Denton County Criminal Court Records Search: Cases & Dockets
Denton County Criminal Court Records Search: Cases, Dockets, Court Dates and Certified Copies
Search Denton County criminal court records through the county’s official Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search. You can look up available felony and misdemeanor cases, court dockets, hearing calendars, case statuses, jail records and bond information.
The county provides a public case inquiry system, but the correct record custodian depends on the case. The Denton County District Clerk maintains district-court felony records, while the County Clerk maintains misdemeanor court records.
Official Denton County resources reviewed October 16, 2026. Search availability, fees and procedures are subject to change.
Where to Search Denton County Criminal Court Records
Denton County combines several public-record tools under its Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search. The official page provides a gateway to case records, court calendars, sheriff jail records and bond records.
District Court Case Records and Calendar
Use this option for district-court criminal case information, pending felony cases, court dates, case activity and available docket entries.
The District Clerk specifically directs users to select District Court Case Records and Calendar from the public access system.
Open District Court Case Search →County Court Case Records and Calendar
Use the county-level case search options for criminal misdemeanors and scheduled settings handled by Denton County’s County Criminal Courts.
The County Clerk maintains the county’s misdemeanor criminal case records.
Open County Clerk Search Gateway →Criminal Court Calendars
Use the applicable court calendar to check scheduled appearances, plea settings, hearings or trial dates where those settings are public.
Always confirm urgent court-date questions with the court responsible for the case.
Find County Criminal Courts →Sheriff Jail and Bond Records
Use the Sheriff’s jail and bond search options when the purpose is locating a person in custody or finding available booking and bond information.
A jail record is not a final court disposition.
Open Sheriff’s Records Services →How to Search Denton County Criminal Court Records Online
Searching with a known case number is generally more precise than using a defendant’s name. If you do not know the number, start with the correct court category and refine the results.
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Open the Denton County public records portal
Go to Denton County PublicAccess. If redirected or unavailable, use the official county Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search page.
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Select the correct court search option
For felony or district-court criminal cases, choose District Court Case Records and Calendar. For county-level criminal matters, choose the applicable County Court or criminal case-records option.
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Search by case number or party name
Enter the case or cause number if known. Otherwise, use the defendant’s legal name and any applicable search filters. Check spelling and aliases carefully.
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Open the matching case
Compare the case number, assigned court, filing date, defendant information and charge descriptions before concluding that the result concerns the correct person.
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Review the Registry of Actions
The public system may display case activity through a Registry of Actions or equivalent docket/event history. Look for hearings, motions, orders, pleas, dismissals and other developments.
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Check the court calendar
If you need the next hearing or scheduled setting, use the appropriate calendar in the portal. Verify the setting with the court before making travel or attendance arrangements.
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Check the final disposition
Determine whether the case is pending, dismissed, resolved through a plea, decided after trial or otherwise disposed of. A charge listed in the docket does not necessarily mean a conviction occurred.
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Request certified documents if necessary
Contact the District Clerk for district-court records or the County Clerk for misdemeanor records. A certified court order carries different evidentiary value from an informational website summary.
Denton County Criminal Court Dockets and Hearing Calendars
A criminal docket records procedural activity, while a court calendar identifies scheduled settings. Both can be useful, but they answer different questions.
| Record field | What it means | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Cause or case number | The court’s reference for the proceeding | Best identifier when requesting copies or checking case activity |
| Court assignment | The court currently handling the matter | Helps identify the correct hearing calendar and clerk |
| Registry of Actions | Chronological docket activity | Shows whether motions, settings or other case events have been entered |
| Hearing or setting | Scheduled court appearance or proceeding | Check the date and court before attending |
| Disposition | Outcome of a charge or case | Distinguishes a pending charge from a dismissed or adjudicated case |
| Judgment or order | Written court decision | Request a copy if a summary does not provide enough detail |
Can you rely on the online hearing date?
Denton County’s criminal courts direct people to the official records inquiry system to view their court dates. However, calendars can change as a case progresses.
If you have received a written notice, subpoena, bond condition or instruction from the judge, do not treat a website calendar as permission to disregard it. Contact the assigned court or your attorney for any conflict.
For example, the county’s County Criminal Court No. 4 specifically tells defendants without attorneys that they must appear for their scheduled settings.
Denton County Felony Criminal Court Records
Felony cases filed in Denton County district courts are maintained by the Denton County District Clerk. The clerk is the custodian of pleadings, orders, judgments and other documents filed in district-court proceedings.
Denton County District Clerk
Location: 1450 E. McKinney Street, 1st FloorDenton, TX 76209
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202
Phone: 940-349-2200
Additional phone: 972-434-8822
Record request email: dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov
Record request fax: 940-349-5754
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Request a felony case record search certificate
Denton County provides a specific Felony Case Record Search Form. It is intended to search the records maintained by the District Clerk; it is not a comprehensive Texas or national criminal background check.
- Download the official felony search form
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Complete the requestor information
Provide the information specified on the form. The clerk requests the full name of the person being searched and additional identifying details.
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Review the fee and identity requirements
The published form lists $5 per felony record search and certificate, with possible payment-processing charges. Follow the identification rules stated on the form.
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Submit the completed form
The District Clerk accepts record-request forms in person, by mail, fax or at the official records-request email address. Confirm the appropriate payment method before transmitting sensitive information.
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Allow processing time
The felony search form asks requestors to allow up to 10 business days for completion and mailing of the certificate.
Viewing felony case documents in person
According to the District Clerk’s published FAQ, public computers in the District Clerk’s lobby and courthouse can be used to view accessible case documents. Sealed documents are not available through ordinary public access.
For documents not accessible online, ask the clerk about inspection or copies before visiting.
Denton County Misdemeanor Criminal Records Search
Denton County’s County Clerk is the official record keeper for misdemeanor court cases. The county operates five County Criminal Courts, numbered 1 through 5.
These courts handle county-level criminal prosecutions. The clerk maintains associated records, while the assigned court controls hearings, procedural rulings and case settings.
County Clerk Courts Division
Use the Courts Division for misdemeanor case records, copies and court-record request forms.
Open Courts Division →County Criminal Courts 1–5
Find individual criminal court pages, contact information and applicable court-specific instructions.
Find County Criminal Courts →Request a misdemeanor background record search
The County Clerk provides a Criminal Misdemeanor Background Search Request Form for Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases filed in Denton County.
This request searches the County Clerk’s specified misdemeanor records, not all felony, traffic, municipal, statewide or federal records.
$5 per initial search
The published request form lists an additional $5 for each additional case found.
Up to 10 days
The County Clerk asks requestors to allow up to 10 days after receipt for processing. Results are mailed to the supplied address.
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Open the County Clerk misdemeanor form
Download the Misdemeanor Background Search Request PDF.
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Provide the required identifiers
The form requests at least three identifiers from the specified categories, such as full name, date of birth or government-issued identification details.
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Check the fee for the request
Review the initial $5 charge, additional-case charges and any applicable payment service fees.
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Submit through the County Clerk’s authorised process
The form identifies the County Clerk’s Criminal Intake office. Contact the office if you need guidance about secure submission or payment.
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Check the mailed result
The form states that results are mailed to the address supplied in the request. Review the record limitations before using it for an official purpose.
County Clerk — Criminal Intake
1450 E. McKinney Street, Suite 1332Denton, TX 76209
Criminal request email: CountyClerkCriminalRequest@dentoncounty.gov
Fax: 940-349-2015
County Clerk Administration: 940-349-2012
Contact information is drawn from the county’s official misdemeanor search form and County Clerk page.
How to Get Certified Denton County Criminal Court Records
A certified judgment or disposition is often required when a court, attorney or other authorised recipient needs an authenticated record rather than an online case summary.
Denton County provides different forms for district-court records and misdemeanor court documents.
| What you need | Office | Official form or resource |
|---|---|---|
| Felony judgment, order or district-court case document | District Clerk | District Clerk Records Request Forms |
| Class A/B misdemeanor judgment or case document | County Clerk | County Clerk Request for Copy of Record |
| Class C misdemeanor or Justice Court document | Specific Justice Court | Example: JP Precinct 3 Request Instructions |
| Municipal criminal or traffic case | Specific city Municipal Court | Find the court named on the ticket or summons |
County Clerk document request steps
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Download the Request for Copy of Record form
The official County Clerk form asks for the case or cause number, case name and document titles.
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Identify the exact documents
Examples include a judgment, dismissal order, sentencing document, plea paperwork or other publicly accessible records. The form provides fields for specific document titles and filing dates.
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Choose the copy type
State whether you need an ordinary copy or a certified copy. Review the current fee schedule before making payment.
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Submit through the County Clerk
Follow the form and county instructions. Ask the clerk about acceptable payment methods and a secure submission channel.
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Allow sufficient time
The County Clerk’s copy request form asks applicants to allow up to 10 business days for processing.
Important difference: certified record vs background search
A certified judgment is an authenticated document from a specific court case. A county-level background search certificate reports the results of the particular clerk’s records search. Neither should be mistaken for a complete nationwide criminal-history report.
Denton County Criminal Court Record Search Fees
The amount depends on the records requested and the office that maintains them. The published fee information below is specific to the named Denton County service.
| Service | Published fee | Office / limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Felony case record search certificate | $5 per search and certificate | District Clerk; limited to records held by that office |
| Misdemeanor background search | $5 initial search, plus $5 per additional case found | County Clerk; Class A/B misdemeanor records |
| District Clerk record search | $5 per search | District Clerk miscellaneous fee schedule |
| Certified paper copy — District Clerk | $5 certificate/seal plus $1 per page | District Clerk certified paper records |
| Noncertified paper copy — District Clerk | $1 per page | District Clerk records |
| County Clerk certified paper records | $5 clerk’s certificate plus applicable copy charges | County Clerk published fee schedule |
| Justice Court document copy | Varies by court and copy type | Check the specific Justice Court fee schedule |
Sources: District Clerk miscellaneous fees, County Clerk fees, and the county’s felony and misdemeanor record-search forms.
Class C Misdemeanors, Traffic Tickets and Municipal Cases
Not all criminal cases in Denton County are maintained by the District Clerk or County Clerk.
Many fine-only Class C misdemeanor cases and traffic citations are handled in Justice of the Peace Courts or Municipal Courts. These records may require a separate court search.
Justice of the Peace Court
Use the relevant JP precinct if the ticket or charging notice names a Justice Court.
Denton County’s JP court pages provide case-lookup and payment instructions. Some also link to the county public calendar.
Example: Denton County JP Precinct 3 →Municipal Court
A citation issued within Denton, Lewisville, The Colony, Flower Mound or another municipality may be handled by the city’s Municipal Court.
Use the court printed on the citation, not merely the county in which the city is located.
Denton County Government Website →Denton County Jail Records, Arrests and Bond Lookup
If your objective is to find a recent arrest, jail booking, custody record or bond information, start with the Denton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s official Services page links to the Jail Records Search and Bond Records Search. The county’s Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search also points to these services.
What jail records can and cannot tell you
Useful for
- Available booking information
- Jail custody inquiries
- Bond records
- Identifying an associated case or agency
- Locating the proper follow-up office
Not sufficient for
- Proof of conviction
- A certified judgment
- Complete Texas criminal history
- A comprehensive arrest-history report
- A final court disposition
A recent jail booking may not correspond to a filed felony indictment or completed misdemeanor prosecution. Some charges may be declined, dismissed, modified or later adjudicated.
For the court outcome, search the appropriate criminal court records rather than relying on the initial jail entry.
Denton County Court Records vs. Texas DPS Criminal History
An official local court record search is different from a statewide Texas Department of Public Safety criminal-history search.
Denton County Clerk Records
Court searches provide information about cases filed with the court or clerk being searched.
They are the appropriate route for a particular docket, court date, conviction judgment, dismissal or certified case document.
Texas DPS
Texas DPS maintains the state’s Computerized Criminal History system. Its public conviction name-search service provides publicly releasable records under the applicable Texas rules.
This is a separate service, and name-based searches are not fingerprint-confirmed.
Official Texas DPS Criminal History Search →If you are reviewing your own record for accuracy, Texas DPS also provides procedures for fingerprint-based personal criminal history review.
A local Denton County felony search certificate does not certify the absence of criminal records throughout Texas or the United States.
Why Can’t I Find a Denton County Criminal Court Record?
An unsuccessful online search does not always mean there is no criminal record. Consider these local possibilities before repeating the same search.
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Felony case not found | Wrong court category or name search | Use District Court Case Records and Calendar; contact the District Clerk if necessary |
| Misdemeanor missing | Searching district-court records instead of county criminal records | Use County Court criminal records and the County Clerk |
| Traffic ticket not displayed | Filed in a municipal or JP court | Check the ticket for the issuing court |
| Case shows no judgment | Disposition not yet entered or online summary incomplete | Contact the court clerk and request the filed final order |
| Court date differs from notice | Reset, continuance, scheduling change or data-entry delay | Contact the assigned court promptly |
| Jail booking but no trial case | Charge may be unfiled, pending prosecution review or associated with magistrate proceedings | Verify with the appropriate clerk or arresting agency |
| Document not downloadable | Public portal offers case information without unrestricted remote document access | Use the clerk’s copy request form or inquire about public computers |
| Older or sealed case missing | Historical coverage, expunction, nondisclosure, juvenile confidentiality or court restriction | Contact the lawful record custodian; restricted documents may not be released |
Special Denton County issue: magistrate records
Denton County’s District Clerk announced that beginning January 1, 2020, the office was designated as clerk to the county’s Magistrate Court. Documents on certain unfiled charges are therefore held through the District Clerk.
The county also states that documents filed before that change remain in the office where they were originally filed.
This matters when someone can find a jail or magistrate event but cannot locate a completed felony prosecution under the expected court category.
See the Denton County District Clerk Announcements for the original notice.
Expunctions, Nondisclosure Orders and Restricted Denton County Records
Some criminal records may be excluded from ordinary public searches due to a court order, expunction, statutory protection, juvenile confidentiality or other applicable legal restrictions.
Texas law distinguishes between an expunction, which may remove qualifying records, and an order of nondisclosure, which generally restricts disclosure of qualifying records to the public subject to statutory exceptions.
Eligibility depends on the offense, case outcome, age, timing, prior criminal history and applicable Texas statutes.
For an explanation of these procedures, consult the Texas State Law Library’s Expunctions and Nondisclosure Orders Guide.
Using Denton County Criminal Court Records Responsibly
Criminal case information can affect a person’s reputation and important legal or professional decisions. For that reason, distinguish between an arrest, allegation, pending prosecution, dismissal and conviction.
- Confirm the identity of the person named in the record.
- Review the final disposition rather than stopping at the original charge.
- Do not treat a jail booking as proof of guilt.
- Respect sealed, expunged and legally restricted records.
- Use the official clerk when a certified record is required.
- Follow applicable federal and Texas law for employment or housing screening.
A county court database is not automatically a legally compliant consumer background report. Certain employment and tenant screening activities may be subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws.
For federal background-check rules, see the FTC’s official employer background-check guidance.
Denton County Criminal Court Records FAQs
1. How do I search Denton County criminal court records online?
Use the Denton County PublicAccess portal linked from the official Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search page. Choose the appropriate District Court or County Court records option, then search by case number or party name.
2. Where can I find Denton County felony court records?
Felony records filed in Denton County district courts are maintained by the District Clerk. The public portal offers district-court case information, while the clerk handles official documents and record-search requests.
3. How can I check a Denton County criminal court date?
Use the court calendar in the county’s public records inquiry system. Choose the relevant court or case, review the scheduled setting and contact the assigned court if there is any uncertainty.
4. Does Denton County have a free criminal case search?
The county provides public online case inquiry tools. However, obtaining record-search certificates, certified copies or certain documents may require fees. The publicly displayed case information is not a certified court record.
5. Where are Denton County misdemeanor criminal records kept?
The Denton County Clerk maintains misdemeanor court records. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are generally associated with the county criminal courts. Class C cases may be handled by a Justice of the Peace or Municipal Court.
6. How much does a Denton County felony record search cost?
The District Clerk’s published felony case record search form lists $5 per search and certificate. Copy and certification fees may apply separately, and payment processing charges may be additional.
7. How do I request certified criminal court documents in Denton County?
Contact the District Clerk for a district-court felony file or the County Clerk for a misdemeanor case. Complete the appropriate record request form, identify the case and document, and confirm the applicable fee.
8. Can I search Denton County jail and bond records online?
Yes. Denton County’s Judicial and Law Enforcement Records Search links to Sheriff Jail Records and Bond Records. These are different from final court judgments or dispositions.
9. Why is my Denton County criminal case not showing online?
Possible reasons include using the wrong court search category, a different spelling, a municipal or Justice Court case, unfiled charges, older records or a sealed or otherwise restricted proceeding. Contact the correct clerk when the online system does not resolve the question.
10. Is a Denton County criminal case search a complete background check?
No. A local county search only covers the records within the relevant court or clerk’s system. It does not automatically include all Texas, federal, out-of-state or restricted criminal history records.
Official Denton County Criminal Court Records Resources
The following sources provide the case-search services, court contact details, document request forms and fee information used in this guide.
Case Search and Court Calendars
- Denton County Judicial & Law Enforcement Records Search
- Denton County PublicAccess — Case Records and Calendars
- Denton County Criminal and County Courts
- Denton County Search Directory
District Clerk — Felony Records
- Denton County District Clerk
- District Clerk Forms and Record Requests
- Felony Case Record Search Form (PDF)
- District Clerk Search and Copy Fees
County Clerk — Misdemeanor Records
- Denton County Clerk
- County Clerk Courts Division
- Misdemeanor Background Search Request (PDF)
- County Clerk Request for Copy of Record (PDF)
- County Clerk Official Fees