This guide helps you look up Court Records in Denton County, Texas and sort out which official office handles the case you need. It points you to the Denton County Records Inquiry portal and the clerk offices that keep different court files.
This site is independent and does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice or guarantees. Use official Denton County resources to verify case details and obtain records.
Denton County Records Inquiry
The main online starting point is the Denton County Records Inquiry system. It lets you choose from District Court Case Records & Calendar, JP & County Court criminal records, JP & County Court civil, family, and probate records, and court calendar options.
Use the official search portal here: search Denton County court records.
- Open the records inquiry portal and select the case type or court area that matches your search.
- Choose the available location for District Court records, JP and County Court criminal records, or JP and County Court civil, family, and probate records.
- Review the case or calendar information shown in the portal, then confirm important details against the court file if you need verified records.
Important: Denton County states that online entries may be limited by data entry, and judgment details or case information can only be verified by the actual court records on file.
Which clerk handles the records
The District Clerk supports the district courts and serves as the registrar, recorder, and custodian of pleadings, instruments, and papers in civil and criminal district court cases.
The County Clerk is the official record keeper for civil court, misdemeanor court, probate court, and juvenile court records in Denton County. The County Clerk also keeps real property and vital statistic records, but those are separate from court case searches.
For Magistrate Court matters, Denton County states that, effective January 1, 2020, documents on an unfiled charge must be filed with and maintained through the District Clerk. Documents filed before that date remain with the district or county clerk office where they were originally filed.
District court record requests
If you need copies from a district court case file, the District Clerk accepts record requests on a completed Record Request Form. The office says no record request or related research will be handled without that completed form.
You can submit a district court record request in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to the District Clerk's records team. The District Clerk also notes that this office maintains records for Denton County District Courts only, not for other county departments or City of Denton departments.
The District Clerk also supports electronic filing for lawsuits and documents. The office says e-filing is available to self-represented parties, attorneys, mediators, court liaisons, and others.
County court records and notices
The County Clerk’s Courts Division supports nine county courts, including five criminal courts, two probate courts, one civil court, and one juvenile court. That office maintains the individual case files, accepts new filings and later pleadings, processes signed orders, and supports hearings, pleas, and trials.
Denton County also notes that, beginning October 1, 2024, the County Clerk will stop individual electronic delivery of orders, notices, and other documents to parties in civil and family cases. Case parties and attorneys of record are directed to register for a re:SearchTX account and choose notification settings for case updates.
For county-level court functions, the county courts information page can help you identify the right court before you contact an office. You can also start from the county’s judicial records page if you need a broader records hub beyond case lookup alone.
Court records contacts
Use the office that matches the court level or case type you need.
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District Clerk — 1450 E McKinney Street, 1st Floor, Denton, TX 76209
Phone: (940) 349-2200
Additional phone: (972) 434-8822
Hours: Monday though Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202 -
County Clerk Administration — 1450 E McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209
Phone: (940) 349-2012
Fax: (940) 349-2013 -
County Court Administration — 1450 E. McKinney Suite 1333, Denton, TX 76209
Phone: (940) 349-2108
Mailing address: Denton, TX 76201 -
District / Family Courts — 1450 E McKinney Street, 3rd Floor, Denton, TX 76209
Phone: (940) 349-2300
Additional phone: (972) 434-8823)
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm
Common questions
Where should I start if I need Denton County court records online?
Start with the Denton County Records Inquiry portal. It includes District Court case records and calendars, JP and County Court criminal records, and JP and County Court civil, family, and probate records. Use the court type that matches your case, then verify important details against the official file if needed.
Are online case results the official final record?
Not by themselves. Denton County states that records shown online are subject to data-entry limits, and details of judgments and case information can only be verified by the actual court records on file. If the exact wording or status matters, contact the correct clerk office for confirmation or copies.
Which office keeps district court files in Denton County?
The District Clerk keeps records for Denton County District Courts. That office is the custodian of civil and criminal district court pleadings and papers. If you need district court copies, contact the District Clerk rather than the County Clerk.
Which office handles county-level civil, misdemeanor, probate, and juvenile court records?
The County Clerk is the official record keeper for those county-level court records. That includes civil court, misdemeanor court, probate court, and juvenile court records. If your case is not a district court matter, the County Clerk is often the next place to check.
What if I need a copy from a district court case file?
The District Clerk requires a completed Record Request Form before it will perform a record request or research related to one. The office accepts submissions in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to its records team. Call (940) 349-2200 if you need to confirm which district court record you should request.