Search Court Records by Name
Enter first name, last name, and state to prepare a court records search.
Court Records Dallas County Court Records | Free Online
Search Dallas County court records by starting with the right office: District Clerk for felony, district civil, family and juvenile records; County Clerk for misdemeanor, probate, county civil and certified county documents; JP courts for small claims and evictions; and Dallas Municipal Court for City of Dallas citations.
Quick answer: Use the official Dallas County Online Record Search page first. Dallas County says public access to Dallas County and District Court case information does not require registration and covers Civil District Courts, Family District Courts case information, County and Probate Courts, and Felony and Misdemeanor records. For official copies, use the clerk that keeps the record, not a private record site.
I Want To Find Dallas County Court Records
Pick the task that matches your paperwork. This is faster than searching every Dallas court portal one by one.
Search a case by name
Start with Dallas County Online Record Search. Try full name, last name only, business name, case number, or court type.
Open record searchGet a certified copy
Use the clerk that holds the record. District Clerk handles district/felony copies; County Clerk handles county/probate/certified county documents.
See copy stepsCheck a Dallas ticket
City of Dallas citations are searched through Dallas Municipal Court. JP tickets use the JP court route shown on the citation.
Open municipal searchFind probate or estate records
Probate records are handled through the Dallas County Clerk Probate Courts Division at the George Allen Courts Building.
Open probate divisionWhich Dallas County Court Office Keeps the Record?
The best search depends on the court level. Use this table before calling or paying.
| Record you need | Correct official office | Best action | Failed-search warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Felony case, district civil case, family district case, juvenile district record | Dallas County District Clerk | Use District Clerk Records Information | Family, juvenile, sealed, child-name, and sensitive records may have limited access. |
| Misdemeanor, county criminal, county civil, probate, county court document | Dallas County Clerk | Use County Clerk divisions | Online Public Record Search documents are not automatically certified. |
| Small claim, debt claim, eviction, repair-and-remedy, JP citation | Justice of the Peace precinct court | Find the JP court | Contact the exact precinct shown on your papers before mailing payment. |
| City of Dallas citation, fine, warrant status, docket search | Dallas Municipal Court | Use citation and docket search | Municipal citations are separate from Dallas County District and County Clerk records. |
| Deed, property record, UCC, official public record document | Dallas County Clerk Recording / OPR search | Use official public record search | Recorded documents are not the same as court case dockets. |
| Federal court case in Dallas | U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas / PACER | Use federal court site | Federal cases are not kept by Dallas County clerks. |
How to Search Dallas County Court Records Online
Use this workflow when you only have a name, case number, ticket, or old court paper.
Read the top of your paperwork
Look for “District Court,” “County Court,” “Probate,” “Justice of the Peace,” “Municipal Court,” “Felony,” “Misdemeanor,” or “Citation.” That label tells you where to search.
Start with the official Dallas County record search
Use Dallas County Online Record Search for the broad county and district court route. Public access does not require registration, but document access and copy services can vary by record type.
Search broad, then narrow
Try last name only, full name, business name, case number, filing year, attorney name, court type, or citation number. If a name has punctuation or a suffix, try a simpler version.
Open the case detail
Read the court, case type, filing date, parties, docket entries, disposition, judgment, balance, and document list. Do not rely only on the search-result row.
Request official copies when needed
If the record is for court filing, immigration, employment, licensing, title work, estate administration, school, or an attorney, ask the correct clerk for a certified or official copy.
Dallas County District Clerk Records
The Dallas County District Clerk keeps district civil and family records, felony court records, juvenile district records where available, and magistrate court records in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Use District Clerk for
- Felony criminal court records
- District civil lawsuits
- Family district court case information
- Juvenile district records where public access is allowed
- Magistrate court records in Lew Sterrett Justice Center
- District Clerk certified copies and records payments
Useful official details
Civil & Family Records Desk: George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Basement “B” Floor West, Dallas, TX 75202.
Felony Records Desk: Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75202.
Records desk hours: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday.
Dallas County Clerk Records
The Dallas County Clerk handles county-level court and public records, including county civil courts, county criminal courts, probate courts, recording, vital records, truancy, central records, and electronic certified documents.
County criminal
Use the County Clerk Criminal Courts Division for misdemeanor records. The division is at Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Room A-1.
Probate
Use Probate Courts Division for wills, estates, guardianships, and probate matters. It is listed at 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 400.
E-certified documents
The County Clerk offers electronic certified Official Public Record documents and court documents for purchase. Only viewable electronic court documents may be purchased online.
Dallas County Criminal Records: Felony, Misdemeanor, Jail, Wanted and Municipal Citations
Criminal searches are split by court type. A jail lookup, wanted search, municipal citation, felony docket, and misdemeanor case record are not the same thing.
| Need | Start here | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Felony case record or felony certified copy | District Clerk Criminal Records | Felony records are District Clerk records. Felony Records Desk phone is 214-653-5950. |
| Misdemeanor case record | County Clerk Criminal Courts Division | County Clerk handles misdemeanor records through its Criminal Courts Division. |
| Dallas County jail custody lookup | Dallas County Jail Lookup | Custody status is not the same as final conviction or court disposition. |
| Dallas County wanted search | Dallas County Record Search quick links | Verify directly before taking action because names can be similar. |
| City of Dallas citation or warrant color indicator | Dallas Municipal Court Search | Municipal Court says warrants appear in red. Fine and fee amounts can change without notice. |
Civil, Family, Divorce, Probate and Estate Record Help
District civil and family
Use District Clerk Civil and Family Records for district civil cases, family case information, divorce decree questions, and district court copy requests.
Open civil/family recordsCounty civil courts
Use County Clerk Civil Courts for county court-at-law civil matters. If your case is not district-level, this may be the better route.
Open county civil courtsProbate and guardianship
Use County Clerk Probate Courts Division for wills, estates, guardianships, and probate court records.
Open probate divisionDallas County Court Records Copies, Certified Copies and Fees
Use plain copies for personal review. Use certified copies when the receiving party requires proof from the clerk. Use e-certified County Clerk documents only when the document is available and the receiving agency accepts electronic certification.
| Copy need | Correct route | Prepare before requesting |
|---|---|---|
| District civil or family copy | District Clerk Civil / Family Records | Case number, case style, document title, date, request form, payment method, and email or mailing address. |
| Felony criminal copy | District Clerk Criminal Records | Defendant name, case number, document requested, whether certification is required, and contact information. |
| Misdemeanor or county criminal copy | County Clerk Criminal Courts Division | Case number, court number, defendant name, document name, and copy type. |
| Probate copy | County Clerk Probate Courts Division | Estate or guardianship case number, decedent or ward name, document title, and certification need. |
| Electronic certified County Clerk document | Purchase e-certified documents | Name or instrument number, document details, payment method, and a working email address. |
Checklist Before Leaving Home for Dallas County Court Records
Call first if the record is urgent, sealed, old, certified, or tied to a legal deadline.
Bring or prepare
- Case number, citation number, or docket number
- Party names and date of birth if relevant
- Document title and filing date
- Photo ID
- Payment method accepted by that office
- Agency instructions showing whether certification is required
- Email address and phone number for follow-up
Ask before visiting
- Which building and room handles this record?
- Is the document available online?
- Do I need a plain copy, certified copy, or exemplified copy?
- What is the current fee?
- Can I request it by email or mail?
- Will records requested after 4:00 PM move to the next business day?
Dallas County Court Records Contacts
| Office | Address | Phone / email | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County Clerk | Records Building, 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202 | 214-653-7099; CC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org | County civil, misdemeanor, probate, recording, official public records, and e-certified documents. |
| Dallas County District Clerk | George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75202 | 214-653-7307; DC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org | District civil, family, felony, juvenile, and district court records. |
| District Clerk Civil & Family Records Desk | 600 Commerce Street, Basement “B” Floor West, Dallas, TX 75202 | 214-653-6076; DCRecords@dallascounty.org | Civil/family copies, certification, record searches, and records not available online. |
| District Clerk Felony Records Desk | 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75202 | 214-653-5950; DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org | Felony records, felony certified copies, and criminal district record requests. |
| County Clerk Criminal Courts Division | 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Room A-1, Dallas, TX 75207 | 214-653-7099 | County criminal and misdemeanor records. |
| County Clerk Probate Courts Division | 600 Commerce Street, 7th Floor, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75202 | 214-653-7099 | Wills, estates, guardianships, probate records, and probate certified copies. |
| Dallas Municipal Court | 2014 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75201 | 214-670-0109 | City of Dallas citations, municipal docket search, balances, payment options, and warrant indicators. |
Dallas County Court Records Office Map
Many civil, family, probate, and district clerk record tasks route through the George Allen Courts Building. Criminal felony records often route through the Frank Crowley Courts Building, and County Clerk administration is in the Records Building.
Dallas County Courts Portal Help Video
Dallas County’s official record-search page links to a video for using the Dallas County Courts Portal. Use it if you are stuck on search fields, case categories, or portal navigation.
Common Dallas County Court Records Mistakes
Wrong clerk
Felony and district civil usually belong to District Clerk. Misdemeanor, probate, and county court records usually belong to County Clerk.
Wrong ticket portal
City of Dallas citations, JP tickets, DPS citations, and county criminal cases can use different systems.
No case number
Searching without a case number can take longer and may trigger search fees or manual clerk work.
Assuming online means certified
Online documents are not always certified. County Clerk specifically warns that Online Public Record Search documents are non-certified.
Arriving at the wrong building
George Allen, Frank Crowley, Records Building, JP precincts, and Municipal Court are different locations.
Using private ads first
Private public-record sites may charge for incomplete or outdated information. Start with official sources.
Dallas County Court Record Not Found? Fix It This Way
| Problem | Likely reason | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Name search shows too many people | Common name, business alias, suffix, punctuation, or spelling difference. | Add case type, filing year, party role, or search by case number if available. |
| Felony not found under County Clerk | Felony records are District Clerk records. | Use District Clerk criminal/felony records search or contact felony records desk. |
| Misdemeanor not found under District Clerk | Misdemeanor records are generally County Clerk records. | Use County Clerk Criminal Courts Division. |
| Divorce or family record is limited | Family, child-name, sealed, or sensitive data restrictions may apply. | Contact District Clerk Civil & Family Records Desk. |
| Old record is missing | Record may be paper, microfilm, archived, or not digitized. | Call the clerk with names, years, court type, and document title. |
| Payment link looks suspicious | Scam texts and fake payment pages exist. | Do not click. Open the official court site yourself and verify the case. |
After You Search or Request Dallas County Court Records
Save proof because copy requests, payments, and court records can involve follow-up.
Save this
- Case number and court name
- Party names and document title
- Record office contacted
- Copy type requested
- Payment receipt or confirmation number
- Clerk email response
Follow up when
- The document does not arrive
- The agency rejects the copy
- The record appears sealed or missing
- The payment posts to the wrong case
- Your court date or deadline is close
- You need a certified version instead of a plain copy
Dallas County Court Records Scam and Privacy Warning
Be careful with websites or texts that look official but ask for urgent payment. Dallas County JP pages have warned about suspicious texts claiming outstanding traffic violations and directing people to payment links.
Dallas County Court Records: Short Answer for Bing, Copilot and AI Search
Dallas County court records are searched by court type. Start with Dallas County Online Record Search. Use the Dallas County District Clerk for felony, district civil, family, juvenile and magistrate records. Use the Dallas County Clerk for misdemeanor, county civil, probate, official public records and e-certified county documents. Use Dallas County JP courts for small claims, evictions, debt claims and JP citations. Use Dallas Municipal Court for City of Dallas citations. Request certified copies from the office that keeps the record.
Official Dallas County Court Records Links
Use these for final action only: lookup, certified copy, payment, form, contact, or court verification.
Online Record Search
Official Dallas County start page for county and district court case information.
Open record searchDistrict Clerk Records
Civil, family, juvenile, felony, payment portal, records contact and fee schedule links.
Open District Clerk recordsCounty Clerk
County civil, county criminal, probate, recording, vital records and e-certified documents.
Open County ClerkDallas Municipal Court
City citation search, docket search, balance review and municipal case help.
Open municipal searchJustice of the Peace
JP court pages, precinct information, local fines and court-specific contact routes.
Open JP courtsCounty Clerk E-Certify
Electronic certified Official Public Record documents and eligible court documents.
Open e-certifyPeople Also Search for Dallas County Court Records
| Search intent | What the user usually needs | Best practical answer |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas County court records by name | Case lookup without a case number. | Start with Dallas County Online Record Search, then narrow by court type, filing year, or party role. |
| Dallas County criminal records | Felony, misdemeanor, jail, wanted, or background-related information. | Use District Clerk for felony, County Clerk for misdemeanor, and remember jail lookup is not final court disposition. |
| Dallas County divorce records | Divorce decree, family case information, or certified copy. | Use District Clerk Civil & Family Records Desk and request an official copy if needed. |
| Dallas County probate records | Estate, will, guardianship, mental health or probate copy. | Use County Clerk Probate Courts Division at the George Allen Courts Building. |
| Dallas County ticket search | Municipal ticket, JP citation, or other fine. | Read the citation. City of Dallas uses Municipal Court; JP citations use the JP precinct; county criminal cases use clerk routes. |
| Dallas County certified court records | Official copy accepted by another court, agency or employer. | Request the copy from the clerk that keeps the record and confirm whether plain, certified, exemplified, paper or electronic certified copy is required. |
Dallas County Court Records FAQs
How do I search Dallas County court records online?
Start with the official Dallas County Online Record Search page. It links to Dallas County and District Court case information for Civil District Courts, Family District Courts case information, County and Probate Courts, Felony and Misdemeanor records.
Are Dallas County court records free to search?
Many public case searches can be started online without registration through Dallas County’s official record search route. Copies, certified copies, searches without a case number, paper records, digital records, exemplifications and special services may have fees.
Which office keeps Dallas County felony records?
The Dallas County District Clerk is the custodian of record for felony courts in Dallas County and for the Magistrate Court in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Which office keeps Dallas County misdemeanor records?
Misdemeanor records are handled through the Dallas County Clerk’s office, specifically the County Clerk Criminal Courts Division.
Where do I find Dallas County civil and family court records?
Use the Dallas County District Clerk Civil and Family Records page for district civil and family records. For county court-at-law or probate records, use the Dallas County Clerk.
How do I get certified copies of Dallas County court records?
Request certified copies from the office that maintains the record. Use the District Clerk for district civil, family and felony records. Use the County Clerk for county court, misdemeanor, probate and certified county-clerk documents.
Are Dallas County online public record documents certified?
Not always. Dallas County Clerk notes that Online Public Record Search documents are non-certified. Use the e-certify process or contact the clerk when an official certified document is required.
Where is the Dallas County District Clerk records office?
The District Clerk office is listed at the George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75202. The Civil and Family Records Desk is in the basement “B” floor west area.
Where is the Dallas County Clerk office?
The Dallas County Clerk is listed at the Records Building, 500 Elm Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75202. The office phone number is 214-653-7099.
How do I search a City of Dallas ticket?
Use the Dallas Municipal Court Citation and Docket Search. The court lets users search by citation number, name and date of birth, docket number or PD case number.
Why can’t I find a Dallas County court case?
The case may be in another court, filed under a different spelling, sealed, confidential, juvenile, too new, old paper or microfilm, municipal instead of county, JP instead of district, or federal instead of Dallas County.
Can I use a Dallas County docket as a background check?
A docket can show case activity, but it is not always the same as an official criminal history or background check. Verify the exact record type required by the employer, agency, court or licensing board.
Best Next Step
Start with the official Dallas County Online Record Search page. If the case is felony, district civil, family or juvenile, use the District Clerk. If it is misdemeanor, probate, county civil or certified county document, use the County Clerk. If it is small claims, debt claim, eviction or JP citation, use the JP precinct. If it is a City of Dallas citation, use Dallas Municipal Court. For official use, request a certified copy from the record-holding clerk before relying on the record.
Official-source check completed July 14, 2026. Court portals, fees, contacts, hours, payment links, access rules and copy procedures can change. Verify directly on the official Dallas County, Dallas Municipal Court, JP Court or federal court website before payment, filing or official use.