How to Get a Certified Copy of Your Divorce Decree in Texas

Every post-divorce administrative task — from updating your Social Security card to transferring your car title — requires a certified copy of your Final Decree of Divorce. Not a photocopy. Not a scan. A certified copy with the physical seal, signature, and stamp of the District Clerk.

Here's how to get one, what it costs, and how many you actually need.

Where to Request Certified Copies

Contact or visit the District Clerk's office in the county where your divorce was granted. This is the only office that can issue certified copies of your decree.

Most Texas counties accept requests:

• In person at the courthouse
• By mail with a written request, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope
• Online through the county's e-filing portal (availability varies by county)

You'll need to provide your full name, your ex-spouse's name, and the approximate date of the divorce. Some counties require the cause number from your case.

What It Costs

Texas law sets standardized base fees:

• $1 per page for document copies
• $5 certification surcharge per document

A typical decree runs 10–20 pages, so expect to pay $15–$25 per certified copy. Some counties add local surcharges, so confirm the total with your specific District Clerk before ordering.

If you also want a Change of Name Certificate (which proves your name change without revealing custody, support, or property terms), that's a separate document — typically $10 at the clerk's office.

How Many Copies Do You Need?

Order at least 3–5 certified copies. Here's where they go:

1. Social Security Administration — required for a name change via Form SS-5
2. Texas DPS — required for an updated driver's license
3. Your bank or mortgage lender — required to close joint accounts or transfer property
4. County Clerk — required when recording a Special Warranty Deed for real estate transfers
5. Your personal records — keep at least one certified copy in a secure location permanently

If you're dividing retirement accounts, you may need additional copies for plan administrators and the court (for your QDRO filing).

What Documents to Keep After Your Texas Divorce

Beyond the certified decree, maintain a permanent file with:

• Property settlement agreement (if separate from the decree)
• QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) for any divided retirement accounts
• Special Warranty Deed and Deed of Trust to Secure Assumption for any transferred real estate
• Vehicle title transfer receipts (Form 130-U confirmation)
• Updated beneficiary designation forms for life insurance, 401(k), and IRAs
• IRS Form 8332 if you agreed to release child dependency tax credits
• Change of Name Certificate (if applicable)

Store these with the same care you'd give a passport or birth certificate. Financial institutions and government agencies may request proof of your divorce terms for years afterward — especially if there's a dispute about property transfers, retirement benefits, or tax filings.

When a Motion for New Trial Affects Your Copies

If either party files a motion for new trial within 30 days of the decree being signed, the court retains plenary power and can modify the decree. If that happens, any certified copies you've already obtained may become outdated.

Wait until the 30-day plenary power window closes before ordering your full set of certified copies — unless you need one immediately for urgent identity or financial tasks. If the decree is later modified, you'll need to order fresh certified copies reflecting the amended terms.

Next Step

Once you have certified copies in hand, the clock starts on your administrative tasks. The Texas After-Divorce Checklist sequences every step — name changes, account closures, property transfers, and retirement divisions — in the order Texas agencies require.

See more Texas guides →