includes a disclaimer that information is provided as a public service without warranty of accuracy. For official certified records, contact the District Clerk directly.
The El Paso County Odyssey portal lets you search family, civil, criminal, and probate cases online, view court calendars, and check case status without visiting the courthouse.
You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX portal from the Texas Judicial Branch. This covers El Paso County cases filed through the e-filing system from November 2018 to present. Both tools provide unofficial views only. Certified copies require a formal request to the District Clerk. For in-person access, go to 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103, during business hours. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for self-service searches.
When searching online, use full legal names as they appear on court documents. Try alternate spellings or maiden names if needed. The Odyssey portal allows partial name matching. Use filing year ranges to narrow results if a name search returns too many hits. If you cannot find a case online, the clerk's staff can assist in person or by phone at (915) 546-2021.
The El Paso County Clerk at epcounty.com/clerk handles vital records, marriage licenses, and property recordings separate from the family court case files maintained by the District Clerk.
Types of El Paso County Family Court Records
The District Clerk in El Paso keeps a comprehensive set of family law case files. Divorce cases include the original petition, temporary orders, the final decree, and any post-decree modifications. When children are involved, the file also holds conservatorship orders and a possession and access schedule. Property settlement agreements are part of the case file as well.
Child custody and support cases can be filed without divorce. Paternity actions also go through district court. The court can establish or modify a parent-child relationship, set conservatorship, and order child support. Enforcement of support orders is handled separately by the Texas AG's Child Support Division. Call 800-840-8757 for enforcement questions. That division operates independently from the court case files maintained by the clerk.
Protective order cases are on the family court docket. Applications related to family violence are heard in district court. The statewide registry under Monica's Law lets the public search for active protective orders by county, name, or birth year. Some records in these cases are restricted to protect the safety of the parties who sought the orders.
Note: Adoption records, juvenile court files, and child abuse investigation records are sealed under Texas law and are not accessible through the public case index in El Paso County.
Official Records and Land Documents
The El Paso County Clerk maintains official records including deeds, liens, oil and gas leases, and plat maps. These records are searchable online through TexasFile, which provides free search access to El Paso County official records. Basic name searches are available without registration, and advanced search features are available with a free login account.
TexasFile provides free search access to El Paso County official records including deeds, liens, and other property documents maintained by the County Clerk's office.
Property division is often part of a divorce case. While the final decree of divorce is filed with the District Clerk, any deeds resulting from the property division must be recorded separately with the County Clerk. If the divorce decree requires one spouse to transfer real property to the other, a new deed must be drafted and filed with the County Clerk to complete the transfer on the official property records. TexasFile can be used to search those land records after the transfer is complete.
Filing Family Cases in El Paso County
To file a divorce or family court case in El Paso County, one spouse must meet the Texas residency requirement under Texas Family Code section 6.301. One party must have lived in Texas for six months and in El Paso County for at least 90 days before the filing date. Both requirements must be met before the clerk accepts the petition.
Once residency is established, file the petition with the District Clerk. Attorneys must use the state's e-filing system at eFileTexas.gov. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in El Paso County family cases. Non-attorneys may file paper documents in person at the clerk's office. The BVS 165 form is required for divorce petitions involving children. Divorce filing fees typically range from $300 to $450 depending on case type.
Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period after filing before a divorce can be finalized, per Texas Family Code section 6.702. Uncontested divorces in El Paso County can sometimes be resolved shortly after this period ends. Contested cases, especially those involving property or children, take considerably longer. El Paso County's large court system has the capacity to handle many cases, but contested matters still require multiple hearings and scheduling time.
Texas is a community property state. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 6, the court divides marital property in a just and right manner. Assets acquired during the marriage are generally community property. Separate property, which each spouse keeps, includes pre-marriage assets and any gifts or inheritances kept separate throughout the marriage.
Fees and Access Rules
Most family court records in El Paso County are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Anyone can request copies. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 certification fee per document. Payment at the courthouse is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Online copies through the Odyssey portal may require a credit card payment.
El Paso County vital records from 1963 to present are available through the County Clerk. The County Clerk offers free search access through TexasFile for land records. For family court documents, the District Clerk is the official source. Mail requests to the District Clerk should include party names, approximate dates, case number if known, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow five to ten business days for mail requests to be processed.
Note: Financial exhibits, records involving minors' private information, and sealed domestic violence case details may be restricted even within otherwise public family court files.
Legal Help for El Paso County Residents
The Texas Judicial Branch self-help page at txcourts.gov helps people represent themselves in family court. The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov provides family law form guides. TexasLawHelp.org is free for those who cannot afford an attorney and has links to legal aid organizations in El Paso. El Paso has active legal aid organizations that handle low-income family law cases including divorce, custody, and protective orders.
The Texas courts FAQ at txcourts.gov answers common questions about how to get records and how the court system works. Official court forms are available at txcourts.gov/rules-forms. Vital statistics for El Paso County residents are handled statewide by DSHS at dshs.texas.gov.
Cities in El Paso County
El Paso is the county seat and by far the largest city in El Paso County. All family court cases from El Paso and surrounding communities are filed and heard at the El Paso County courthouse. El Paso has its own city page with additional local information.
Nearby Counties
El Paso County is at the far western tip of Texas. If you are unsure which county has jurisdiction, check which county you lived in for the 90 days before filing.