Route a Dallas County Case to the Right Court and Record Office
Start with the county’s main courts portal when you have a party name, case number or approximate filing date. It can return felony, misdemeanor, civil district, county civil, probate and limited family case information without requiring public registration.
The difficult part is knowing when not to use that portal. Small claims and evictions belong to a Justice of the Peace court, City of Dallas tickets use the Municipal Court system, juvenile files are restricted, and federal cases use PACER. This page separates those systems and explains what to save, how to request copies and which clerk to contact.
Registration is not required for ordinary public access.
District Clerk; case information reaches back to 1975.
County Clerk maintains Class A and B cases.
Determine district court versus county court at law.
Local procedures checked August 5, 2026.
Which Dallas County court record are you trying to find?
Search indictments, felony dockets, bond orders, pleas, dismissals, judgments and sentences.
Search felony recordsClass A and B misdemeanors are maintained by the County Criminal Courts Division.
Search misdemeanor recordsBoth appear in the portal, but records and copy requests go to different clerk divisions.
Choose the civil routeCase information may be visible, but public online pleading access is restricted.
Request family recordsSearch estates, wills, guardianships and related probate cases.
Search probate casesThese cases are often missing because they are being searched in the wrong system.
Find the local courtHow to search the Dallas County Courts Portal
Understand what the portal result does—and does not—show
Portal field |
What it tells you |
What to verify |
Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
Case or cause number |
The unique number assigned to that court matter. |
Use the entire number, including letters when shown. |
Assuming two similar numbers are the same case. |
Case type |
Whether the record is criminal, civil, family, probate or another category. |
Confirm the case belongs to the expected clerk and court. |
Calling the felony desk about a county civil case. |
Party name |
A plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, estate or other party. |
Compare middle name, suffix, company name and party role. |
Relying on a common name alone. |
Filed date |
When the court case was opened. |
Compare it with the incident, contract, divorce or estate timeline. |
Treating it as the date the underlying event occurred. |
Court |
The court currently assigned to the case. |
Use the court page for hearing or coordinator information. |
Going to a courthouse without checking the assigned court. |
Case status |
A broad status such as open, pending, disposed or closed. |
Read the judgment, dismissal or final order. |
Assuming “closed” explains how the case ended. |
Events or docket entries |
What was filed, scheduled, ordered or recorded. |
Open the newest entries and check whether a hearing changed. |
Relying on an older setting after a continuance. |
Disposition |
How a charge, claim or case was resolved. |
Review every criminal count or civil claim separately. |
Applying one count’s result to the entire case. |
Document image |
That an online copy is available for public viewing. |
Determine whether it is plain or electronically certified. |
Using a portal printout when a certified copy is required. |
No document link |
The filing is indexed but the image is not publicly available online. |
Contact the correct records desk. |
Assuming the document does not exist. |
Dallas County District Clerk versus County Clerk
District Clerk
The District Clerk maintains records for:
- Felony criminal district courts
- Magistrate Court records
- District civil lawsuits
- Family district cases
- Juvenile district cases
Main office: George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75202.
General telephone: 214-653-7307
County Clerk
The County Clerk maintains records for:
- Class A and B misdemeanor courts
- County courts at law civil cases
- Probate and guardianship cases
- Truancy and other county-level records
- Closed county criminal, civil and probate files
General telephone: 214-653-7099
Search Dallas County criminal court records by court level
Felony cases
The Dallas County District Clerk is the custodian for felony court records and Magistrate Court records.
- Case information is available online back to 1975.
- Documents are available for most felony cases filed after 2009.
- Search by cause number whenever possible.
- Review each charge, setting, plea, judgment and sentence separately.
- Restricted victim or child information may require an in-person request.
Misdemeanor cases
Dallas County’s County Clerk maintains Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases.
- Search current case information through the main Courts Portal.
- Plain documents for many cases from 2011 forward are available online.
- Older files may be stored offsite.
- Certified records require a separate request.
- Do not contact the District Clerk for a county misdemeanor copy.
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, second floor
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 214-653-5950
Email: DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, second floor, Room A-1
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 214-653-7099
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Determine whether the case is district civil or county civil
Maintained by the Dallas County District Clerk.
- Case information is available back to 1975.
- Documents are available for most cases filed after 2008.
- Common matters include complex disputes, injunctions, title disputes and larger civil actions.
- Records counter: George Allen Courts Building, basement B floor west.
Maintained by the Dallas County Clerk.
- Dallas County has five county courts at law.
- Cases include civil disputes and appeals from Justice of the Peace courts.
- Search through the main Dallas County Courts Portal.
- County Clerk Civil Courts Division is on the first floor of the George Allen Courts Building.
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce Street, basement B floor west
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-653-6076
Email: DCRecords@dallascounty.org
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce Street, first floor, Suite 101
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-653-7099
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Family case information is not the same as public document access
Search Dallas County probate records by estate or case number
Search the decedent’s name, estate style or probate case number.
Search the ward, applicant, guardian or case number when public information is available.
Access may be limited because medical and mental-health information can be confidential.
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce Street, seventh floor, Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-653-7099
Records before 2013: DCClosedProbateRec@dallascounty.org
Records from 2013 forward: DCOpenProbateRec@dallascounty.org
Search Justice Court and Dallas Municipal Court separately
Justice of the Peace courts
Dallas County Justice Courts handle matters including:
- Small claims and debt claims
- Evictions
- Repair-and-remedy cases
- Class C misdemeanors and some traffic matters
- Towing and property-seizure hearings
- Occupational driver’s licence matters
Dallas County currently has ten Justice Courts. Identify the precinct and place before requesting a record.
Find the correct Dallas County Justice CourtDallas Municipal Court
Use the City of Dallas system for:
- Dallas traffic citations
- City ordinance violations
- Municipal Class C misdemeanors
- City civil citations
- Dallas municipal warrants and balances
Search by citation number, name and date of birth, docket number or police case number.
Open Dallas Municipal Citation Search2014 Main Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: 214-670-0109
The city states that there is no free or dedicated public parking. Paid street, lot and garage options are available.
Dallas County juvenile files are not open public portal records
Appear at the Juvenile Courts Section with picture identification.
Documents may be reviewed in the designated viewing room.
A signed court order may be required before the District Clerk can permit access.
Juvenile case records are not available through the ordinary public online portal.
Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center
2600 Lone Star Drive, third floor
Dallas, TX 75212
Phone: 214-698-4903
Clerk offices: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
When the Dallas County portal is not the controlling system
Use the Fifth Court of Appeals for many state civil and criminal appeals originating in Dallas County.
The court also serves Collin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall counties.
Open the Fifth Court of AppealsFederal civil and criminal cases filed in Dallas are generally handled by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Search public electronic dockets through PACER.
Open PACERBankruptcy cases are also federal records and are not part of the Dallas County portal.
Use PACER or the appropriate federal bankruptcy clerk.
Choose the copy that matches the reason you need it
Record type |
What it is |
When it may work |
Current practical step |
|---|---|---|---|
Portal view |
Public case information or an available plain document image. |
Research, checking a setting or understanding the docket. |
Save the case number and document title. |
Plain copy |
A non-certified reproduction of a court document. |
Personal files or informal review. |
Ask whether the online image can be printed without charge. |
Certified copy |
A clerk-certified copy bearing official authentication. |
Government, employment, licensing, title or court use. |
Request the exact document and certification. |
Exemplified copy |
A more formal authentication package. |
Another jurisdiction or a specific legal proceeding. |
Confirm that exemplification is actually required. |
Letter of disposition |
A clerk record explaining the outcome of a criminal case. |
Showing how a charge was resolved. |
Ask the criminal records division which document meets the request. |
Plain copy: $1 per page
Certification or exemplification: an additional $5 per case
Extra certification charges may apply when file size requires more than one certification.
County Clerk Central Records is operating under a temporary access notice
Record category |
Current published access |
Where to go |
|---|---|---|
Criminal misdemeanor |
2011 to current available online; certified copies in person. |
Frank Crowley or George Allen courthouse. |
Probate |
1985 and prior, and 2002 to current, listed as available in person. |
George Allen Courts Building. |
County civil |
Prior to 2004, 2007–2010 and 2012 to current, listed as available in person. |
George Allen Courts Building. |
Years not listed |
The temporary notice states that unlisted year ranges cannot currently be accessed through Central Records. |
Check the live notice before making a trip. |
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce Street, B-1
Dallas, TX 75202
Normal published counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Why a Dallas County court record may be missing
District court portal questions: DC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org
Online document-access problems: DCInquiry@dallascounty.org
What to do when sensitive information appears in a court record
Dallas County provides a District Clerk redaction form for eligible Social Security number information appearing in identified court documents.
List the cause number, document title, filing or order date and page containing the information.
Contact the clerk that maintains the record and identify the exact document and page.
Do not repost bank numbers, addresses of protected persons, information about children or other sensitive material.
Records commonly unavailable to the general public
Do not treat a portal date or payment button as the full instruction
Open the newest docket entries and check the assigned court’s page.
A prior setting may have been moved, cancelled or converted to a remote hearing.
Some Dallas County courts publish CourtCall, Zoom, livestream or virtual-workroom links.
Use only the link published by the assigned court.
Confirm whether the payment is a fine, court cost, copy invoice or filing fee.
Using the wrong payment portal can delay or misapply the funds.
Know which downtown building you need before parking
Felony and misdemeanor criminal courts and records counters.
133 N. Riverfront BoulevardDallas, TX 75207
District civil, family, county civil, probate and Central Records services.
600 Commerce StreetDallas, TX 75202
Juvenile district courts and restricted juvenile records.
2600 Lone Star DriveDallas, TX 75212
Research the record without mistaking it for legal advice
600 Commerce Street, Suite B40
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-653-7481
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Texas statutes and court rules
- Self-help information and forms
- Legal-aid and lawyer-referral resources
- Information about civil, family, landlord-tenant and consumer matters
Dallas County clerk offices, addresses and maps
Dallas, TX 75202
Second Floor, Room A-1
Dallas, TX 75207
First Floor, Suite 101
Dallas, TX 75202
Seventh Floor, Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75202
Dallas, TX 75202
Check the temporary 2026 service notice.
Dallas, TX 75201
Map to the Frank Crowley Courts Building
Map to the George Allen Courts Building
Dallas County search errors that create false “no record” results
Dallas Municipal Court has its own citation and docket system.
Class A and B misdemeanor files are maintained by the County Clerk.
Felony records belong to the District Clerk’s Felony Records Desk.
Family case information and public document access are not the same thing.
An older, confidential or restricted document may require a counter request.
Dallas County instructs records customers to obtain an invoice before paying.
Dallas County court-record questions answered
Where should I start a Dallas County court records search?
Start at the Dallas County Online Record Search page and open Dallas County and District Court Case Information and Documents. Public access does not require registration. The portal covers civil district cases, family case information, county and probate cases, felonies and misdemeanors. Justice of the Peace cases, Dallas Municipal Court citations, juvenile records, state appeals and federal cases require separate systems.
How do I search Dallas County felony court records?
Use the Dallas County Courts Portal and search by the exact felony cause number when known. You may also search by the defendant’s name. Dallas County publishes felony case information dating back to 1975, with online documents available for most felony cases filed after 2009. Contact the District Clerk Felony Records Desk at 214-653-5950 for records that are unavailable online.
How do I find a Dallas County misdemeanor case?
Class A and Class B misdemeanor records are maintained by the Dallas County Clerk rather than the District Clerk. Search the Dallas County Courts Portal by name or cause number. Plain documents for many misdemeanor cases from 2011 forward are available online. Certified copies must be requested through the County Clerk or obtained in person under the current Central Records procedures.
Can I search Dallas County civil lawsuits online?
Yes. District civil case information is available online for cases dating back to 1975, and documents are available for most district civil cases filed after 2008. County court-at-law civil cases are also routed through the Dallas County Courts Portal. Confirm whether the case belongs to a district civil court or a county court at law before contacting a clerk.
Are Dallas County divorce and family court documents available online?
The county’s search page lists family district case information, but public online access to family pleadings and documents is restricted because filings may contain sensitive information. Request divorce decrees, custody orders and other family records through the District Clerk Civil and Family Records Desk at 214-653-6076 or DCRecords@dallascounty.org.
How do I search Dallas County probate records?
Search probate matters through the Dallas County Courts Portal using the decedent, estate, guardian, ward or case number. The County Clerk maintains probate records. During the current Central Records transition, some probate record years are available only in person at the George Allen Courts Building, so check the temporary service notice before travelling.
Where do I search Dallas County small claims or eviction cases?
Small claims, debt claims, evictions, repair-and-remedy cases and many Class C matters are handled by Dallas County Justice of the Peace courts. Use the Justice of the Peace page to identify the correct precinct and place, then open that court’s case-status search. Contact the specific JP court because the District Clerk and County Clerk do not maintain those case files.
Are Dallas Municipal Court cases included in the Dallas County portal?
No. City of Dallas traffic tickets, city ordinance violations and other municipal Class C cases are searched through the Dallas Municipal Court Citation and Docket Search. You may search by citation number, name and date of birth, docket number or police case number. Dallas Municipal Court can be reached at 214-670-0109.
How much do Dallas County certified court copies cost?
The Dallas County Clerk currently lists a copy fee of 1 dollar per page plus a 5 dollar charge per case when certification or exemplification is required. District Clerk charges depend on the record and service requested. Contact the appropriate records office for an exact invoice before using an online payment portal because overpayments may not be refundable.
Why can I find a Dallas County case but not its documents?
The document may predate online imaging, contain protected information, belong to a family or juvenile matter, be sealed, be stored offsite, or be temporarily unavailable during the County Clerk records transition. Confirm the court type and cause number, review the docket entry, then contact the correct District Clerk, County Clerk, JP, municipal, appellate or federal records office.