- No Fault Uncontested Divorce Forms
- Marital Settlement Agreement

Divorce records are considered public records in all states although there may be variations in the way they are governed and treated from one state to another. To search divorce records in any of the states, there are basically two options: government or private. Government sources are generally thought to be free, albeit largely the contrary in Texas while higher expectations are placed upon private ones. Either will work and is a matter of individual preference or situation.

The government department which is in charge of divorce records in Texas is the Texas Department of State Health Services and the service is provided out of its Vital Statistics Unit under the Report of Divorce Index section. These indexes can be downloaded free of charge from the department’s website. There are close to a hundred thousand divorce files maintained by the office but its function to this end is limited to primarily providing verification letters associated with divorce.

A Divorce Letter of Verification from the Vital Statistics Office only states whether or not a divorce was issued in the state of Texas. It contains the names of the divorcing parties, the county where the divorce was granted and the court case number. Fees are $20.00 for a letter. They are considered searching charges and hence not refundable or transferable to another record whether or not a search yields any results. However if a search results in a ‘no record found’, it can be used as proof of single-status (marital). Verification letters are available to divorces that occurred from 1968 to the last day of the year preceding the current one.

For other divorce records such as certified copies of Divorce Certificates and Divorce Decrees, you must contact the District Clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was filed as they are not maintained at the Vital Statistics Office. On that same note, Reports of Divorce Indexes before 1968 are not available there either due to the fact that divorce applications were not filed with the State offices until 1968 so they too have to be obtained at their office of origin in the respective counties.

Texans are a special lot. The reasons behind their search for Texas Divorce Records are varied and flowery. There are also Texans who have resided in multiple states or county prior to Texas. As such, the complete divorce records of these folks will cut across state borders and the various state public record databases are not linked. As a result, employing government agencies for multiple-state divorce record searches becomes unfeasible. That’s why private record providers are the preferred option for Texas Divorce Records Search especially when time and personal bandwidth are a constraint. Their databases typically cover all states.

Commercial record providers are the end-all solution for those who can see past the fees involved but only if you signed up with the right one. The demand for this type of service has soared in recent times due to its obvious edge over using public agencies. This has consequently attracted many pretenders onto the bandwagon. Having that said, it’s not difficult to identify the bona-fide providers. One of the best ways is to check out the review or specialist sites which are abundantly found in any of the major search engines. They seldom miss.

Government or private record providers for Texas Divorce Records? Make the right choice to suit your particular needs. You can learn all about them by visiting our site at Online Divorce Records.

Divorce Lawyers Killeen Texas

- No Fault Uncontested Divorce Forms
- Marital Settlement Agreement

Like so many things, the final answer to this question is going to depend on a lot of things that pertain to you and your particular situation.

I can tell you how much the kit will cost. I can give you a vague idea of how much you can save. I can even give you a short list of requirements which must be met before you can even start deciding whether or not to use a do-it-yourself divorce software kit. In the end, however, you will have to balance the pluses and minuses and decide if this is the option for you.

Cost of the Kit Itself

A good do-it-yourself no-fault divorce kit can be had for about $50 as I write this in January, 2009. A quality kit should provide all the forms you will need for filing and guidance for state-by-state situations. It will have step-by-step instructions, and it should also provide for support in the event you have questions or need guidance.

As a side note, a reliable company should be willing to provide a guarantee of their materials as well.

Costs of Filing a No Fault Divorce without Children

There simply is no good answer to this question because there are so many factors applicable to each individual situation. Even a no-fault divorce done by an attorney will have the attorney’s fees and various clerical fees as well as filing costs. These can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars in some divorces, although they will probably not be that high in a no fault divorce without children.

Still, making use of a do-it-yourself divorce software kit can save you the attorney’s fees as well as some of the clerical fees. This can be a savings of several hundred dollars in even most of the simplest divorces.

Requirements You Must Meet to Use a Do-It-Yourself Divorce Software Kit

Not everyone can file their own divorce, particularly if the following conditions cannot be met.

1. There must be no children involved. Even with the best of intentions on the part of both parties, the interests of children are best preserved and protected if professionals, i.e. attorneys and courts, are involved in reaching a solution which is in their best interests.

2. Both parties must agree on all aspects of the dissolution, including distribution of property and any support issues.

3. Both parties must completely fill out and sign all applicable paperwork.

4. Both parties must be reachable. This prevents one party from filing a “no-fault divorce” behind the other’s back.

5. The parties must live apart for the time required by their individual state.

While do-it-yourself no-fault divorce kits are a boon to many and can save couples already stressed and strapped for cash additional costs and cares, they are not for use in every situation. However, they can be invaluable to those who can make use of them.

Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer currently living in central Texas. A University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting, he is a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he became interested in internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. He has a blog on the subject of divorce at http://divorce-r-us.blogspot.com.

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker Divorce