Denton County
Denton County was created in 1846 and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the most populous metropolitan statistical area in Texas. It has an estimated population of 1,000,000 people, with the white and black/african ethnic groups constituting the majority of the population.
The district courts in Denton County are the trial courts of general jurisdiction, and they hear civil, criminal, juvenile, and family law cases. District courts have original jurisdiction in election contests, cases involving title to land, divorces, felonies, and civil matters in which the amount of money involved is above $200.
Denton County courts at law handle different types of cases depending on the jurisdiction conferred upon each court by the legislature. They have exclusive jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases with no potential penalty of incarceration. Furthermore, it is within their jurisdiction to hear cases related to violations of health ordinances, domestic violence, and general claims of less than $10,000.
Justice of the peace courts in Denton County have exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases including evictions, debt claims, small claims, enforcement of liens on personal property, and occupational driver's license hearings. They share jurisdiction with municipal courts over Class C misdemeanor criminal offenses punishable by fine only. Municipal courts also handle violations of zoning, fire safety, and public health ordinances within their city limits.
The Denton County magistrate court handles the initial stage of criminal proceedings. The role of the court is to determine the probable cause for arrest, inform defendants of their charges, and appoint attorneys for defendants in misdemeanor cases. The Denton County probate courts handle probate matters exclusively; they hear lawsuits related to the estates of decedents, establish guardianship for incapacitated persons, and supervise court-ordered involuntary mental health commitments.
The Denton County Clerk is responsible for keeping probate, county, and juvenile records, while district court records are in the custody of the District Court Clerk. Excluding juvenile case records that are considered confidential by state law, members of the public have access to the following Denton County court records:
- Probate records
- Family records
- Civil records
- Criminal records
Court dockets and publicly accessible court records are available on the Denton County Records Inquiry website. By filling out and submitting the Record Request Form in person, you can obtain district court records. Alternatively, you can contact the district court by email at dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov, or by fax at (940) 349-5754.
