Tarrant County Court Records
Tarrant County court records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Fort Worth, the county seat of the second most populous county in North Texas. With about 2.1 million residents, Tarrant County handles an enormous volume of civil, criminal, family, and probate cases across multiple district courts and county courts at law. The county court system here covers felony cases, civil lawsuits above the county threshold, family law, misdemeanors, and probate. Online search is available at tarrant.tx.publicsearch.us and through the statewide re:SearchTX portal. In-person requests can be made at the courthouse in Fort Worth during regular business hours.
Tarrant County Overview
Tarrant County District Clerk
The Tarrant County District Clerk is Thomas Wilder. His office handles all district court records in the county including felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits over $200,000, and all family law matters. That covers divorce, child custody, child support, conservatorship, and termination of parental rights cases. The District Clerk maintains files for more than a dozen district courts operating out of the Tim Curry Justice Center in Fort Worth. The main District Clerk office is at 100 N. Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Phone: (817) 884-1574. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Tim Curry Justice Center at 401 W. Belknap Street handles criminal matters. The Family Law Center at 200 E. Weatherford Street handles divorce, custody, and related family cases. Online access to district court records is available through the Tarrant County District Clerk's court document lookup portal at tarrantcountytx.gov. That tool lets you search civil, criminal, and family court cases by party name or cause number. The screenshot below shows the TexasFile portal at texasfile.com, which indexes county clerk records including deeds and liens. TexasFile provides free basic searches of Tarrant County county clerk records including property filings and other official documents.
| District Clerk | Thomas Wilder |
|---|---|
| Main Office | 100 N. Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Phone | (817) 884-1574 |
| Criminal Courts | Tim Curry Justice Center, 401 W. Belknap St |
| Family Courts | Family Law Center, 200 E. Weatherford St |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Online Search | Court Document Lookup |
Tarrant County Clerk
The Tarrant County Clerk is Mary Louise Nicholson. Her office manages misdemeanor criminal cases, probate filings, and all official public records. That includes deeds, liens, marriage licenses, assumed business names, and Commissioner Court minutes. The County Clerk also maintains records from the Justice of the Peace courts and County Courts at Law. The County Clerk's office is at 100 W. Weatherford Street, Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Phone: (817) 884-1195. For county clerk records online, use TexasFile at texasfile.com for free basic searches of deeds and property filings. The County Clerk also has a web-based access portal at tarrantcountytx.gov for subscribing users who need deeper access to court records.
Types of Tarrant County Court Records
Tarrant County court records span a wide range of case types. District court records include felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits above $200,000, and all family law matters. County court records cover Class A and B misdemeanors, civil suits up to $200,000, and probate cases. Justice of the Peace courts handle small claims, Class C misdemeanors, and eviction proceedings. Criminal case files contain charge documents, grand jury indictments, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation terms. Civil case files include petitions, answers, motions, discovery, and final judgments. Family law records cover divorce petitions, property settlements, custody orders, support calculations, and modification requests. Probate records include wills filed with the court, estate inventories, and guardian appointments. Most records are public under Texas Supreme Court Rule 12. Sealed cases, juvenile records, expunged matters, and certain protective order filings are not available through standard searches. If you are not sure whether a record is accessible, call the clerk's office before visiting. Staff can usually tell you over the phone what is available in a given case.
How to Search Tarrant County Court Records
The first stop for online searches is the District Clerk's court document lookup at tarrantcountytx.gov. This free tool lets you search by party name or cause number for civil, criminal, and family cases. Results show case type, filing date, assigned judge, and a list of docket entries. Many cases also have viewable document images. Re:SearchTX at research.txcourts.gov is the Texas Judicial Branch statewide system. It covers e-filed documents from courts across the state including Tarrant County. Search by party name, case number, or attorney bar number at no charge. For county clerk records including deeds and property filings, use TexasFile at texasfile.com.
For in-person access, visit the main District Clerk office at 100 N. Calhoun Street in Fort Worth. Family law cases are at the Family Law Center at 200 E. Weatherford Street. Criminal cases are at the Tim Curry Justice Center at 401 W. Belknap. Bring a cause number or party names. Staff can locate files and make copies for $1 per page. Mail requests go to the District Clerk at 100 N. Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Include the case number, party names, documents needed, and a check for the estimated copy cost. Call (817) 884-1574 to confirm fees before sending. The Web-Based Access system at tarrantcountytx.gov also provides deeper search access for those who register.
Tarrant County Court Record Fees
Tarrant County charges $1 per page for plain copies of court records. Certified copies carry an extra fee on top of the per-page rate. Call the District Clerk at (817) 884-1574 or the County Clerk at (817) 884-1195 to confirm current rates. Fees can change and it is best to check before your visit. Online searches through the District Clerk lookup portal are free. Viewing case summaries and docket entries costs nothing. Downloading or printing document images may carry a per-page fee depending on the system. Re:SearchTX and basic TexasFile searches are also free. If you cannot afford court costs, you can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Forms are available at the courthouse or through txcourts.gov. The court reviews the request and may waive fees.
Tarrant County Court Records Online Portal
The Tarrant County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at tarrant.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Tarrant County without making a trip to the courthouse in 17+. You can search by party name or cause number and get back case type, filing date, party names, and docket history at no cost. The system covers all records maintained by the District Clerk, including felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law filings. For records that predate the online system or that require actual document images, you will need to contact the clerk's office in 17+ directly.
Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 17+. If the case you need does not appear in the local portal, try the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers all 254 Texas counties and is maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch. For certified copies, plain copies, or documents not available online, contact the Tarrant County District Clerk's office in 17+. Bring a photo ID and the cause number if you have it. Mail requests are also accepted if you include a check or money order for the estimated copy fee along with the case details.
Legal Help in Tarrant County
Tarrant County Legal Aid serves the Fort Worth area and provides civil legal help for people with low incomes. Their services include family law, housing, and consumer matters. Call or visit their website to check eligibility. The Tarrant County Bar Association also has a lawyer referral service for residents who need help finding an attorney. The State Bar of Texas referral line at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a local attorney. Visit texasbar.com to search by practice area and county. TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides and court forms for common legal tasks. The Texas State Law Library provides public legal research tools online.
Cities in Tarrant County
Tarrant County includes Fort Worth and several major cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. All district court cases in the county go through the Fort Worth courthouse system.
Other communities in Tarrant County include Euless, Bedford, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, North Richland Hills, and Grand Prairie. All district court cases are filed at the Tarrant County courthouse in Fort Worth.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Tarrant County. Each has its own clerk and courthouse for court records.