Denton County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases

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Denton County, Texas · Felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate and Justice Court cases

Find the Right Denton County Court File Without Starting at the Wrong Clerk

Denton County does not keep every court case in one clerk’s office. A felony or district-level civil case belongs with the District Clerk, while county misdemeanors and county-level civil cases are maintained by the County Clerk. Justice Court and city municipal cases follow still another route.

Start with the county’s judicial-record search, save the cause number and assigned court, then decide whether you only need the docket or an actual filed document. This guide shows the shortest path for criminal and civil cases, court dates, dispositions, certified copies, fees, sealed records and records that do not appear online.

Open official judicial records Go to Denton County Records Which clerk do I need?
Cause or case number Party or defendant name Approximate filing year Court type Date of birth for criminal matches
DENTON CASE FILE SORTER ROUTING
CRIMINAL FILE
CIVIL / FAMILY FILE
CAUSE NUMBER → CORRECT CLERK
Do not assume “Denton County court record” means one database. The online inquiry brings several court systems together, but the office that can provide an official copy depends on which court actually owns the case.
Felony cases

District Clerk and Denton County district courts.

County misdemeanors

County Clerk and five county criminal courts.

District civil/family

District Clerk, including divorce records.

County civil/probate

County Clerk court divisions.

Source review

Official procedures checked August 8, 2026.

Start with the court level

Which Denton County office has the case?

FELONY CRIMINAL Use the District Clerk

District-court criminal cases, felony filings and district criminal case records.

Start with District Court Case Records and Calendar.
COUNTY MISDEMEANOR Use the County Clerk

County Criminal Courts 1 through 5 handle county misdemeanor cases.

County Clerk Criminal Misdemeanor Clerks: 940-349-2014.
DISTRICT CIVIL / FAMILY Use the District Clerk

District civil lawsuits, divorce, family matters, name changes and related district proceedings.

Divorce-decree records are District Clerk records.
COUNTY CIVIL / PROBATE Use the County Clerk

County-level civil cases plus records maintained for the county probate courts.

County Clerk Civil Clerks: 940-349-2016.
JP CASE Use the correct Justice Court

Small claims, debt claims, evictions, repair-and-remedy cases and many fine-only criminal matters belong with a Justice of the Peace.

Use the county portal and identify the precinct before calling.
CITY MUNICIPAL CASE Contact the city court

A City of Denton, Lewisville, Carrollton, Flower Mound or another municipal citation may not be a Denton County Clerk case.

Search the city municipal court when the county portal has no matching case.
Fast routing rule: felony or district civil/family → District Clerk; county misdemeanor or county civil/probate → County Clerk; small claims/Class C/eviction → Justice Court; city citation → municipal court.

Go straight to the task you need

You do not need to read the entire page before searching.

Felony and misdemeanor cases

Search Denton County criminal court records by the right level

Felony / district criminal

The District Clerk is the custodian of pleadings and records filed in Denton County district courts.

  1. Open Denton County Records.
  2. Select District Court Case Records and Calendar.
  3. Search the cause number when known.
  4. Otherwise search the defendant and compare identifying details.
  5. Open the registry of actions.
  6. Check the assigned district court, charges, settings and final action.

District Clerk criminal/felony help: 940-349-2200

County misdemeanor

The County Clerk maintains misdemeanor case files for Denton County’s county criminal courts.

  1. Open the county judicial-record portal.
  2. Choose the JP/County Court criminal case-record area.
  3. Search the case number or defendant.
  4. Verify which County Criminal Court has the case.
  5. Read the current status and court settings.
  6. Contact the County Clerk for copies when needed.

Criminal Misdemeanor Clerks: 940-349-2014

Five separate county criminal courts matter

County Criminal Court 1

940-349-2160

County Criminal Court 2

940-349-2170

County Criminal Court 3

940-349-2180

County Criminal Court 4

940-349-2380

County Criminal Court 5

940-349-2190

Do not call every court

Find the assigned court in the case record first, then call that court only when the online setting needs confirmation.

Denton-specific magistrate detail: since January 1, 2020, the District Clerk has been designated as clerk to the Denton County Magistrate Court for documents on unfiled charges. Documents filed before that change remain with the clerk where they were originally filed.
Criminal case status is not the same thing as an arrest record. A jail record answers custody and bond questions. The court record answers what charge was filed, which court received it and how the case proceeded.
Civil, family and probate

“Civil case” can mean three different Denton County systems

Use the case type to identify the custodian before requesting records
Type of matter
Likely custodian
Search route
Examples
District civil
District Clerk
District Court Case Records and Calendar
General civil suits, larger civil actions, tax suits and other district-court matters.
Family
District Clerk
District civil/family record search
Divorce, SAPCR, name change, certain protective orders and related family cases.
County civil
County Clerk
County Court case records
Civil matters assigned to the statutory county civil court.
Probate
County Clerk
County Court / probate records
Estates, wills, guardianship and probate proceedings subject to access rules.
Justice Court civil
Applicable Justice of the Peace
JP case records / precinct court
Small claims, debt claims, evictions and repair-and-remedy cases.
The Denton County Clerk supports nine county courts: five criminal courts, two probate courts, one civil court and one juvenile court.

Looking for a divorce decree?

Do not request a Denton County divorce decree from the County Clerk’s vital-records division. Divorce court records are maintained through the District Clerk. Search the district case first, save the cause number, then use the District Clerk’s Record Request Form for an official copy.

Looking for a small-claims or eviction case?

These cases may belong to one of Denton County’s Justice Courts rather than the County Clerk’s statutory civil court. Start with the county judicial-record system and identify the precinct shown in the result.

District & Family Courts County Clerk Courts Division Find a Justice Court
Court date and case status

Find the next Denton County court setting before calling

Search the exact cause number A cause number is more reliable than a common party name.
Open the matching case Compare the court, party, case type and filing date first.
Look for the court calendar or setting information Save the date, time, assigned court and setting description.
Read newer registry entries A reset, order or later filing may supersede an older setting.
Recheck close to the hearing Court settings can move. Do not rely on a screenshot taken weeks earlier.
Call the assigned court only if necessary Have the cause number ready and ask staff to confirm administrative information, not give legal advice.
Do not contact a judge privately about a pending case. Denton County court pages warn against contacting a judge by mail, email, telephone or in person about a pending or potential lawsuit.
County criminal courts also state that a case cannot simply be reset over the telephone. If you need a change to a setting, follow the procedure required by the assigned court or speak with counsel.
Case-result decoder

Read the case page without misinterpreting it

Cause / case number The unique court case identifier. Save it before doing anything else. Use it for clerk calls, document requests, payments and court-specific searches.
Case style Usually identifies the parties, such as State v. Defendant or Plaintiff v. Defendant. Check spelling carefully before assuming the result is the person or business you need.
Case type Shows whether the matter is criminal, civil, family, probate or another category. This helps confirm whether the County Clerk or District Clerk owns the file.
Filing date The date the case was filed with the clerk. It may differ from the arrest date, incident date, contract date or date the dispute began.
Assigned court Identifies the court handling the case. Use this before calling a courtroom about a setting.
Party Lists plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents or criminal defendants. A same-name result still needs another matching detail.
Attorney May show counsel who has appeared in the case. Do not assume an older attorney listing remains current without checking later entries.
Registry of actions A chronological list of filings and court activity. Use this to follow the case after the initial filing.
Disposition / judgment The outcome recorded for a criminal count or civil matter. When proof matters, obtain the actual judgment, dismissal or final order.
Case status A general administrative label such as open or closed. “Closed” alone does not tell you how the case ended.
The county itself warns against treating online data as the final record. When a judgment, dismissal, conviction, divorce, lien, custody order or other legal outcome matters, verify the actual court record on file.
Docket versus filed document

The online case page may not show the document you actually need

Public Records Inquiry

Best for:

  • Finding a cause number
  • Identifying the assigned court
  • Checking a filing date
  • Reviewing the registry of actions
  • Finding current settings and general status

Actual filed document

You may need the document itself when you need:

  • A judgment
  • Dismissal order
  • Divorce decree
  • Petition or answer
  • Sentencing document
  • Protective order
  • Certified proof for another agency
District Clerk public-document viewing: Denton County says members of the public who need to see documents in a District Clerk case file can use public computers in the District Clerk lobby and in the lobby of the Denton County Courts Building at 1450 E. McKinney Street.
Attorney WebAccess is different. Denton County offers attorneys online access to many imaged case documents through a subscription service. It is specifically an attorney-access product and is not the ordinary public court-record search.
Sealed cases and sealed documents are excluded from public and attorney web access when access is restricted by law or court order.
District Clerk copy request

How to order the actual Denton County District Court document

The District Clerk states that no record request or record-request research will be performed without a completed Record Request Form.
DENTON COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK · RECORD REQUEST CHECKLIST
Case / Cause #
Copy from the online case result.
Party Name
Use the exact case style or party spelling.
Document Title
Example: Final Judgment, Dismissal, Decree, Order.
Date Filed
Copy the date from the registry of actions when known.
□ Certified Paper □ Certified Electronic □ Plain Paper □ Plain Electronic □ Exemplified
Find the case online first Save the cause number and party name. This prevents unnecessary research and makes the request easier to process.
Identify the exact document Use the registry of actions to locate the title and filing date of the judgment, decree, dismissal, order or pleading you need.
Download the official Record Request Form Open the District Clerk Record Request Form
Select the copy type Choose certified paper, certified electronic, plain paper, plain electronic or exemplified copy.
Complete every required field The form specifically warns that an incomplete request can delay processing.
Choose how to submit it Submit in person, mail it, fax it to 940-349-5754, or email it to dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov.
Allow for processing The current form says to allow up to 10 business days for completion.
District Clerk record-request contact
1450 E. McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209
Mailing: P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202
Phone: 940-349-2200
Fax for record requests: 940-349-5754
Email: dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov
Copy-ready request description
I am requesting a [certified electronic / certified paper / plain electronic / plain paper] copy of [document title] filed on [date] in Denton County cause number [cause number], styled [case style]. The party I am researching is [full name]. Please use the contact information on my completed Record Request Form for delivery.
Copy and certification costs

Know the difference between finding a case and buying the record

Current District Clerk copy charges shown on the official Record Request Form
Copy type
Current form charge
Good for
Certified paper copy
$5 certification + $1 per page
Official paper proof when a certified court copy is required.
Certified electronic copy
$5 certification + $0.10 per page, $1 minimum per document
Official electronic copy when accepted by the receiving agency.
Plain paper copy
$1 per page
Research or personal reference when certification is unnecessary.
Plain electronic copy
$0.10 per page, $1 minimum per document
Lower-cost electronic research copy.
Exemplified copy
$5 plus certified-paper-copy cost
Special authentication when specifically required.
The current District Clerk request form accepts cash, money order or debit/credit card. It lists a 2.25% card transaction fee with a $1 minimum and states that personal checks are not accepted. Verify the current form before submitting because payment-processing charges can change.
Unless a paper copy is requested in person, the form says paper copies are sent by regular USPS First Class mail. Electronic copies are emailed to the single email address listed on the request.

County Clerk copy fees are a separate schedule

For misdemeanor, county civil, probate and other County Clerk court records, use the County Clerk fee schedule rather than the District Clerk form. The current County Clerk schedule lists a $5 clerk’s certificate for certified papers, with additional copy charges depending on the format and number of pages.

District Clerk miscellaneous fees County Clerk fee schedule
No-result troubleshooting

Why a Denton County case may not appear

You searched the wrong clerk A county misdemeanor will not follow the same record route as a felony district case.
The name is entered differently Try the last name alone, a former name, business name, middle initial, suffix or alternate spelling.
The case is very new A newly received filing may not appear in public search immediately.
The case is a Justice Court matter Small claims, debt claims, evictions and many fine-only cases may be filed in a JP precinct.
It is a city municipal case A City of Denton or another municipal citation can belong to the city rather than Denton County.
The record is sealed Sealed cases and sealed documents do not appear through ordinary public access.
You are looking for a document, not a docket The case may appear online even though the document image itself is not publicly viewable online.
You searched an arrest instead of the court case Jail and bond records answer custody questions; court records answer prosecution and judgment questions.
Useful clerk call script
I am trying to locate a Denton County [criminal / civil / family] case for [party name], approximately filed in [year]. I do not know the cause number. Can you tell me whether your office is the correct custodian and what information I should use to locate the case? I am not asking for legal advice.
If you genuinely do not know which county department holds the record, Denton County Records Management lists customer-service assistance at 940-349-2370.
Sealed and confidential matters

Not every court record is available to every searcher

A case sealed by court order may not appear publicly
A document can be sealed even when other case information remains accessible
Juvenile records can have statutory access restrictions
Adoption and certain family records can be confidential
Expunged criminal records are not treated like ordinary public cases
Clerks cannot release protected material merely because someone submits a public request
A missing online record is not proof that no case exists. When you are a party or attorney with a legal right of access to restricted material, contact the correct clerk and ask what authorization or court order is required.
Civil and family case updates

If you are a case party, searching repeatedly is not the only option

Denton County changed how electronic orders and notices are delivered in civil and family cases. Case parties and attorneys of record are directed to use re:SearchTX and configure notification settings for updates.

District Clerk cases

Individual electronic delivery of civil/family orders and notices ceased July 1, 2024 under the county notice.

County Clerk cases

The County Clerk’s notice states that individual electronic delivery for applicable civil/family matters ceased October 1, 2024.

Register for re:SearchTX
re:SearchTX notifications are useful for parties and attorneys following a case. They do not replace the clerk when you need an official certified copy.
Searching is not filing

Use eFileTexas when you need to submit a document

I only need to read a case

Use Denton County Records Inquiry. Do not create an e-filing merely to see a docket.

I need to file something

Use the applicable Texas electronic-filing process and make sure the submission is directed to the correct Denton County clerk and cause number.

The District Clerk states that electronic filing is available to self-represented parties, attorneys, mediators, court liaisons and others. County Clerk guidance says attorneys and government filers are required to file electronically, while other parties are encouraged to use electronic filing.

Common Denton County filing mistake: sending a document to the wrong clerk or location. County Clerk guidance also identifies incorrect fees, incomplete information, multiple documents combined into one PDF and sensitive data as reasons a filing can be returned for correction.
If the same document belongs in multiple cases, Denton County guidance says it must be filed separately into each case rather than putting several case numbers on one filing.
Open eFileTexas District Clerk filing guidance
Research and legal help

When the clerk can find the record but cannot tell you what to file

Denton County Law Library
121 N. Woodrow Lane, Suite 160
Denton, TX 76205

Phone: 940-349-2130

Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

The library provides public legal-research computers, books, Wi-Fi, printers, copiers, scanners and fax access.

Open Denton County Law Library
What court staff cannot do

Clerks can explain administrative procedure and help identify records, but they cannot interpret the law, recommend a legal strategy or tell a party what legal position to take.

Use Texas Law Help, the Texas State Law Library, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas or a licensed attorney when the question is legal rather than clerical.

Open Denton County legal resources
The Law Library is useful for research but is not a substitute for your clerk’s office when you need the actual case file, certification or payment information. It also states that it does not provide a public notary.
Call the right desk

Denton County court-record contacts

District Clerk
1450 E. McKinney Street
1st Floor
Denton, TX 76209

940-349-2200

Additional: 972-434-8822

Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

District Clerk Records

Email: dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov

Record-request fax: 940-349-5754

Use the official Record Request Form.

County Clerk Administration
1450 E. McKinney Street
Denton, TX 76209

940-349-2012

Fax: 940-349-2013

County Clerk Civil Clerks

940-349-2016

Additional: 972-434-8815

Fax: 940-349-5215

Criminal Misdemeanor Clerks

940-349-2014

Additional: 972-434-8814

Fax: 940-349-2015

County Clerk court hours

Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Wednesday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Court Administration
1450 E. McKinney Street
Suite 1333
Denton, TX 76209

940-349-2108

Law Library
121 N. Woodrow Lane, Suite 160
Denton, TX 76205

940-349-2130

lawlibrary@dentoncounty.gov

Before calling: have the cause number, full party name, approximate filing date, court name and the exact document you need. That lets the clerk answer an administrative question without having to reconstruct your entire search.
Before you drive

Primary Denton court-record locations

Denton County Courts Building

Denton County Law Library

Do not drive to 1450 E. McKinney simply because the case says “Denton County.” First identify whether the matter is district, county, Justice Court or municipal. Some proceedings and records are handled at other court locations.
Five-minute search plan

If you only have a few minutes, do this

1. Search

Open Denton County Records and try the exact cause number or party name.

2. Identify

Save the assigned court, filing date, case type and clerk level.

3. Read

Review the registry of actions and newest court setting.

4. Decide

If the docket answers your question, stop. You may not need a paid copy.

5. Request

If proof is required, identify the exact judgment, order, decree or pleading.

6. Verify

Use the actual filed record when an outcome affects a legal or important personal decision.

Local mistakes worth avoiding

Denton County court-record shortcuts that actually save time

Search the cause number before a name

A case number removes most same-name confusion and makes clerk requests easier.

Do not ask the County Clerk for a felony file

Felony district cases belong with the District Clerk.

Do not ask vital records for a divorce decree

A divorce decree is a District Clerk court record, not a marriage or vital-statistics record.

Use the registry before ordering copies

Find the exact document title and filing date so you do not pay for the wrong order or judgment.

Public case data is not the certified record

For official proof, request the actual court document from the custodian.

Use the Law Library for research—not clerk work

The library can help you research resources, but it does not replace the office maintaining the case file.

10 useful Denton County questions

Denton County court-record questions answered

How do I search Denton County court records online?

Use Denton County’s official Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search and open Denton County Records. For district-level felony, civil and family cases, choose District Court Case Records and Calendar. For county misdemeanor, county civil, probate and applicable Justice Court records, use the JP and County Court case-record options. Search with the case or cause number when known; otherwise use a party name and narrow the result by court, filing date and case type.

Which office keeps felony court records in Denton County?

The Denton County District Clerk maintains records for Denton County district courts, including felony criminal cases and district-level civil and family matters. The District Clerk is at 1450 E. McKinney Street, first floor, Denton, TX 76209, and can be reached at 940-349-2200.

Which office keeps Denton County misdemeanor court records?

The Denton County Clerk maintains misdemeanor court records handled by the county criminal courts. Criminal Misdemeanor Clerks can be reached at 940-349-2014. Class C and fine-only matters may instead belong to a Justice of the Peace or municipal court.

Can I search Denton County civil and family cases online?

Yes. The county’s public records inquiry provides general case information and court calendars. District-level civil and family cases are maintained by the District Clerk. County-level civil cases are maintained by the County Clerk. Divorce decrees are District Clerk records.

Can I view the actual documents in a Denton County District Court case online?

The public inquiry is useful for general case information, court dates and the registry of actions, but the District Clerk states that members of the public who need to view documents in a district case can use public computers in the District Clerk’s lobby and the Denton County Courts Building at 1450 E. McKinney Street. Sealed records are not available for public viewing.

How do I get a certified copy of a Denton County District Court record?

Complete the Denton County District Clerk Record Request Form and identify the case or cause number, party name, document title, filing date and requested copy type. The form may be submitted in person, by mail, fax or email to dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov. The current form says to allow up to 10 business days.

How much does a Denton County District Clerk certified copy cost?

The current District Clerk Record Request Form lists certified paper copies at a $5 certification fee plus $1 per page. Certified electronic copies are listed at a $5 certification fee plus $0.10 per page, with a $1 minimum per document. Verify the current amount on the form before paying.

How do I find my Denton County court date?

Search the official Denton County Records Inquiry using the cause number and open the matching case. Review the court, calendar, settings and registry of actions. Because settings can change, recheck the case close to the hearing date and contact the assigned court when an immediate confirmation is necessary.

Why can I not find a Denton County court case online?

Common reasons include searching the wrong court level, a different spelling of a party name, a newly filed case that has not yet appeared, a city municipal case rather than a county case, a Justice Court matter, or a record that is sealed or confidential by law. Verify whether the District Clerk, County Clerk, Justice of the Peace or municipal court is the correct custodian.

Are sealed and juvenile Denton County court records available to the public?

Not all court records are publicly accessible. Denton County states that cases and documents sealed by court order or statute are not available through normal public access. Juvenile, adoption and other legally confidential matters can have additional access restrictions.

Accuracy and use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource and is not the Denton County District Clerk, Denton County Clerk, a Denton County court, Justice of the Peace, municipal court or law firm.

Court settings, fees, access rules, office hours and online systems can change. Denton County itself cautions that electronic case information is subject to data-entry limitations and that details of judgments and cases should be verified against the actual court record on file.

Court staff can answer administrative questions but cannot provide legal advice. When a deadline, appeal, criminal charge, custody issue, eviction, judgment or other legal right is involved, use the filed record and obtain legal advice when necessary.

Last official-source review: August 8, 2026. Primary sources reviewed include the Denton County District Clerk, County Clerk, Courts Division, Judicial & Law Enforcement Records Search, current District Clerk Record Request Form, County Clerk fee schedule, County Court directories, District/Family Courts and Denton County Law Library.

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