Access Lee County Family Court Records
Lee County family court records are maintained by the District Clerk in Giddings, Texas, covering all family law cases filed in the county including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protective order proceedings. If you need to search Lee County family court records, the statewide re:SearchTX portal is the first stop for recent cases, or you can contact the District Clerk directly in Giddings for older records and certified copies. Lee County is a smaller Central Texas county, and the courthouse in Giddings handles all district court family law matters for the entire county. Staff can generally help you find a case quickly by name or cause number.
Lee County Overview
Lee County District Clerk Office
The Lee County District Clerk in Giddings is the official keeper of all family court records in the county. The office maintains divorce filings, custody and support orders, paternity judgments, and protective order records. If you need a certified copy of a court order or want to know if a case was filed, this is the office to contact.
Lee County is located between Austin and Houston in Central Texas. Giddings is the county seat and is home to the courthouse where all district court proceedings are held. The county has seen some growth related to oil and gas activity in the Brenham area and as a commuter county to Austin. All family law cases filed anywhere in Lee County go through the District Clerk in Giddings. The county website at lee-county.com has contact information for all county offices.
For in-person record searches, visit the courthouse in Giddings with a photo ID. Staff can look up records by name or cause number. Certified copies require payment of fees. Plain copies are less expensive. Call ahead to confirm office hours and procedures.
| Office | Lee County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Giddings, TX 78942 |
| County Website | lee-county.com |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Lee County Family Cases
The re:SearchTX portal offers free online access to Texas court records including Lee County cases filed electronically since November 2018. You can search by party name, cause number, or filing date. The portal shows docket entries and document previews. For certified copies of any document, you need to contact the District Clerk in Giddings.
For older Lee County family court records, an in-person visit to the Giddings courthouse is the most effective approach. The local records system may hold case information going further back than the online portal. Staff can help you search by name and time frame if you don't have a cause number. Paper archives are available for older cases.
The re:SearchTX system lets you review Lee County case dockets and recent filings online without visiting the Giddings courthouse.
New filings in Lee County go through eFileTexas.gov, the official state e-filing platform. Attorneys are required to file electronically for all district court cases. Self-represented parties may also use it. Phone support is at 855-839-3453.
Note: Lee County vital records such as birth and death certificates are maintained by the County Clerk's office, not the District Clerk, even though both offices are at the Giddings courthouse.
Filing Requirements in Lee County
To file for divorce in Lee County, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Lee County for 90 days before filing. This is set by Texas Family Code Section 6.301. If you recently moved to the Giddings area, you may need to wait until the 90-day county residency period is met before filing.
After filing, Texas requires a 60-day waiting period before a judge can sign the final divorce decree. This rule is in Texas Family Code Section 6.702. Courts may waive this in documented family violence cases. Most uncontested Lee County divorces take at least two to three months from filing to completion.
Custody cases are governed by Texas Family Code Chapter 153, which presumes joint managing conservatorship is in the child's best interest unless there is evidence otherwise. Agreed parenting plans are usually approved by the court. Contested custody goes to a hearing before the district judge. All final orders are kept with the District Clerk in Giddings and are part of the public record.
For people who can't pay court costs, a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs can be filed under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Forms are available at the courthouse or at txcourts.gov.
What Lee County Family Court Records Contain
A Lee County family court file includes the original petition, the opposing party's answer, temporary orders, and the final decree. Divorce files often contain financial disclosures, property inventories, and settlement agreements. Cases involving children include parenting plans and visitation schedules.
Most of these records are open to the public under the Texas Public Information Act. You don't have to be a party to request copies. The Texas Attorney General handles public records access disputes at texasattorneygeneral.gov. Protected materials include children's identifying details, sealed records, and financial account numbers.
Texas divorce indexes are maintained by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Certified copies of Lee County divorce decrees must be requested from the District Clerk in Giddings. DSHS provides only the index, not certified copies of actual decrees.
Forms and Resources for Lee County Cases
The Texas State Law Library guide covers family law forms for divorce, custody, modification, and protective orders. It is a helpful starting point for Lee County residents who are handling their own case.
These Texas State Law Library resources apply to Lee County cases and include form kits for divorce, SAPCR filings, and modification proceedings.
Legal Aid in Lee County
Lone Star Legal Aid serves Central Texas including Lee County and provides free legal help to qualifying low-income residents. Call (800) 733-8394 to check eligibility. TexasLawHelp.org has free guides for divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders that apply to Lee County cases. The Texas courts self-help page is also available for people navigating the process without an attorney.
The State Bar of Texas referral service is at (800) 252-9690. Attorneys in the Austin and Bryan areas often handle Lee County cases. For child support enforcement, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division handles statewide enforcement and can be reached at 800-252-8014.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Lee County in Central Texas. File in the county where you have lived for 90 days.