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District Clerk

Show All Answers

1. How may I obtain a copy of a divorce decree or other documents from a case file?

You may download the Records Request Form (PDF) or the form is available in the District Clerks office. The form must be completed in its entirety. Include the cause number, names of the parties involved, date(s) of the document(s), and name(s) of the document(s). If you do not know this information you can do a public record search at the site of Denton County Records Inquiry. All documents which have been filed are listed on the case and updated as soon as the document is entered on the case management system.

Due to COVID-19 our office has initiated specific COVID-19 protocols in effort to protect our staff and reduce potential exposure. This office will not be fulfilling record/copy requests received at our front-counter immediately or while a requester waits. These measures have been put in place to minimize foot-traffic and prolonged time in our front lobby and as a safeguard for both the health and welfare of our staff and the public we serve.

2. When will the Judge hear my case?

Most of the Judges are available to hear uncontested matters Monday through Friday from 8 am until 9 am. Please keep in mind this is on a first-come, first-served basis. Some judges will hear uncontested matters at other times if they are not in a trial. If a hearing is required, you must contact the court coordinator for the court your case has been assigned and arrange a hearing date. Please make sure you provide the decree or judgment for the Judge to sign and bring at least two additional copies.

3. What are the filing fees?

Filing fees are dependent on what type of case is being filed and whether you are requesting any documents to be issued. View a list of filing fees (PDF).

4. When may I file documents for a case?

The District Clerks office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and Wednesday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Papers may be filed anytime during these hours. 

The District Clerk also accepts e-filed documents and filing may be done through the mail. If you file a document through the mail, make sure you include the correct payment amount. And, keep in mind the District Clerks office does not accept personal checks. Payment on tax cases must be made by credit card, cashier’s check, or money order, only. The mailing address is
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, TX 76202

5. Where is the District Clerks office located?

The District Clerks office is located in the Denton County Courts Building approximately 1 mile east of the downtown square at:
1450 E. McKinney
Suite 1200
Denton, TX 76209

6. I’m not sure if my case was filed in Denton, is there a way for me to check?

For cases from 1990 to present, you may perform a search on the public web access at the website of Denton County Records Inquiry. If you do not have internet access, you may send in a written request including any information which will help us to search for your case. Such as the name of the parties, the year the case was filed, the type of case, etc. Or, you may request a search by completing the request form.

There is a $5 fee for each search requested. Please remember if you are requesting the information through the mail, we do not accept personal checks, and please do not send cash.

7. I was served with a citation and I’m not sure what I am supposed to do?

Please remember the District Clerk does not employ any attorneys in the office, and the clerks are prohibited by law from providing legal advice. You should read the citation and follow the instructions. In most cases, your answer is to be filed in the District Clerk’s Office no later than 10 am on the first Monday, 20 days after you are served. If that Monday is a holiday, your answer would be due on the next business day by 10 am. 

You may contact an attorney or research on how to file an answer in the law library located on the 2nd floor of the Courts Building. Or, research how to file an answer on the internet. District Clerk employees are not allowed to recommend attorneys.

8. How do I update my address and/or phone number with your office?

All changes must be in writing and will only be accepted by the individual whose information is to be changed. When making any changes, please make sure to include your cause number, your current information, the new information, and when the change takes effect. You may hand-deliver your document, or send it through the mail to:
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, TX 76202

9. I need a copy of my child support payments, where may I obtain the copy?

All payments are sent to the Texas State Disbursement Unit (SDU). You should contact the SDU website and request a copy. 

Custodial & Noncustodial Parent Inquiries

Call the TXSDU Call Center at 800-252-8014. The District Clerks office is able to print a copy of the payments for you, but we are not able to certify the document.

10. Where do I find the paperwork to file for divorce / child custody?

The District Clerk’s Office does not provide any paperwork for filing a case. If you are representing yourself, as your own attorney, you are required to know the rules of the court. And, the administrative rules and the rules for filing your documents as an attorney would. You can find most rules on the internet by searching for Texas Statutes. You may also do your research in the law library located in the Courts Building on the 2nd floor. 

Please remember all documents filed within a case are of public record and if you include personal information you should restrict the information to what is required by law.

11. How do I schedule or re-schedule a hearing for my case?

Hearings are scheduled with the court coordinator for the court your case has been assigned. You may locate the information from the drop-down box on the right-hand side to find the department you are searching for. We do not have any information on the hearing and we are not able to reschedule a hearing for you. If you have questions regarding a hearing, whether it is for a civil, family, or criminal case, you must speak to the court coordinator. 

If the hearing involves child support filed with the Attorney General, you will need to contact the Attorney General’s office at 469-241-6500. Or, contact the court coordinator for the Associate Judge at 940-349-2280. The District Clerk’s Office cannot schedule or reschedule a hearing for any courts.

12. What do you do with a document after I hand it to you?

Your document is file-marked with the current date and time and assigned a cause number if a new suit. We will receipt your payment and return any copies to you. If you are requesting issuance, you would need to provide us with enough copies for each party to be served. If you have copies, we will file mark your copies and return them to you. If you provide a proposed order, we will not file mark it until it has been signed by a Judge. 

Payment

If a payment is due, we will then receipt your payment. The document will be entered on the case management system in your case and scanned. Again, please remember that almost all documents filed in the case are of public record, which makes them available to any person. Please read the rules and include only the information required by law.

13. I am the attorney of record on a case. Is there a way to be notified when a document has been filed or a hearing has been set in a case?

Please notify the clerk you would like to be notified when document(s) are filed in your cases. You will need to provide us with a valid email address and the system should notify you any time something occurs within any of your cases. Please make sure you keep the clerk notified in writing of any change in address, phone numbers, or email addresses.

14. Why do you only provide blue ink pens?

Blue ink makes it easier to identify the original document from a copy.

15. Do I need to bring copies of documents?

Yes, if you would like a copy for yourself. Copies must be an exact duplicate of the original. If you do not bring copies, we will make copies for you, but the cost is $1 per page.

16. Should I staple the original documents together?

Since we scanned all documents filed, we would prefer the original document not to be stapled but paper clipped together. We do request you make sure you have signed your documents and have the documents in order before you hand them to the clerk. We are not allowed to change any document after it has been filed stamped. We will staple the original after it has been entered and scanned on the case management system. You may staple your copies.

17. Where do I find the forms?

We have many forms located on our forms page. The available forms are for requesting issuance, providing information, credit card payments, and state-required forms. We do not provide any forms for filing a suit or documents to be filed within a case.

18. May I make a payment without coming in to your office?

Yes, the District Clerk’s office now accepts payments online. All credit card payments are subject to a 2.75% fee (minimum fee of $1) which is collected and retained by the credit card company.

Online Payments

Pay online and follow the instructions.

Payment Drop-Box

There is a payment drop-box located in the front entrance to the parking lot where you can drop off money orders; please do not ever leave cash. Please make sure you include your cause number on any payments.

Fax for Copy Requests

The copy request form includes an option for paying by credit card. The copy request form is located on our District Clerk page. There is a link to the form in the middle of the page. Please print, complete and fax to 940-349-2201. If you do not know the cause number a $5 search fee will also be charged.