Find Family Court Records in Garland
Garland family court records are maintained by the Dallas County District Clerk in downtown Dallas. Garland is one of the larger cities in Dallas County, and all family law cases filed by Garland residents go through the Dallas County district court system. This includes divorce cases, child custody disputes, child support orders, adoption proceedings, and protective orders. The District Clerk keeps the complete case files and handles requests for document copies and certified records. You can search Garland family court records online or visit the courthouse at 600 Commerce Street in Dallas.
Garland Overview
Dallas County Courts Serve Garland
Garland lies within Dallas County, so the Dallas County District Clerk processes all family court filings for Garland residents. Dallas County has one of the busiest family court systems in the state. More than a dozen family district courts operate under the Dallas County court system. Cases from Garland get assigned to one of these courts based on filing date and case type. The District Clerk's office at 600 Commerce Street is where you go to file documents, pull records, or get certified copies.
Dallas County's family district courts include the 9th, 18th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 95th, 102nd, 116th, 131st, 192nd, 254th, 255th, 256th, 301st, 302nd, 303rd, 304th, and 305th Judicial Districts. When you file a new case, the clerk assigns it to a court. All subsequent filings in that case go to the same court. The cause number printed on any document from your case will tell you which court is handling it.
| Office | Dallas County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 600 Commerce Street, Suite 120, Dallas, TX 75202 |
| Phone | (214) 653-7425 |
| Case Search | Dallas County case search portal |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Documents available online include case dockets, judgments, orders, and many filed pleadings. For sealed or confidential records, a court order is required. Document copies cost $1 per page, and certified copies add a $5 certification fee on top of per-page costs.
How to Search Garland Family Records
Dallas County offers free online case search at dallascounty.org. The portal lets you search by case number, party name, attorney, or date range. It covers civil, family, criminal, and probate cases and includes historical records back to 1979 for most case types. Many document images are available online for immediate viewing and download, with fees for some document types. Attorneys and frequent users can set up a subscription account for faster access.
The Garland Municipal Court handles citation lookup and payment online through municipalonlinepayments.com/garlandtx and the citation search portal at garlandtx.municipalonlinepayments.com. These portals are for city-level traffic and Class C cases, not family law matters.
The Garland Municipal Court's online system handles citation searches by citation number, driver's license, or name and date of birth. This is separate from the Dallas County family courts that handle divorce and custody cases for Garland residents.
For a broader search that pulls from multiple Texas courts, use re:SearchTX. It covers district court cases statewide and is useful when you need to search across counties or verify case details quickly without calling the courthouse.
Garland Municipal Court Records
The Garland Municipal Court is at 1791 W. Avenue B, Garland, Texas 75042. Phone: 972-205-2330. Mailing address: P.O. Box 469002, Garland, TX 75046-9002. The court handles traffic citations, Class C misdemeanors, and city ordinance violations for the City of Garland.
Court records at the municipal level include traffic citations and their dispositions, criminal misdemeanor case history, code enforcement violations, warrant status, and payment records. Staff can be reached during regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. To request records, contact the court clerk, submit a written request, provide the case details, and pay applicable copying fees. Payment options include online through the city portal, phone automated system, mail, and in-person at the court office.
The city also has a teen court program and deferred disposition option for eligible citations. Defensive driving course completion can dismiss certain citations under state law. The Garland City Secretary manages open records requests for city administrative documents at garlandtx.gov. Police reports from the Garland Police Department are available at garlandtx.gov/police/records with in-person requests and valid ID required.
Filing Family Cases from Garland
Garland residents file family law cases at the Dallas County District Clerk's office. Before filing for divorce, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Dallas County for 90 days, as required by Texas Family Code Section 6.301. Garland is in Dallas County, so if you have lived in Garland for at least 90 days, you meet the county residency requirement.
Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period after the original petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized. Uncontested cases where both spouses agree on all issues can be resolved at that first available date after the waiting period ends. Contested cases go through temporary orders, possible mediation, and sometimes a trial. Child custody cases follow the state's conservatorship statutes under Texas Family Code Chapter 153.
For electronic filing, most attorneys use the state's mandatory eFileTexas.gov portal. Self-represented litigants can also use the system or file paper documents at the clerk's window during business hours. All documents filed in a case become part of the public case record unless the court orders them sealed.
Legal Resources for Garland Residents
Garland is served by legal aid organizations that cover Dallas County. The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program and Lone Star Legal Aid both serve the area. Lone Star Legal Aid handles family law cases for qualifying low-income residents. Call (800) 733-8394 or apply online at lonestarlegal.org. They cover cases including divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders.
The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service can connect you with a private family law attorney in the Garland area. Call (800) 252-9690 or search at texasbar.com. Self-help guides and official court forms are at texaslawhelp.org and txcourts.gov.
The Texas State Law Library provides family law research guides at guides.sll.texas.gov. This resource lists official forms and explains how to use them for common family law matters.
Note: Dallas County has a Self-Help Center at the courthouse that provides assistance to self-represented litigants, including those from Garland filing or responding to family law cases.
Dallas County Family Court Records
Garland is in Dallas County. Family court filings for Garland go through the Dallas County District Court. For full details on the Dallas County court system and how to access records, visit the Dallas County page.
Nearby Cities
Other Dallas-area cities with family court records pages:
- Dallas - Dallas County
- Irving - Dallas County
- Mesquite - Dallas County
- Richardson - Dallas County
- McKinney - Collin County