Tarrant County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With a population of over 2.11 million, Tarrant County is considered the third-most populous county in Texas, and the fifteenth-most populous in the United States. Its seat and largest city is Fort Worth founded in the year 1850 and named for Edward H. Tarrant. Tarrant County's court system consists of District Courts, County Courts at Law, Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Tarrant County has 27 District Courts and comprises 6 different Congressional Districts, which exercise broad jurisdiction over various types of civil and criminal cases. These courts generally handle felonies, divorce, title-to-land disputes, and election cases. Matters within the jurisdiction of the County Courts at Law include misdemeanors, divorce, child custody, child support, juvenile cases, wills, trusts, and guardianships. The Probate Courts have original jurisdiction over matters relating to wills, guardianships, the administration of a deceased estate, and mental health commitments. The Justice Courts have authority over preliminary hearings, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and foreclosures of mortgages. Municipal Courts handle municipal ordinance violations and certain misdemeanor offenses.

In 2022, over 58,000 violent and property crimes were reported in Tarrant County. The District Court receives approximately 61,000 new cases annually. In addition, over 45,000 criminal cases are filed in Tarrant County each year. The records of court cases in the county are in the custody of the relevant court that heard the case. Residents can search for records of the County Courts at Law, Probate Courts, and Justice Courts online via the Court Records Portal or in person. District Court records are available on the Web-Based Access Service or re:SearchTX portal. Anyone can obtain case records from a Municipal Court by contacting its courthouse directly. Records dealing with juvenile, adoption, medical, mental health, and custodial matters are generally sealed from the public and considered confidential requiring special permission to access. A visit to the Clerk's office, in person, can ensure that you are guided in the proper direction to gain access to such records. At times, a court order may be required or a meeting with authorized personnel.

In summary, the residents of Tarrant County are served by District Courts, County Courts at Law, Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. Each court presides over different kinds of cases, ensuring that cases are resolved efficiently and promptly. The courts also maintain and grant public access to case records, thus inspiring transparency and public trust in the judicial system.