Martin County Family Court Records

Martin County family court records are maintained at the Martin County Clerk's office in Stanton, Texas. The district court in Stanton handles divorce filings, child custody cases, support orders, paternity suits, and protective order applications for all residents of Martin County. Located in West Texas in the Permian Basin region, Martin County is a rural county with a small but active court system. This guide explains how to find Martin County family court records, how to request copies, and what legal resources are available to county residents.

Martin County Clerk Office

The Martin County Clerk is located at the county courthouse in Stanton, Texas. The clerk's office handles marriage licenses, property records, and some family record filings. The district clerk handles case filings and maintains court records for district court proceedings, including family law matters like divorce, custody, and support cases.

Martin County is a small oil-producing county in the Permian Basin. The courthouse in Stanton serves as the filing location for all family court matters in the county. Because of the county's small size, staff resources are limited. Calling ahead is the best way to confirm fees, hours, and whether records are available for remote request by mail or fax.

For family court cases filed in recent years, the statewide re:SearchTX portal is a faster option than calling the county clerk. However, older case records and those not in the online system require a direct inquiry with the Martin County courthouse.

Searching Martin County Family Court Records

Start your search at the statewide re:SearchTX portal. This system provides access to case index data for Texas district courts, including Martin County. You can search by party name or case number. The portal is free to use and provides unofficial case information including docket entries and documents filed through the e-filing system.

The Texas court records search portal at research.txcourts.gov covers Martin County family court filings made through the electronic filing system since its rollout.

The Texas Judicial Branch FAQ page at txcourts.gov provides answers to common questions about court records access, including how to find family court filings in counties like Martin.

For cases filed before the e-filing era or not indexed in re:SearchTX, contact the Martin County District Clerk directly in Stanton. Staff can run name-based searches and provide paper copies for a per-page fee. Certified copies are also available for an additional certification fee. If you need a statewide divorce index check, Texas DSHS Vital Statistics maintains state-level records that can point you to the right county.

Note: The re:SearchTX portal provides unofficial case index data. Always obtain certified copies from the clerk for use in legal proceedings.

Family Law Cases Filed in Martin County

Martin County's district court handles all family law filings for the county. Divorce cases are the most common. To file in Martin County, at least one spouse must meet the residency requirement under Texas Family Code Section 6.301: six months in Texas and 90 days in Martin County. Texas recognizes both no-fault divorce based on insupportability and fault-based grounds under Texas Family Code Chapter 6.

Custody cases are decided under Texas Family Code Chapter 153. The court considers which conservatorship arrangement serves the child's best interest and sets a possession order accordingly. Child support is calculated under Texas Family Code Chapter 154. The guidelines set support based on the obligor's net monthly resources and the number of children.

Other family court filings in Martin County include paternity actions, adoptions, and modification cases. Protective orders are also handled at the district court level. All these records are part of the district court case files maintained in Stanton.

Filing Family Court Cases in Martin County

Family court cases are filed at the Martin County District Clerk's office in Stanton. Attorneys use eFileTexas.gov to file electronically. Self-represented parties may file paper documents at the courthouse. The Texas courts rules and forms page and the Texas State Law Library both have free forms for common family law cases.

After a divorce petition is filed, the 60-day waiting period under Texas Family Code Section 6.702 must pass before the court can grant a final decree. This applies even if both parties are in full agreement. The waiting period may be waived in family violence situations. After the wait, agreed cases can be finalized quickly, while contested cases go to hearings or trial.

If you cannot afford filing fees, ask the district clerk for a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The court reviews your financial information and decides whether to waive fees for your case.

Public Access and Record Fees

Martin County family court records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Standard copy fees are typically $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Juvenile records are confidential. Sealed court orders require a judge's authorization before they can be released. The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to appeal a denied records request to the Texas Attorney General.

Note: Contact the Martin County District Clerk for the current fee schedule before submitting a records request. Fees can vary and are subject to change.

Legal Resources for Martin County Residents

The Texas Judicial Branch self-help center at txcourts.gov/programs-services/self-help provides guides for people handling family court cases without an attorney. The site covers divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders. All guides are written for self-represented litigants and explain the Texas court process step by step.

TexasLawHelp.org has free forms and plain-language guides for Texas family law cases. West Texas legal aid organizations may serve Martin County residents who qualify based on income. Call the State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 to find a private attorney in the West Texas area. The Texas State Law Library's family law guide is a free resource for forms and legal research covering custody, paternity, and modification cases.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Martin County in the Permian Basin region of West Texas.