Find Tillman County Dissolution Of Marriage
Dissolution of marriage records in Tillman County are managed by the Court Clerk in Frederick. Kevin Stevens serves as the Court Clerk and handles all family law filings at the courthouse. Tillman County was created in 1907 from the old Comanche and Kiowa lands, and dissolution of marriage records here go back to that same year. The county sits in the far southwest corner of Oklahoma near the Texas border. If you need to file a dissolution of marriage case or search for an old one, the clerk's office in Frederick is where all of that happens.
Tillman County Overview
Tillman County Court Clerk
Kevin Stevens is the Tillman County Court Clerk. He and his staff process dissolution of marriage petitions, issue certified copies, and maintain all court records at the Frederick courthouse. This is a small county with a small staff, but the office provides the same services you would find in a larger county.
| Office | Tillman County Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Kevin Stevens |
| Phone | (580) 335-3421 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
You can file in person during business hours. Bring your petition, the fee, and any supporting paperwork. The clerk stamps your documents and gives you a case number with the FD prefix. That is how you track a dissolution of marriage case in Tillman County. For older records, give the clerk the names of both parties or a case number and they can pull files from the archive. Records go back to 1907.
Mail requests work well for Tillman County since the area is rural and some people live far from Frederick. Write a letter with the names, dates, and what you need. Send the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk will process it and mail your copies back.
Searching Dissolution Of Marriage Records Online
The Oklahoma State Courts Network offers free searches. Choose Tillman County from the list and enter a last name. Results display case numbers, filing dates, and docket information. FD-prefix cases are dissolution of marriage filings.
Use the OSCN portal to look up Tillman County dissolution of marriage dockets at no charge.
OSCN covers records going back to the mid-1990s in most cases. For anything older, contact the clerk's office. New filings typically appear on OSCN within a few days. The system shows who filed what and when, hearing dates, and case status. You can tell if a dissolution is finalized or still pending.
On Demand Court Records is another search option. It draws from the same court data. Basic searches are free. Between OSCN and ODCR, you can find most of what is available electronically for Tillman County dissolution of marriage cases.
Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Tillman County
Oklahoma law requires six months of state residency and 30 days in Tillman County to file here. Title 43 Section 103 sets those rules. You bring your petition to the clerk in Frederick. Pay the fee. The case starts.
Title 43 Section 101 gives 12 grounds for dissolution of marriage. Incompatibility is the most common by a wide margin. No fault needs to be proved. You just state the marriage is not working. Other grounds exist too, like adultery or extreme cruelty, but those require evidence and make the process longer.
An automatic temporary injunction kicks in the moment you file, per Title 43 Section 110. Both spouses must leave assets alone, keep insurance active, and keep children in the state. This protection starts on day one without a separate motion.
Waiting periods apply. With children, you wait 90 days from the date of service under Title 43 Section 107.1. Without children, 10 days. Then the judge can issue the final decree. After that, neither party can remarry for six months per Title 43 Section 127.
Records Content and Public Access
The dissolution of marriage file in Tillman County includes the petition, summons, proof of service, any temporary orders, financial disclosures, and the final decree. The decree is the most important document. It covers property division, custody, support, and the end of the marriage. People often need a certified copy for name changes, property transfers, or insurance matters.
Court records are public in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Open Records Act means anyone can request copies. You do not have to be one of the parties. Sealed cases are unusual and only happen when the judge orders it for specific safety reasons.
Copy and Search Fees
Filing a dissolution of marriage petition costs about $252. Copy fees are set by Title 28 Section 31. First page is $1.00, additional pages are $0.50 each, and certification costs $0.50 per document. Name searches run $5.00 per name for each seven-year period. Try OSCN first to find a case number and avoid the search fee.
If you can not pay the filing fee, ask the court to waive it. A pauper's affidavit lets the judge review your situation. If approved, the fee goes away.
Legal Help for Tillman County
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma covers Tillman County. They assist with dissolution of marriage cases for people with limited income. In a rural county like Tillman, finding affordable private attorneys can be tough, so Legal Aid serves an important role here.
The Oklahoma Bar Association offers free information and lawyer referrals. If you want to handle the case yourself, the Oklahoma Supreme Court posts court forms that you can download and fill out. The clerk in Frederick can accept your pro se filings. Just remember that court staff cannot give legal advice.
Nearby Counties
Tillman County borders several counties in southwest Oklahoma. Check these if the dissolution of marriage you are looking for was filed in a different county.