The Dallas County District Clerk's Office
The District Clerk, Felicia Pitre, is the custodian of record for the state district courts in Dallas County. The office handles civil district, family district, juvenile, felony criminal, and magistrate records. Civil and family records sit at the George Allen Courts Building, while felony records sit at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.
District Clerk - Civil/Family Records
600 Commerce Street, Basement West
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 653-6076
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
District Clerk - Felony Records
133 North Riverfront Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 653-5950
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The civil and family records desk handles requests made after 4:00 p.m. on the next business day. Because the office spans two buildings, confirm which desk holds your record before you travel, since a felony file and a divorce file are kept blocks apart.
Records the Dallas County District Clerk Keeps
The District Clerk holds the records for cases that belong in district court. County courts at law and probate records go to the County Clerk instead, and justice of the peace cases stay with the JP office that heard them.
- Civil district court cases, such as lawsuits and property disputes.
- Family district court cases, including divorce, custody, and support.
- Juvenile district court records, which are confidential.
- Felony criminal cases in the district and criminal district courts.
Online civil case information dates back to 1975, with most civil case files after 2008 available online. Felony case information also dates to 1975, with most felony documents after 2009 online.
The civil and family records desk is the custodian of record for the state district courts. Beyond divorce and custody, that includes contract suits, injury cases, property disputes, name changes, and protective order filings. The juvenile side is handled with extra care, since juvenile records are confidential under state law and are not open to the general public.
How to Search District Clerk Records
The fastest way to search is the courts portal. It covers district civil, family case information, and felony cases. Family records are case information only, and files with children's names or sensitive data stay offline.
Use the Dallas County Courts Portal Smart Search for a name or cause number. District court case questions go to DC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org. For the full portal walkthrough, see the Dallas County court records page.
The records contact desk splits by record type. Felony, civil and family, and juvenile records each have their own contact line, and the online access team answers portal questions. If your first call reaches the wrong desk, staff can point you to the correct one. Having the cause number ready speeds every one of these calls.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy is the version courts, banks, and agencies accept. You can request one in person, by mail, or by email with the correct request form attached. The clerk quotes the exact cost first, since the price turns on document length and any search time.
- Identify the case number and the documents you need.
- Complete the civil and family or felony records request form.
- Email the form to DCRecords@dallascounty.org for civil and family, or DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org for felony.
- Wait for staff to quote the exact cost.
- Pay by an accepted method, then receive the certified copy.
You can also visit the records desk in person during business hours. Bring the cause number, the names of the parties, and a payment method. A certified copy carries a court seal and signature, which is why agencies and banks accept it where a plain printout will not do. If you only need to read a record, a plain copy or the free online view may be enough, so decide what you need before you request.
For online payment, the office asks you to contact staff first for the exact amount. Overpayments online are usually held in escrow rather than refunded, and a shortage can delay the copy. A quick call up front avoids both problems.
District Clerk Records Request Fields
The request form gathers a small set of items so staff can locate the file and price the copy. The table below maps what to provide.
| Request Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case or cause number | Identifies the file to pull. |
| Party names | Helps confirm the right case. |
| Documents requested | List the specific filings you need. |
| Certified or plain | State whether you need a certified copy. |
| Contact and payment | Your contact info and an accepted payment method. |
Sealed records, records with children's names, and sexual assault victim names are not online and, if public, usually must be requested in person.
Civil and Family Records
Civil and family records are the heart of the District Clerk's civil side. Divorce decrees, custody orders, and civil judgments all come from this desk. The civil and family FAQ answers common questions on divorce, appeals, filing locations, and payment.
The District Clerk civil and family FAQ covers divorce, appeals, and service of documents. For divorce specifics, see the marriage and divorce records page.
Family Forms and Self-Help
The District Clerk supports self-represented filers. The family forms page links Guide & File interviews for an uncontested divorce without children and for an adult name change. Attorneys must e-file in Dallas County district courts, while self-represented filers can e-file at no cost or paper-file at the civil file desk.
The District Clerk family forms page links the Texas Guide & File self-help tools. The Law Library in the George Allen basement is another research resource.
Felony Criminal Records
The felony records desk sits at Frank Crowley, on the second floor between the jury room and the cashier windows. It handles certified copies and felony documents not available online. Online felony case information dates to 1975, and most felony documents after 2009 are online.
Some felony material is restricted. Sealed records, records confidential under state or federal law, records with children's names, and sexual assault victim names are not online. For arrest and booking records, see the Dallas County arrest records page.
To get a felony copy, email the criminal records request form to DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org or visit the felony desk in person. The desk handles certified copies and other felony documents that are not available through the portal. Online felony case information shows the status of current felony and misdemeanor cases, even though the County Clerk maintains the misdemeanor records themselves.
District Clerk Fees and Payment
The District Clerk does not post a flat copy price. Instead, staff quote the cost based on document length and search time before you pay. Online overpayments are usually held in escrow rather than refunded, and shortages can delay processing.
| Item | Terms |
|---|---|
| Civil or family record copies | Exact cost quoted by staff before payment. |
| Felony record copies and certifications | Exact cost quoted by staff; online overpayment held in escrow. |
| Accepted payment | Cash, in-state personal check, money order, or credit card. |
Contact the office for an exact amount before using the online records payment system.
District Clerk Versus County Clerk
Dallas County splits records between two clerks. The District Clerk keeps district court records. The County Clerk keeps county court, probate, vital, and official public records. The comparison below shows who holds what.
| Record | District Clerk | County Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Felony criminal | Yes | No |
| Misdemeanor criminal | No | Yes |
| Divorce and family | Yes | No |
| Probate and guardianship | No | Yes |
| Marriage and vital records | No | Yes |
For the other side of the split, see the Dallas County County Clerk page.