Dallas County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Dallas County has 2.6 million residents, and its county seat is in the City of Dallas. The county has different types of courts, including District Courts, County Courts at Law, County Criminal Courts, Justice of Peace Courts, Probate Courts, and Municipal Courts. The Dallas County District Courts are the primary trial courts and handle various cases such as felony criminal cases, divorce cases, cases involving land ownership, and civil matters where the money or damages involved are $200 or more. There are a total of 32 district courts in Dallas County.

The Dallas County Courts at Law handle various legal matters, including civil claims, criminal misdemeanors, probate, and guardianship cases. Five County Courts at Law oversee these diverse legal proceedings within Dallas County. The Dallas County Criminal Courts hold jurisdiction over class A and B misdemeanor offenses and also preside over appeals from both justices of the peace courts and city municipal courts. In Dallas County, there are a total of eleven county criminal courts serving the community. The Dallas Justice of the Peace Courts exercises original jurisdiction in misdemeanor criminal cases where the sole punishment is a fine. These courts possess exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases involving $200 or less and share concurrent jurisdiction with the county and district courts in civil matters where exclusive jurisdiction does not lie with the district or county court and the amount in question is $5000 or less. The Dallas County Probate Courts handle matters pertaining to the wills of deceased individuals, the establishment of guardianships for incapacitated persons and minors, and lawsuits related to the estate of a decedent or ward. Dallas Municipal Court adjudicates violations of city ordinances and class C misdemeanor criminal cases where conviction results in a small fine.

In the year 2022, the county reported over 60,000 crimes, signaling a significant challenge for law enforcement and the judicial system. The Dallas County Court system, known for its efficiency, manages a high volume of cases yearly. Specifically, the Dallas County Court at Law handles approximately 6,100 cases annually, while the County's Criminal Court processes approximately 32,500 cases yearly. The Dallas County Clerk maintains court case information and documents as the custodian of all public records. These records are accessible to the county clerk's public access portal.

In summary, the court system in Dallas County plays a crucial role in the local government, ensuring justice for various legal matters. It includes the District, County at Law, Criminal, Justice of Peace, Probate, and Municipal courts, all working effectively to handle diverse cases.