Webb County Family Court Records

Webb County family court records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Laredo, Texas. Laredo is a major international border city and the county seat of Webb County, with a population of approximately 270,000. Family court records in Webb County cover divorce cases, child custody and conservatorship orders, child support filings, protective orders, and paternity cases. Residents of Laredo and all of Webb County file family law cases in the county's district courts. This page explains how to access Webb County family court records and lists available resources.

Webb County District Clerk and County Clerk

The Webb County District Clerk is located at 1110 Victoria St. in Laredo, TX 78040. The phone number is (956) 523-4400. The District Clerk maintains all district court records including family court case files for the 49th, 111th, 341st, 406th, and 428th District Courts. An Odyssey case management portal is available for online access to case records. The County Clerk shares the same address and phone number and handles marriage licenses, birth and death records, land records, and probate records.

Webb County is a major border county. Laredo is one of the largest border cities in the United States. The county's district courts handle a significant volume of family law cases including divorce, custody, and child support. Case records can be searched online through the Odyssey portal or in person at the courthouse on Victoria Street.

Webb County is part of the Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division, for federal court matters. Federal civil and criminal cases are heard at the Laredo federal courthouse. State family law cases are handled exclusively in state district courts at the Webb County Courthouse.

Searching Webb County Family Court Records

Webb County uses the Odyssey court records system, which provides online access to case records. Visit the Webb County District Clerk's office website at webbcountytx.gov/departments/districtclerk to search case records online. You can search by party name, case number, or other criteria. The system covers family court cases including divorce, custody, and child support filings.

The statewide re:SearchTX system also covers electronically filed cases from Webb County's district courts. Search by party name or case number for free. For older records or documents not available online, contact the District Clerk at (956) 523-4400 or visit in person.

The Webb County District Clerk provides online case search access for family court records covering divorce, custody, and support cases in Laredo and all of Webb County.

For vital records, Texas DSHS Vital Statistics holds statewide birth and death records from 1903. Marriage licenses from Webb County are available from the County Clerk at 1110 Victoria St. in Laredo.

Family Law Cases in Webb County

Webb County's five district courts handle family law cases for the Laredo area. Divorce is the most common family court filing. Cases follow Texas Family Code Chapter 6. One spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Webb County for 90 days before filing. Texas allows no-fault divorce on insupportability grounds and fault-based divorce for cruelty, adultery, abandonment, or felony conviction. Community property is divided in a just and right manner.

Custody and conservatorship cases follow Texas Family Code Chapter 153. Webb County courts decide custody based on the best interest of the child. Joint managing conservatorship is the default outcome in most cases. The court sets a possession and access schedule for both parents. Courts must consider any history of family violence under Monica's Law.

Child support follows the guidelines in Texas Family Code Chapter 154, calculated from the obligor's net monthly income. The district courts also handle protective orders, paternity actions, adoptions, and guardianship matters. All public family court records are accessible under Texas Government Code Chapter 552.

Filing Family Court Cases in Webb County

To file a family law case, bring your Original Petition to the District Clerk at 1110 Victoria St. in Laredo. Under Texas Family Code Section 6.301, one party must have lived in Texas for six months and in Webb County for 90 days before filing. Filing fees are due at submission. If you cannot pay, file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs with the clerk.

The mandatory 60-day waiting period under Texas Family Code Section 6.702 applies to all divorces. Attorneys must e-file using eFileTexas.gov. Self-represented parties can file paper documents in person. Court forms are at the Texas courts forms page. Free guides are at TexasLawHelp.org and the Texas Judicial Branch self-help center.

Fees and Record Access in Webb County

Webb County family court records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are typically $5.00 per document. Staff search fees may apply. Call (956) 523-4400 to confirm current rates. Juvenile records are sealed. Adoption files are confidential. Social Security numbers and other sensitive identifiers are redacted from public copies under Texas Family Code Section 105.006.

Note: For statewide vital records, contact Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. Certified copies of divorce decrees from Webb County cases are issued only by the District Clerk in Laredo.

Legal Resources for Webb County

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid serves Webb County and Laredo, providing free or reduced-cost legal help to qualifying residents. The State Bar of Texas referral line at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a licensed attorney. Free family law guides covering divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders are available at TexasLawHelp.org.

The Texas State Law Library family law guide provides links to approved court forms and e-filing tools. The Texas Judicial Branch self-help program provides free procedural guides for family court cases in Webb County and across Texas.

Cities in Webb County

Webb County includes Laredo and surrounding communities. All family court cases for residents of Webb County are filed at the District Court in downtown Laredo.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Webb County in South Texas. Confirm your county of residence before filing a family law case.