How to Search Dallas County Public Records
Dallas County is the second most populous county in Texas (2.66M residents), home to Dallas and 29 other cities across 880 sq mi of the DFW Metroplex.
- Court cases: Online Record Search — dallascounty.org/services/record-search — civil, criminal, family, juvenile.
- Jail / inmate: Jail Lookup System — dallascounty.org/jaillookup/search.jsp — current Dallas County Jail.
- Vital records: County Clerk Vital Records — dallascounty.org/government/county-clerk/vital-records — birth, death, marriage.
- Property: Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) — dallascad.org — parcels and values; County Clerk for deeds.
- Statewide courts: Texas e-File search — efile.txcourts.gov — appellate cases.
Population
2.66M
Cities
30
Square Miles
880
Founded
1846
Departments
40+
Searching Dallas County: what to expect
Dallas County runs a real online records operation — 4 of the sources below are the county's own, alongside the statewide systems. Texas courts search county by county, and Dallas County has no public online docket listed — case records mean the clerk's office, or the statewide options on the Texas court records page. The county's own strong points: dallas.tx.publicsearch.us covers general county records, and dallascad.org handles parcel and property-tax data. The county posts nothing for criminal records, so that search runs through the statewide sources on our Texas criminal records page.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Dallas County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Texas state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Dallas County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Dallas County, Texas — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
2,656,028
Population
Census estimate
959,184
Households
Census estimate
$70,732
Median income
Annual household
$252,200
Median home value
Census ACS
Dallas
County seat
In Texas
Criminal records
2 sources
Court records
3 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
6 sources
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
1 source
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Dallas County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Dallas County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Dallas County | Online Record Search TJB | 5th COA |
| Criminal records | Inmates JP Court Fines and Fees |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Dallas Central Appraisal District Juris/JurisdictionIntersect (MapServer) |
| Vital records | County Clerk | Vital Records Division - Public Record Search |
| Voter records | Texas SOS – My Voter Portal |
| Professional licenses | Official Record Search - Quick Search - Dallas County, Texas… |
| Recorded documents | County Clerks Felony Collections County Administration |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Dallas County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Dallas County Records
2026
Dallas County court records portal verified
State court system links for Dallas County verified against the Texas judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Dallas County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Dallas County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Dallas County property records online
Dallas County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Texas, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Dallas County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Dallas County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Dallas County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Texas statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Texas state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Dallas County Records
MYTH"Dallas County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Dallas County are held by the Texas state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Dallas County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Dallas County data."
FACTOnly the official Texas state repository has verified, current Dallas County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Dallas County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Dallas County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.txcourts.gov — Court records — official source
- dallas.tx.publicsearch.us — Licenses — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Dallas County & Texas Records
For records not specific to Dallas County, use Texas's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Texas statewide record systems:
- Texas Court Records →
- Texas Criminal Records →
- Texas Property Records →
- Texas Vital Records →
- Texas Voter Records →
- Texas Wants & Warrants →
- Texas Licenses →
- Texas Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Texas statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Skip the directory — step-by-step Texas guides that use these databases:
About Dallas County, Texas
Dallas County is located in the North Texas Region of Texas. The county seat is Dallas.
- Households: 959,184
- Median household income: $70,732
- Median home value: $252,200
- Below poverty line: 14.0%
- Population density: 3,041.9 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 64
- NCES schools indexed: 694
Official Record Search - Quick Search - Dallas County, Texas County Clerk
Free
Recorded land documents for Dallas County, Texas — deeds, mortgages, and liens. Plats and surveys record here too, which helps when boundaries are in question. Recording dates establish priority between competing claims — the timestamps matter.
Dallas Central Appraisal District
Official Free
Parcel and valuation data for Dallas County — ownership, assessed values, and property characteristics. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official property and tax office.
Dallas County Web Site - Property Tax
Official Free
Dallas County Web Site for all important business in the county.
Tax | Coppell, TX
Official Free
The City of Coppell spans multiple counties including Dallas County and Denton County. Use the buttons located at the top to access your county's appraisal district. The Dallas County Tax Office collects property taxes for all property located within the city limits of Coppell.
Welcome to the City of Garland Tax Office payment website
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Dallas County are published through this system. Confirm details with the official property and tax office before relying on them.
Juris/JurisdictionIntersect (MapServer)
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering Dallas County are published through this system. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official property and tax office.
Tax Office | Property Tax Lookup/Payment Application
Official Free
Parcel and valuation data for Dallas County — ownership, assessed values, and property characteristics. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Dallas County Elections Department – Dallas County Elections – Your trusted source for voting information,…
Official Free
Election administration for Dallas County runs through this office, from voter rolls to results. If a link breaks, start from dallascountyvotes.org directly.
Texas Land Records | Multi-County Deed Search
Official Free
Shared search portal used by dozens of Texas county clerks for recorded land documents — deeds, mortgages, and liens in one interface. Pick the county first; index coverage and image years differ from clerk to clerk.
Dallas County | Online Record Search
Official Free
Dallas County and District Court Case Information and Documents Registration to this site is not required for public access Civil District Courts Family District Courts (Case Information Only) County and Probate Courts Felony and Misdemeanor ** to watch a video on how to use the Dallas County Courts Portal **
TJB | 5th COA
Official Free
The Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas was formally opened on September 4, 1893. There was a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices until 1978 (85 years) when three additional Justices were authorized.
PublicSite Sor Public SORNA
Official Free
Case records from the Texas courts serving Dallas County surface through this system. Searching the official side is free.
Inmates
Official Free
Current inmate roster for Dallas County, Texas, published by the sheriff's office. Families use it to confirm where someone is held before arranging visits or calls. It reflects this facility only — a transfer to another county drops the name from this list.
JP Court Fines and Fees
Official Free
Court case information for Dallas County, Texas. Fee waivers and forms usually live on the same court site. Dockets list every filing and hearing, usually enough to follow a case without ordering documents.
Crime Records Reports and Statistical Information | Department of Public Safety
Official Free
The Crime in Texas - Quarterly Trends reports provide a comprehensive examination of crime data for agencies across all regions of the state, with a primary focus on index crimes, which encompass a range of serious offenses including Murder, Aggravated Assault, Human Trafficking, Rape, Arson, Robbery, Larceny/Theft, Burglary, and Motor Vehicle Theft. These are statistical reports that include annual counts of Arrests and annual counts of Convictions broken down by County and by Offense.
Warrant Resolution - Dallas Municipal Court
Official Free
The department is responsible for overseeing the administrative and clerical functions of the Dallas Municipal Court, the Dallas Marshal’s Office, the City Detention Center, and building security. · SCAM Alert Information (Información de alerta estafa) Click.
County Clerk | Vital Records Division - Public Record Search
Official Free
You’ll notice a few changes to the Dallas County Clerk’s Office as a result of the introduction of a new: Vital and Records Management System. This system is used to record real property records as well as process marriage Licenses, birth and death certificates and other documents recordable, according to state law.
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Official Free
The Texas Department of State Health Services — custodian of birth and death records statewide and the agency behind Texas vital statistics. Certificate orders and eligibility rules start here.
Official Record Search - Quick Search - Dallas County, Texas County Clerk
Official Free
Dallas County Clerk John F. Warren's Assumed Business Name (DBA) registry, required under Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 71 for sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and certain entities operating under a name other than their legal name, indexes every DBA filed in Dallas County. Search by business name, owner name, or filing date through the PublicSearch portal. DBA certificates are valid for 10 years and may be renewed; the filing fee is $24 plus $0.50 per additional owner.
TDLR Active License Search
Official Free
TDLR License Data Search (Active Licenses only) Search Help | Download License files | Download Other | Questions/Comments
Texas SOS – My Voter Portal
Official Free
IV Texas provides convenient Mobile IV hydration across the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex with a new clinic in Bedford. Book at home, at work, at your hotel, or in our clinic and get fast hydration, vitamins, and medications delivered by licensed.
Texas | County Voter Registrar Directory
Official Free
The Secretary of State's directory of county voter registrars — the office to contact about registration records in each of Texas's 254 counties. Addresses and phone numbers are kept current by the state.
Felony Collections
Official Free
Official Dallas County, Texas government source (www.dallascounty.org).
County Administration
Official Free
On behalf of the Dallas County Commissioners Court, I would like to welcome you to the official website of Dallas County, Texas. As the ninth largest county in the country and second most populace in the state, Dallas County is home to over 2.4 million residents.
Chapter86 Dallascountycode 11202023 (PDF)
Official Free
058, adopted Jan. 14, 2003. Said ordinance also amended the Code. Sec. 86-100. Completing the Hiring Process.
Sales Taxpayer Search
Business, Voter & Other
Look up any active Texas sales-tax permit holder by name or taxpayer number. Useful for confirming a business is real and collecting tax legitimately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Dallas County?
Dallas County court cases are searchable through the TJB | 5th COA portal: https://www.txcourts.gov/5thcoa/. Texas also operates a state-level case lookup through the re:SearchTX system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in Texas?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most Texas counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
Does an arrest show up on a background check before conviction in Texas?
Yes — in Texas, an arrest can appear on a name-based background check from the moment of booking, even before any court ruling. Whether it appears on an employment screening depends on the type of check (name-based vs. fingerprint-based) and how recent the arrest is.
Are Texas criminal records public?
Mostly yes. Texas's public-records law makes adult arrests, court filings, and conviction histories accessible to anyone unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Juvenile cases and sealed records are generally excluded by statute.