are the legal files that prove a marriage has ended through the court system. These files exist in two different places named El Paso County. One is in Texas and the other is in Colorado. Each place has its own way of keeping these papers. You might need these files for things like getting a new marriage license, changing your name on a bank account, or proving you are single for taxes. 
El Paso County Texas Divorce Court Files
In Texas, the District Clerk keeps all the papers for the courts. When a judge signs a paper to end a marriage, that paper goes to the District Clerk. This office is in the city of El Paso. The main building is the El Paso County Courthouse. You go to this building to ask for copies of your court papers. The District Clerk has a group called the Family Law Division. They handle everything about kids, child support, and ending marriages. If your case happened in Texas, you need to talk to them. They keep the original papers that were filed when the case started. They also keep the final paper that shows the judge’s signature. People ask for these papers when they want to show they are no longer married. You can go to the office in person or send a letter. You can also look online if you have the case number. The case number is a mix of letters and numbers that the court gave your file when it started.
How To Get Copies in Texas
To get your papers in El Paso, Texas, you have three main ways. You can walk into the courthouse, send a letter through the mail, or use the internet. Each way takes a different amount of time and cost. If you go in person, you visit the courthouse at 500 E. San Antonio Ave. You go to the room where the District Clerk works. You will need to bring a photo card from the government, like a driver’s license. You tell the person at the desk your name and the name of your ex-spouse. It helps if you know the year the marriage ended. If you use the mail, you write a letter. In the letter, you put the names of both people and the case number. You must include a check or a money order to pay for the copies. You also need to send a copy of your ID card. The clerk will look for the file and mail the copies back to your house. This can take about two weeks.
Online Search For Texas Files
The El Paso County District Clerk has a website for looking up court cases. You can type in names to see if a case exists. The website shows the date the case started and the date it ended. It might not show the whole paper for free. Often, you can see the list of actions taken in the case, which is called a docket. If you need the actual paper with the seal, you usually have to pay through the website. Once you pay, they send a link to your email. You click the link and print the paper. These are good for your own records. If you need a paper for the government, you might need a certified copy. A certified copy has a special stamp or raised seal that proves it is real.
Costs For Texas Court Papers
Getting copies of court papers is not free. The court charges money to cover the cost of paper, ink, and the time the workers spend looking for the file. In El Paso, Texas, the prices can change, so it is smart to check the latest list of prices at the office.
| Type of Paper | Price in Texas | Time to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Copy (Per Page) | $1.00 | Same Day |
| Certified Copy (Full Decree) | $20.00 | 3 to 5 Days |
| Full Court Record Request | $30.00 | Up to 14 Days |
| Search Fee (If no case number) | $5.00 | Instant |
You can pay with cash if you are at the office. They also take credit cards and debit cards. If you mail your request, do not send cash. Use a money order or a check instead. Make it payable to the El Paso County District Clerk.
El Paso County Colorado Divorce Court Files
In Colorado, El Paso County includes the city of Colorado Springs. The courts there are part of the Fourth Judicial District. They keep papers for marriages that ended in Colorado Springs and nearby towns. The Clerk of Court is the person in charge of these files. These files include the decree of dissolution. That is the legal name for the final divorce paper in Colorado. It also includes the parenting plan if there are children. If the court ordered one person to pay money to the other, those papers are there too. Colorado keeps these files in a big building in downtown Colorado Springs. The building is the Terry R. Harris Judicial Complex. Like in Texas, you can go there to ask for your papers. You will need to show who you are with an ID card. 
Requesting Colorado Papers
If you live in Colorado Springs, you can go to the clerk’s window. The address is 270 South Tejon Street. The office is open during the day from Monday to Friday. They have computers in the lobby where you can look for your own case. When you use the computer, you type in your last name. A list of cases will pop up. You look for the one that has your full name and the name of the person you were married to. Write down the case number. Then, you take that number to the window and ask for a copy. If you do not live in Colorado, you can send a request by mail. You need to include the names, the dates, and a check for the fee. Colorado courts also have an online system called the Colorado Judicial Branch website. This site lets you search for cases across the whole state, including El Paso County.
Colorado State Archives Historical Records
Sometimes people look for very old marriage end dates for their family history. If the marriage ended a long time ago, the court might not have the paper anymore. They send old papers to the Colorado State Archives. The Archives keep files for El Paso County from the years 1903 to 1941. You can search these online for free. You type in the names of your great-grandparents or other relatives. If they ended their marriage during those years, you will see the date and the case number. You can ask the Archives to send you a copy of the old paper. They charge a small fee for this service. This is a great way to learn about your family tree. These old papers often show where people lived and how many kids they had at that time.
Difference Between Decree and Certificate
It is easy to get confused about the different types of papers. There are two main kinds of papers you might hear about. One is the divorce decree. The other is the divorce certificate. They are not the same thing. A divorce decree is the big stack of papers from the judge. It says exactly how the house was split and who gets the car. It also says how the kids will spend their time. This paper is many pages long. You get this from the District Clerk in Texas or the Clerk of Court in Colorado. A divorce certificate is a simple, one-page paper. It just says that a marriage ended on a certain date in a certain county. It does not give details about money or kids. In Texas, you can get these from the state health department in Austin. In Colorado, the state health department in Denver has them too. Most people use the decree because it has more details that banks or lawyers need.
Public Versus Private Records
Most court files are public. This means anyone can look at them. If you want to see if someone is divorced, you can go to the courthouse and look. This is because courts are part of the government and must be open to the people. However, some things in the file are private. Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are usually hidden. This protects people from identity theft. If there are kids involved, some papers might be sealed. A sealed paper means only the people in the case or their lawyers can see it. If you want your own records, you always have a right to see them. You just have to prove who you are. If you are looking for someone else’s records, you can see the public parts but not the private parts.
The Role of the County Clerk
In El Paso, Texas, the County Clerk and the District Clerk are two different offices. This can be tricky. The County Clerk, like Delia Briones, handles marriage licenses, birth papers, and death papers. They do not handle the divorce case itself. The District Clerk handles the court case. But once a divorce is over, the state sometimes sends a report back to the County Clerk’s area or the state records office. If you need a marriage license from the past, you go to the County Clerk. If you need the paper that ended that marriage, you go to the District Clerk. In Colorado, the County Clerk also handles marriage licenses. They work at offices on Garden of the Gods Road or Cascade Avenue. They are the ones who give you the license before you get married. If you need to prove you are divorced so you can get a new license, they will ask you to show them the decree from the court.
Using an Online Portal
Using a computer is the fastest way to start your search. Both El Paso counties have websites where you can look for case numbers. This saves you a trip to the building. For Texas, you go to the El Paso County website and look for “Judicial Records Search.” You can search as a “Guest.” You do not need a password. Type in the last name and then the first name. Look at the results to find the right person. For Colorado, you go to the Colorado Judicial Branch website. Look for “Access Court Records.” You can choose El Paso County from a list of all the counties in the state. This will help you see if a case was filed in Colorado Springs.
The Domestic Relations Office
In Texas, there is another office called the Domestic Relations Office or DRO. They help with the parts of a divorce that involve kids and money. They are located in the same main building at 500 E. San Antonio Ave. If you have questions about child support payments, the DRO is the place to ask. They keep records of how much money was paid and when. They also help people follow the rules set by the judge. If you need to change your child support, you might talk to them. They take payments online with a credit card. This makes it easy for parents to stay current on their payments. You can also visit them in person if you have a problem that needs fixing right away.
Why You Need Certified Copies
A plain copy is just a picture of the paper. A certified copy is a legal version of that paper. The clerk puts a special mark on it. This mark shows that the clerk checked the original and knows the copy is exactly the same. You need a certified copy for:
Certified copies cost more than plain copies. They also take longer to get because a real person has to stamp them and sign them. It is a good idea to keep at least one certified copy in a safe place at home.
Common Mistakes When Searching
Many people have trouble finding their papers because of small errors. The most common error is a misspelled name. If the court wrote the name wrong on the paper, you have to search for that wrong spelling. Another error is looking in the wrong county. If you lived in El Paso but the court case happened in a nearby county like Hudspeth (Texas) or Teller (Colorado), the El Paso clerks will not have your file. You must go to the county where the judge signed the paper. Lastly, some people look for very new cases too soon. It takes a few days for the workers to type the details into the computer after a judge signs the paper. If you just finished your case yesterday, the paper might not be ready yet.
Important Office Locations in Texas
If you are in Texas, you should know these addresses. They are the main spots for all your paperwork needs. Main Courthouse: 500 E. San Antonio Ave. El Paso, TX 79901 Ysleta Annex: 9521 Socorro Road, Suite A-1 El Paso, TX 79927 The Ysleta Annex is good for people who live in the southern part of town. They can help with some records so you do not have to drive all the way to the downtown building. They are open from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Important Office Locations in Colorado
If you are in Colorado, these are the places you will likely visit. Combined Court (For Court Papers): 270 South Tejon Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: (719) 452-5000 Main Clerk and Recorder (For Marriage Licenses): 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road Colorado Springs, CO 80907 Phone: (719) 520-6240 The court building is where you get the divorce papers. The Garden of the Gods office is where you get the marriage license. Both are important for your records.
Vital Records and State Reports
While the local court keeps the big files, the state government also keeps a small record. This is called a report of divorce. In Texas, the court sends a notice to the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin. This state office does not have the decree. They only have the certificate. If you lost your decree and do not know which county it was in, the state office can help you find the right county. They charge a fee to search their list. In Colorado, the Department of Public Health and Environment in Denver does the same thing. They keep a list of all marriages and ends of marriages for the whole state. This is very helpful if you moved around a lot and forgot where you filed your papers.
Genealogy and Family History
Searching for old family files is a popular hobby. If you are looking for divorce records el paso county from a hundred years ago, you are doing genealogy. Old files are interesting because they tell a story. They might list the reasons why the couple split up. They might list all the things they owned, like horses, wagons, or old houses. They also list the names and ages of children. To find these, start with the State Archives for Colorado or the local library’s history room in Texas. Many of these very old files are being put onto computers so people can see them from home.
Fees For Colorado Records
Colorado has its own set of costs. They might be different from Texas. It is important to have the right amount of money ready.
| Service | Price in Colorado | How to Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Fee | $20.00 | Cash/Card |
| Standard Copy (Per Page) | $0.75 | Cash/Card |
| Mailed Request Fee | Varies | Check/Money Order |
| Online Search | Small Fee | Credit Card |
The certification fee is the cost for the stamp. You pay the per-page fee on top of the certification fee. So if your decree is 10 pages long, you pay for the stamp plus 10 pages of copying.
How Long To Keep Your Papers
You should keep your divorce papers forever. They are as important as your birth certificate. You will need them when you retire and ask for Social Security. You will need them if you ever want to get married again. If you lose them, you can always get more, but it costs money and takes time. It is better to have them ready in a folder. If you move to a new state, take these papers with you. Each state has its own rules, but they all respect the papers from El Paso County.
Summary of Contact Details
If you need to reach out to these offices, use these numbers and spots. El Paso County Texas District Clerk: Address: 500 E. San Antonio, Room 103, El Paso, TX 79901 Phone: (915) 546-2021 Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Monday – Friday) El Paso County Colorado Clerk of Court: Address: 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: (719) 452-5000 Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Monday – Friday)
Frequently Asked Questions
People often have specific questions about how to handle their court files and what to do if they run into trouble. These answers help you navigate the system and get what you need without wasting time.
How do I find my case number if I forgot it?
If you do not have your case number, you can still find your papers. You will need to perform a name search. You can do this on the court’s website or at a computer inside the courthouse. You type in your first and last name. If your name is common, like Smith or Garcia, you should also type in the name of your ex-spouse to narrow down the list. Once you find a case that looks correct, check the date. If the date matches when you were in court, that is likely your case number. Write it down and keep it in a safe place. The clerks can also look it up for you if you show them your ID, but they might charge a small search fee for this service.
Can I get my divorce records el paso county online for free?
You can usually search for the existence of a record for free. This means you can see that a case happened, who the judge was, and when it ended. However, seeing the actual pages of the decree usually costs money. Courts charge for these digital files to maintain their computer systems. If you just want to check a date, the free search is fine. If you need the document to show a bank or a government agency, you will have to pay the required fee to download or mail the paper. Certified versions are never free because they require a staff member to verify the file and apply a legal seal.
What if my divorce happened in another county but I live in El Paso now?
The location of the file depends on where the case was finished, not where you live now. If your marriage ended in Dallas but you moved to El Paso, the El Paso clerks will not have your file. You must contact the District Clerk in Dallas to get your copies. This is true for both Texas and Colorado. You can usually request these papers by mail or online from the original county so you do not have to drive back there. Always check which county name is written at the very top of your original court papers to be sure you are asking the right office.
How long does it take to get a certified copy of my decree?
The time it takes depends on how you ask for the paper. If you go to the courthouse in person, you can often get a plain copy the same day. For a certified copy, it might take a few hours or until the next day if the office is busy. If you order by mail, it usually takes between one and two weeks. This allows time for your letter to arrive, the clerk to find the file, and the mail to bring it back to you. Online orders for digital copies are the fastest and often arrive in your email within three business days, but these are not usually considered “certified” unless they have a digital signature that the receiving agency accepts.
Who is allowed to see my divorce files?
In the United States, court cases are generally public records. This means that a neighbor, an employer, or a relative can go to the court and ask to see the file. They can see the date of the divorce and the names of the people involved. However, the law protects very sensitive details. Things like Social Security numbers, specific bank account digits, and detailed medical records are often redacted, which means they are blacked out. If the case involved children, the judge may have ordered the file to be sealed. If a file is sealed, no one can see it without a special order from a judge, except for the two people who were married and their attorneys.
Can I change my name on my divorce papers after they are signed?
You cannot simply change the names on the papers once the judge has signed them. The papers are a record of what happened at that specific time. If you forgot to ask for a name change during the court case, you might have to file a new, separate case for a legal name change. Most people include a name change request inside the divorce papers so that the final decree gives them permission to go back to their maiden name. If your decree says you can change your name, you take a certified copy of that decree to the Social Security office and the DMV. They will use that as proof to update your ID and cards.
What should I do if the clerk cannot find my record?
If the clerk says there is no record, first double-check the spelling of the names. Try searching by just the last name to see all the matches. Next, verify the county. It is common for people to think they were divorced in El Paso when they were actually in a nearby county. If you are sure about the county and the names, check the years. If the marriage ended more than 50 years ago, the papers might have been moved to a state archive or a storage warehouse. Ask the clerk if they have an archive list. If the case was very recent, it might not be in the system yet. Wait a week and check again, or ask your lawyer for the case number they used when filing the papers.
Related Search Terms
Alabama Tax Calculator People Background Checks Public Records Houses History