Tarrant County Background Check Records
Tarrant County background check records are maintained by three main offices in Fort Worth: the County Clerk, the District Clerk, and the Sheriff's Office. Tarrant is the third most populous county in Texas, covering Fort Worth, Arlington, and dozens of other cities. Its court system is one of the largest in the state, with multiple criminal district courts, county criminal courts, and dedicated family courts. You can search background check records through the county website at tarrantcountytx.gov and through several online portals.
Tarrant County Overview
Tarrant County Clerk Background Check Records
The Tarrant County Clerk is the custodian of misdemeanor criminal records, civil court filings, probate records, real property documents, vital records, and assumed name filings. County Clerk Mary Louise Nicholson oversees the office. The main office is at 200 Taylor St., Suite 301, in downtown Fort Worth. Phone is (817) 884-1195. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The mailing address is PO Box 961011, Fort Worth, TX 76161.
The County Clerk's criminal records cover Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases from the county criminal courts at law. Tarrant County has ten county criminal courts, which handle a high volume of misdemeanor filings each year. For felony records, you need the District Clerk's office. The County Clerk also maintains real property records, which can reveal liens and judgments tied to an individual. Probate records cover estates, guardianships, and mental health cases handled by the probate courts.
You can search many Tarrant County records online through the county website at tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-clerk. Online access covers property records, criminal records, civil filings, and probate matters. The portal is free for basic public searches. Copy fees are $1.00 per page and certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee. Email is countyclerk@tarrantcounty.com for questions.
| Office | Tarrant County Clerk |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | Mary Louise Nicholson |
| Address | 200 Taylor St., Suite 301, Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 961011, Fort Worth, TX 76161 |
| Phone | (817) 884-1195 |
| Fax | (817) 212-7900 |
| countyclerk@tarrantcounty.com | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-clerk |
| Copy Fees | $1.00 per page; $5.00 certified |
| Recording Fee | $26 first page, $4 each additional |
The Tarrant County Clerk website provides direct access to criminal, civil, probate, and property records through its online search portal.
From this portal you can search misdemeanor criminal cases, real property filings, and vital records without visiting the Fort Worth courthouse.
Tarrant County District Clerk Criminal Records
The Tarrant County District Clerk manages felony criminal records, civil district court filings, and family law cases. District Clerk Tom Wilder leads the office. The main address is 401 W. Belknap St., Fort Worth, TX 76196. Phone is (817) 884-1574. The mailing address is PO Box 2906, Fort Worth, TX 76113. The District Clerk's website at tarrantcountytx.gov/en/district-clerk has online search tools for criminal, civil, and family cases.
Tarrant County has twelve criminal district courts, making it one of the busiest criminal court systems in Texas. Courts like the 43rd, 96th, 153rd, 213th, 297th, 323rd, 324th, 371st, 372nd, 396th, 432nd, and 485th District Courts all handle felony criminal cases. If you want to search felony history tied to Tarrant County, the District Clerk is where those records live. You can search online or request in person.
Family law is handled by dedicated courts including the 231st, 233rd, 322nd, 324th, 325th, 360th, and 415th District Courts. These courts handle divorce, custody, child support, and related matters. Family court records are generally public unless sealed by court order. Background searches that touch on family law can be run through the District Clerk's system or through the statewide re:SearchTX portal.
Copy fees at the District Clerk's office are $1.00 per page, and certified copies require a $5.00 fee on top of that. In-person requests need a valid photo ID. Mail requests must include a written request letter, payment, and a return envelope. E-filing for all civil and family cases is done through eFileTexas.gov.
| Office | Tarrant County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| District Clerk | Tom Wilder |
| Address | 401 W. Belknap St., Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 2906, Fort Worth, TX 76113 |
| Phone | (817) 884-1574 |
| Fax | (817) 884-1466 |
| Website | tarrantcountytx.gov/en/district-clerk |
| Records | Felony criminal, civil district, family law |
The Tarrant County District Clerk website provides online access to felony criminal case records, civil filings, and family law cases across multiple district courts.
This portal covers felony criminal records from all twelve criminal district courts in Tarrant County and is a primary resource for background check searches.
Tarrant County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and the county jail. Sheriff Bill Waybourn leads the department. The main office is at 200 Taylor St., 6th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Phone is (817) 884-3000. For non-emergency calls, use the same number. Emergency is 911.
The Sheriff's website at tarrantcountytx.gov/en/sheriff has information on inmate searches and jail services. Arrest records are public in Texas and can be requested through the Sheriff under the Texas Public Information Act. Submit a written request, and the office has 10 business days to respond. Fees apply for copies and staff time.
Sex offender registration in Tarrant County is managed by the Sheriff's Office. All registered sex offenders in Texas appear in the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry. You can search that database by name or by location to find offenders registered in the Fort Worth area or elsewhere in Tarrant County.
| Sheriff | Bill Waybourn |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 Taylor St., 6th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Phone | (817) 884-3000 |
| Fax | (817) 212-7619 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Website | tarrantcountytx.gov/en/sheriff |
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office website provides arrest information, jail details, and resources for submitting public information requests.
The Sheriff's site is the best starting point for Tarrant County arrest records, warrant inquiries, and jail booking information.
Tarrant County Court System
Tarrant County has one of the largest court systems in Texas. It includes twelve criminal district courts, multiple civil district courts, dedicated family courts, ten county criminal courts at law, probate courts, and Justice of the Peace courts spread across four precincts. District court records go to the District Clerk. County court records go to the County Clerk.
The criminal district courts handle felony cases. They range from the 43rd District Court through the 485th District Court. County Criminal Courts 1 through 10 handle Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases. If you are searching Tarrant County criminal history, you need to check both systems to get the full picture. Misdemeanors are in the County Clerk's system; felonies are in the District Clerk's system.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal gives online access to Tarrant County district court dockets. You can search by party name or cause number. It is free to use and covers both criminal and civil case information. For property records and older documents, the county clerk's portal at tarrantcountytx.gov/en/county-clerk is the main resource.
Note: E-filing is required for all civil, family, and probate cases in Tarrant County. Electronic submissions go through eFileTexas.gov.
Online Background Check Tools for Tarrant County
Several online tools let you search Tarrant County background check records without going to the courthouse. The Tarrant County website at tarrantcountytx.gov covers both the County Clerk and District Clerk records through a single portal. You can search criminal, civil, family, and probate records from there. The search is free for basic access.
For a statewide criminal history search, the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search costs $3.00 per search. This covers conviction data and deferred adjudications from all Texas counties, not just Tarrant. For a certified fingerprint-based check, use the FACT Clearinghouse. The re:SearchTX portal provides free access to Tarrant County court dockets and is updated regularly.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains an offender search for anyone incarcerated in a Texas state prison. If a Tarrant County felony case resulted in a TDCJ sentence, that record appears in the TDCJ database online. For sex offender searches, use the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry.
Note: Name-based searches are not a definitive identification tool. For certified criminal history that can be used for legal or licensing purposes, use the Texas DPS fingerprint-based FACT system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Tarrant County and are part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Each has its own court system and clerk offices.