Common Questions About Dallas County Court Records
How do I search Dallas County court records online?
Open the county Online Record Search page and choose the Dallas County Courts Portal. Public access is free and needs no account, but your browser must allow JavaScript and cookies. Use Smart Search for a name or case number, and Search Hearings for hearing dates and courtrooms. The portal covers civil district, family case information, county and probate courts, and felony and misdemeanor cases. For a full walkthrough, see the Dallas County court records page.
Which clerk has my record?
Dallas County splits records between two clerks. The District Clerk keeps civil district, family, juvenile, and felony records. The County Clerk keeps county civil, misdemeanor, probate, vital, and official public records. Justice of the peace records stay with the JP court that heard the case. If you are not sure, start with the record type. See the District Clerk page and the County Clerk page for what each office holds.
Are Dallas County court records free online?
Basic search is free. The District Clerk says most eligible civil files after 2008 and felony documents after 2009 are available online. Certified copies, official copies, and some documents cost money. Card payments in the court portal carry a 2.39% convenience fee. For copy costs, the District Clerk quotes the exact amount first. More detail is on the court records page.
Why can't I see a family or juvenile record online?
The portal lists family district courts as case information only. Records with children's names or sensitive data are restricted from online access. Juvenile records are confidential under Texas Family Code Chapter 58. So a family docket may show a setting without exposing the file. For divorce records, see the marriage and divorce records page.
How do I get a certified divorce decree?
Contact the District Clerk civil and family records department. The desk is in the George Allen Courts Building basement, phone (214) 653-6076. Attach the request form if you email DCRecords@dallascounty.org, then wait for staff to quote the exact cost. You can also visit in person. The marriage and divorce records page covers the steps.
How long does a divorce take in Dallas County?
The District Clerk says timeframes vary by case, and the shortest is 61 days. That does not mean every divorce finishes that fast. Service, children, property, contested issues, missing forms, and court availability can all extend the case. Self-represented filers can use Texas Guide & File for an uncontested divorce without children. See the marriage and divorce records page.
How do I search for an inmate?
Use the Dallas County Jail Lookup. Search by prisoner information, which needs last name, first name, race, and sex, or search by book-in number or case number. For urgent confirmation, call jail information at (214) 761-9025. The full roster, mail, money, and visitation rules are on the Dallas County inmate records page.
How do I post bond?
Bond can be posted in person at the bond desk 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 West Commerce Street. Western Union was listed as unavailable when the county page was inspected, so plan to use the bond desk directly. After bond posts, release takes time and the roster can lag. See the inmate records page.
How do I search warrants or scofflaw blocks?
Use Dallas County Wanted. You can search by name, ZIP code, case number, citation number, license plate, or VIN, plus demographic filters. You can also filter for people with warrants only or people scofflaw blocked only. A scofflaw block freezes vehicle registration over unpaid money. The warrant records page explains how to clear or contest a listing.
How long after payment does Dallas County Wanted update?
After payment in full, the wanted FAQ says it takes at least seven business days for a listing to be removed. A case stays listed while payments are in progress and clears when the balance reaches zero or the case is disposed. If you dispute a citation, contact the municipality or entity that issued it. See the warrant records page.
What does scofflaw mean?
Texas Transportation Code section 502.185 lets the county freeze a vehicle registration for a person who owes a city or county a past-due fine, fee, or tax. The block can only be removed by paying the amount owed, then visiting a tax office. It is a money block, not a criminal warrant. The warrant records page has the full process.
Where are probate records?
Probate records are handled by the County Clerk Probate Division at the George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor Suite 400. Three statutory probate courts hear the cases. You can search accessible probate records in the courts portal by cause number or last and first name. See the Dallas County probate records page.
Can I probate a will without a lawyer?
Generally no, if you are representing an estate, heirs, beneficiaries, or another person or entity. Only a licensed attorney may represent another person in a Texas court, with limited exceptions. An application to probate a will usually must be filed within four years of the death. The probate records page covers the timeline and forms.
How do I get a marriage license?
Both parties must appear before the County Clerk, show proof of identity and age, complete the application, take the oath, and sign before the clerk. The license generally has a 72-hour waiting period before the ceremony, unless a district judge waives it, and it expires 90 days after issuance. The marriage and divorce records page lists fees and ID rules.
Can I expunge my Dallas County criminal record?
Texas expunction is governed by Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A. It is limited to eligible outcomes such as acquittals, pardons, certain dismissals, and mistaken identity. An order of nondisclosure under Government Code Chapter 411 is different and seals a record from most public view without destroying it. The arrest records page explains the difference.
Where do appeals go?
The District Clerk says appeals are heard by the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas and the Supreme Court of Texas. Criminal matters may ultimately reach the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Appeals are technical, and the clerk recommends legal help. The District Court page shows how a case moves through the system.
Are birth and death records public?
Recent vital records are restricted. Dallas County says births within 75 years and deaths within 25 years may be requested only by qualified immediate family members, a guardian, or a legal representative. The county cannot release the record without an application, payment, and acceptable ID. The County Clerk page covers eligibility and fees.
Where is the courthouse and where do I park?
Civil, family, probate, and county civil work is mainly at the George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street. Criminal courts are at Frank Crowley, 133 North Riverfront Boulevard. Paid county garages serve both, and there is no free parking. Jurors get a reduced $3 rate. The District Court page lists parking and security details.
How do I remove sensitive information from a record?
The county's Online Record Search page asks anyone who sees a Social Security number or other sensitive information in a court record to complete the linked sensitive-information form. You should also contact the clerk who holds the record, since redaction depends on the record type and court. The public records page explains the access framework.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the District Clerk or the County Clerk page. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, traffic court records, marriage and divorce, or probate records.