Dallas County Background Check Records

Dallas County background check records are maintained by three key offices: the County Clerk, the District Clerk, and the Sheriff's Office. With over 2.6 million residents, Dallas County is the second most populous county in Texas, and its court system handles a large volume of criminal and civil filings. Several online tools let you search Dallas County background check records without visiting the courthouse.

Dallas County Clerk Background Check Records

The Dallas County Clerk is the main custodian for misdemeanor criminal records, civil court filings, probate records, real property records, marriage licenses, birth and death certificates, and assumed name filings. County Clerk John Warren oversees the office at 509 Main St., 2nd Floor, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone is (214) 653-7099 and fax is (214) 653-7161. Email is county.clerk@dallascounty.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Dallas County website is at dallascounty.org.

Real property records in Dallas County go back to 1846 and are searchable online through the Dallas Public Records Search portal at dallas.tx.publicsearch.us. This free portal allows name-based and document-type searches covering real property, UCC filings, assumed names, plats, and liens. Misdemeanor criminal records for Class A and B cases are also indexed at the County Clerk's office and cover cases going back many years.

Copy fees are $1.00 per page with a $5.00 certification fee for certified copies. Vital record fees are $23.00 for a birth certificate, $21.00 for the first death certificate, and $82.00 for a marriage license. In-person requests require a valid photo ID. Mail requests need a written letter with the subject's name, record type, date range, payment, and a return envelope. The office takes cash, money orders, and credit cards.

The Dallas County website is the main portal for county departments, including the County Clerk and District Clerk, with links to records and online search tools.

From the Dallas County website you can navigate to the County Clerk, District Clerk, and Sheriff's Office to start your background check records search.

Dallas County District Clerk Criminal Records

The Dallas County District Clerk handles felony criminal records, civil district court filings, and family law cases. District Clerk Felicia Pitre leads the office at 600 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202. Phone is (214) 653-7011 and fax is (214) 653-7064. The District Clerk's records are accessible through the county website at dallascounty.org.

Dallas County has multiple district courts that hear felony criminal cases, civil cases over $200, and family law matters. Felony case records use case number formats like F-YY-###### for criminal cases and CV-YY-###### for civil cases. Records can be searched by party name, cause number, date range, and disposition status. The District Clerk office handles in-person and mail requests. Standard business hours apply. For in-person visits, bring a valid photo ID.

Dallas County criminal records from the District Clerk's office cover all degrees of felony, from state jail felonies through first-degree felonies. The District Clerk also maintains civil district court records covering cases over $250,000, family law cases including divorce and child custody, and protective orders. Expunctions and nondisclosure orders are processed through this office when granted by the district courts.

E-filing for civil and family cases in Dallas County is done through eFileTexas.gov, which processes submissions same day when filed before the daily cutoff time.

The Dallas Public Records Search portal provides free online access to real property records, assumed names, UCC filings, liens, and plats going back to 1846.

This free online tool is one of the most comprehensive county-level records portals in Texas and covers a wide range of document types without requiring an account.

Dallas County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Dallas County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail information. Sheriff Marian Brown leads the department at 111 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75207. Phone is (214) 653-3502 and fax is (214) 653-3524. For emergencies, call 911. General county information is at dallascounty.org.

Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office are public records under the Texas Public Information Act. Submit a written request to the Records Division for copies. The office has 10 business days to respond. Fees apply for copying and staff research time. The Sheriff's Office also manages sex offender registration in Dallas County. All registered sex offenders in Texas are searchable through the free Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry.

Dallas County Court System

Dallas County has one of the largest court systems in Texas. It includes multiple district courts, county courts at law, probate courts, and Justice of the Peace courts. District courts handle felony criminal cases, civil cases over $200, and family law matters. County courts at law handle Class A and B misdemeanors, civil cases up to $250,000, probate matters, and JP court appeals.

The Dallas County misdemeanor system processes a high volume of Class A and B cases each year. The District Clerk's felony court system runs multiple specialized criminal courts. Family law courts handle divorce, custody, and support cases. Dallas County probate courts are separate courts handling estates, guardianships, and mental health proceedings.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal provides online access to Dallas County district court dockets. You can search by party name or cause number. For a name-based statewide criminal history search covering Dallas County and all other Texas counties, use the Texas DPS tool at records.txdps.state.tx.us for $3.00.

Online Background Check Tools for Dallas County

Multiple online tools let you search Dallas County background check records. Each covers different record types, so using more than one gives a more complete picture.

The Dallas Public Records Search covers real property, UCC filings, assumed names, and other County Clerk records going back to 1846. The Dallas County website links to District Clerk criminal, civil, and family search tools. The Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search costs $3.00 and covers all Texas counties. The re:SearchTX portal has district court docket access. The free Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry covers Dallas County. State prison inmates appear in the TDCJ Offender Search.

For certified criminal history that can be used for legal purposes, use the Texas DPS FACT Clearinghouse fingerprint system. Name-based searches are a useful starting point but are not definitive for identity purposes. Always cross-check with date of birth and other identifying information.

Note: Name searches in Dallas County can return many results given the county's size. Use full names, date of birth, and other details to narrow results effectively.

The Dallas Police Department handles offense reports, accident reports, and open records requests for incidents occurring within the city of Dallas.

Dallas PD records are separate from Dallas County Sheriff records. City incident and offense reports are requested through the Dallas Police Records Section at 214-671-3345.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dallas County. Each has its own court clerks and records offices for background check searches in the DFW metro area.