The court records of Tarrant County, Texas, are maintained by the District Clerk and the County Clerk and are accessible through online portals, official government resources, and directly at the offices. TarrantCourt.us helps quickly navigate publicly available information about court cases. Additionally, you can use the District Clerk's document search portal, the County Clerk's civil case online search, or visit the clerk's office in person.
Tarrant Court System Overview
Tarrant County is part of the 8th Administrative Judicial Region of Texas. The county's court system includes District Courts, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Municipal Courts. District Courts handle serious criminal cases (felonies) and complex civil and family cases. County Courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanors, civil claims with limited amounts, and appeals from Justice of the Peace Courts.
The main courthouse is located at:
The administration of the courts is managed by the Tarrant County District Clerk's office. The county is exclusively served by courts within its territory, making it one of the most populous counties in Texas.
Courts Serving Tarrant
The residents of the county are served by an extensive network of courts with varying levels of jurisdiction.
District Courts
The county has several dozen district courts, divided into criminal, civil, and family divisions.
County Courts at Law
Justice of the Peace Courts
The county has eight precincts of Justice of the Peace Courts.
Fort Worth Municipal Court
Federal District Court
Bankruptcy cases are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas.
What Types of Cases Tarrant Courts Hear
The county courts handle a wide range of cases. Below are the main categories:
- Felonies (serious criminal offenses)
- Misdemeanors (minor criminal offenses)
- Civil claims (from small to large amounts)
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony, paternity
- Probate (estate matters), guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile matters and child protection cases
- Adoption
- Traffic violations and fines
The specific court handling a case depends on its type and the claim amount.
District Court Cases in Tarrant
District Courts are courts of general jurisdiction that handle the most serious cases. Felonies are brought here after an indictment by a grand jury. Civil claims exceeding the jurisdiction of County Courts at Law are also heard by District Courts.
Cases are assigned to judges through an automated system. The presiding judge is an elected District Court judge. Additionally, appeals from lower courts and post-conviction motions are heard here. Family matters — divorce, custody, termination of parental rights — are handled by separate family district courts. Document searches are available through the District Clerk portal.
Magistrate Court Cases in Tarrant
In Texas, functions similar to magistrate courts are performed by County Courts at Law and Justice of the Peace Courts. Justice of the Peace Courts handle civil claims up to $20,000, small claims up to $20,000, issue arrest warrants, and conduct preliminary hearings.
County Courts at Law handle misdemeanors, civil cases with claims from $200 to $250,000, and appeals from Justice of the Peace Courts. Traffic violations typically go to municipal or Justice of the Peace Courts. Information on active Justice Court warrants can be checked online. For Fort Worth Municipal Court warrants, there is a separate page.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Tarrant
Family Law. Divorce, custody disputes, alimony, paternity establishment, and protective orders are handled by family district courts. Divorce records are kept by the District Clerk — more details on the Vital Records FAQ page. Certified copies of marriage certificates are issued by the Vital Records office of the County Clerk, and at the state level by Texas DSHS.
Probate (estate matters). Probate, guardianship, and conservatorship cases are handled by specialized probate courts. The county has two specialized probate courts.
Juvenile Matters. Juvenile cases are confidential under Texas law. They are handled by judges appointed for juvenile matters. Child protection cases (CPS) also fall into this category.
How Cases Move Through the Tarrant Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a complaint or indictment; a civil case starts with filing a petition with the appropriate clerk.
- Judge Assignment. Cases are automatically assigned to judges based on type.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment (reading of charges and defendant's plea). In civil cases — planning conference.
- Pre-trial Phase. Motions, discovery, plea bargaining in criminal cases, or mediation in civil cases.
- Trial. A jury or judge renders a verdict. A civil case may end in a settlement or default judgment.
- Post-judgment. Sentencing, appeal filing, enforcement of court decision.
At each stage, documents are recorded in the case and are available through the clerk's portals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Tarrant
Court administration is managed by the administrative regional judge of the 8th region in conjunction with the county's Court Administrator's office. The District Clerk is responsible for storing and issuing district court records.
Local rules for Tarrant courts are published on the official county website and on the respective courts' websites. According to the Texas Public Information Act, most court records are public, except for:
- Juvenile cases
- Sealed or expunged records
- Certain family cases with protective orders
Hearings can be attended in person. Some courts offer remote participation via video conferencing — check with the specific court. For public records requests, contact the District Clerk or County Clerk's office at the phone numbers provided above.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Tarrant
- Court Document Search. The District Clerk's document search portal allows finding criminal, family, and civil case materials from district courts.
- Civil Case Search. Through the County Clerk's online search, you can find cases from County Courts at Law.
- Real Estate Records. The Real Estate Records section contains property documents, and copies of official records can be ordered separately.
- County Register Name Search. Mega Search allows searching by grantor/grantee name, document type, or number.
- Criminal Warrants. The Sheriff's Office publishes information on criminal warrants. Copies of search warrants are available through the District Clerk's page.
- Arrest Reports. Daily booked-in reports are published by the Sheriff's Office.
- Statewide Criminal History. Texas DPS Crime Records provides information for criminal history checks and background checks.
- Property Taxes. The County Tax Office allows paying taxes or finding a bill, and appraisal district contact information helps with appraisal questions.
- Texas Sex Offender Registry. The registry can be checked on the Texas DPS website.
- General Resource. TarrantCourt.us consolidates links to publicly available county court records in one place.