Denton County covers 953 square miles of the north-central area of Texas State. According to the 2020 United States Census, its population is 906,422, making it the seventh most populated county in Texas. The City of Denton serves as its county seat.

Courts in Denton County

Denton County has 11 District Courts with original jurisdiction over criminal, civil, and family law matters. Cases heard at the District Courts include felony criminal cases, divorce, land disputes, and civil actions in which the monetary relief is $200 or more.

The Courts in Denton County are comprised of five Criminal Courts and two County Court at Law. The Criminal Courts have original jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases that are punishable by up to a year in jail. Juvenile matters are handled by the County Court at Law No. 1, while the County Court at Law No. 2 has jurisdiction over all civil actions and proceedings. In addition, the County Courts hear appeals from lower trial courts.

The Justice of Peace Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving Class C misdemeanors, such as traffic violations and property theft, which are punishable by only fines. The Justice of Peace Courts also hear minor civil matters and small claims cases in Denton County.

Denton County Probate Court hears cases concerning the execution of wills of deceased persons, inheritance for heirs of deceased persons, and guardianships for incapacitated individuals and minors. The court also has the authority to order involuntary mental health commitments and presides over eminent domain cases in the county.

Lastly, there are 30 Municipal Courts located in different cities in Denton County. These courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances. They also share jurisdiction with the Justice of the Peace Courts within their city boundaries.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Denton County

In Denton County, The office of the County Clerk is in charge of record-keeping for the Civil Court, Misdemeanor Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court. The county’s District Courts and Municipal Courts also have designated clerks who are responsible for keeping records generated by the courts. The County Clerk and Court Clerks allow the inspection of public court records they maintain at their office locations and may also provide copies of such records upon request. Likewise, Denton County provides a records inquiry portal for interested persons to access public court records online.

Types of Public Court Records in Denton County

In Denton County, the following types of public court records are available to anyone:

• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Family Court Records
• Juvenile Court Records

Confidential Court Records In Denton County

Confidential court records in Denton County are records that Texas laws exempt from public disclosure. A party to a case can also file a motion in court to seal a record to make it confidential. Unlike open court records, confidential records are inaccessible to the general public. Examples of information and documents that qualify as confidential court records in Denton County include:

• Medical reports
• Juvenile records
• Sealed records
• Financial information - bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and other financial account numbers
• Personal identification numbers - Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, or similar government-issued personal ID numbers
• Mental health reports

Juvenile Delinquency in Denton, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Denton County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 871 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Denton County. Of that total, 94% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 823 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Denton County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Denton County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Denton County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Denton
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1846
Total Square Miles:	953
2019 Population:	836,210
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	110 W Hickory St County Courthouse Denton , TX 76201-4116 https://dentoncounty.com/

Denton County, TX Courts