Texas has strong public records laws. Here's how to access information that's legally available to everyone.
Court records:
- Dallas County: dallascounty.org/departments/district-clerk — civil, criminal, family cases
- Tarrant County: tarrantcounty.com/en/district-clerk.html — same
- Collin County: collincountytx.gov — district clerk search
- Denton County: dentoncounty.gov — district clerk
- Federal courts: PACER (pacer.gov) — bankruptcy, federal civil/criminal
Property records:
- DCAD (Dallas Central Appraisal District): dallascad.org — property owner name, assessed value, tax history
- TAD (Tarrant Appraisal District): tad.org — same for Tarrant County
- Collin CAD: collincad.org
- Denton CAD: dentoncad.com
Business filings:
- Texas SOS: sos.state.tx.us — search any LLC, corporation, or partnership. See registered agent, officers, formation date, status.
License verification:
- TDLR: tdlr.texas.gov — contractors, HVAC, electricians, etc.
- Texas Medical Board: tmb.state.tx.us — doctors
- State Bar of Texas: texasbar.com — attorneys
Why this matters for accountability:
- Before hiring someone: verify their business is real
- Before renting: check the landlord's lawsuit history
- Before a dispute: know who you're dealing with legally
Legal note: Under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), most government records are public. If an agency refuses access, you can file a complaint with the Texas AG Open Records Division.
RECEIPTS REQUIRED: Public records ARE receipts. Use them. Before posting a callout, search the relevant public databases and include what you find.
Sources:
- Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552)
- Dallas County, Tarrant County, Collin County, Denton County — public record portals
- Texas SOS business search
- DCAD, TAD, CCAD, DCAD — appraisal district searches
Information is power. Texas makes most of it public. Use it.