Which court is my case in?
In Texas the court depends on how serious the charge is. Felonies, misdemeanors, and tickets each have their own court — run by their own clerk.
The level of the offense decides the courtroom. A felony (the most serious level, punishable by state prison) is heard in a district court. A Class A or B misdemeanor — most DWIs, low-level assaults, and small thefts — goes to a county court at law. A Class C misdemeanor, which covers most traffic tickets, public-intoxication citations, and city-ordinance violations, is handled by a municipal court (or, outside city limits, a justice of the peace court).
You can usually tell which one you're in without guessing. Your bond paperwork or appointment notice names the court and often a court number. A traffic citation tells you which city's municipal court to answer to. A case or cause number can be typed into your county's online case search to reveal the court and setting. If none of that is clear, the district clerk (felonies) or county clerk (misdemeanors) can look it up by name.
| Court type | Charge level it handles | Typical examples | Who keeps the records |
|---|---|---|---|
| District court | Felonies (state-jail through first-degree) | Felony DWI, aggravated assault, burglary, drug possession over threshold, robbery | District clerk |
| County court at law | Class A & B misdemeanors | First/second DWI, simple assault, theft under $2,500, possession of marijuana (small) | County clerk |
| Municipal court | Class C misdemeanors & city ordinances | Speeding and traffic tickets, public intoxication, minor in possession, city code violations | Municipal clerk |
| Justice of the peace (JP) | Class C misdemeanors outside city limits | Traffic and Class C cases in unincorporated areas; small-claims and evictions (civil) | JP / county |
Find your court by county
Pick the county where the charge was filed. Each county hub lists that county's courthouse, district and county courts, clerk phone numbers, and the online portal to find your court date — so the specifics stay accurate and in one place.
Collin County
Dallas County
Denton County
Tarrant County
Rockwall County
Kaufman County
Ellis County
Johnson County
Hunt County
What to bring to a Texas court date
A short, evergreen checklist that applies whether you're answering a ticket in municipal court or appearing in a felony district court.
- Government photo ID — a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You'll need it to get through security and to check in.
- All your paperwork — bond papers, the citation, your appointment or reset notice, and the cause number if you have one.
- Proof of anything the court ordered — completion certificates for classes, proof of insurance, or payment receipts.
- Arrive 30+ minutes early — courthouses screen everyone at the door, and parking at busy ones fills up. Late arrivals can lose their slot.
- Dress business-casual — no hats, tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, or offensive graphics; many courts enforce a dress code.
- Leave weapons and large bags at home — pocketknives, mace, and oversized bags will be turned away at the metal detector or confiscated.
- Silence your phone before you enter the courtroom; some courts prohibit phones or recording entirely.
- Request an interpreter in advance if you need one — courts provide them, but you should notify the coordinator or clerk ahead of the date.
Court-day logistics: parking, security & checking in
What actually happens when you arrive — from the metal detector to finding your courtroom.
Every courthouse runs a security screening at the entrance, much like an airport: you'll empty your pockets, send bags through a scanner, and walk through a metal detector. Build this into your timing — at a busy courthouse the line alone can take 15–20 minutes, which is why arriving 30 minutes or more ahead matters.
Parking differs sharply by location. Suburban county courthouses usually have free or low-cost surface lots nearby. Urban courthouses in downtown Dallas or Fort Worth often rely on paid garages and metered street parking that fills early — plan for a longer walk and bring change or a card. Your county hub notes parking specifics where they're known.
Checking in usually means finding your courtroom on the building's docket or a posted list, then telling the bailiff or court coordinator you're present. If you can't find your room, the clerk's office or an information desk can point you to it by name or cause number. When the judge calls the docket, you want to already be seated in the right courtroom.
If you arrive late, the judge may have already called your case. Depending on the court that can mean a reset, a forfeited bond, or — in the worst case — a bench warrant for failing to appear. If you're delayed by a true emergency, call the court coordinator or clerk immediately rather than simply not showing up. And if a missed setting has already triggered a warrant, see the warrant note above before you head to the courthouse.
District vs county vs municipal court — what each does
Plain-English definitions of the courts and officials you'll run into. These roles are set by Texas law and don't change county to county.
- District court
- A state trial court that hears felony criminal cases (plus larger civil and family matters). In a criminal context, this is where the most serious charges — those punishable by state prison — are tried. Numbered courts (e.g., "416th District Court") sit within each county.
- County court at law
- A county-level trial court that hears Class A and B misdemeanor criminal cases and lower-dollar civil matters. Most first-time DWIs, simple assaults, and minor theft cases are resolved here. It also hears appeals from municipal and JP courts in many counties.
- Municipal court
- A city court that handles Class C misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and violations of city ordinances. Each city runs its own; fines and tickets are answered to the municipal court for the city that issued them. Municipal courts cannot impose jail time for a fine-only Class C offense.
- Justice of the peace (JP) court
- A precinct-level court that handles Class C misdemeanors (often outside city limits), traffic cases, small-claims, and evictions. Functionally similar to a municipal court for criminal Class C matters, but organized by county precinct rather than by city.
- District clerk
- The county official who keeps the records for the district courts — felony case files, filings, and settings. You call the district clerk to confirm a felony court date or pull a felony cause number.
- Magistrate
- A judicial officer who handles early steps after an arrest — reading the charges and statutory rights, and setting bond at the first appearance (often called magistration). For the bond side of this, see our guide to how bail and magistration work; for booking and where someone is held, see DFW jails and inmate search.
Court directory FAQ
How do I find which court my case is in?
Check your bond paperwork, citation, or appointment notice — the court name or number is usually printed on it. As a rule, felonies go to a district court, Class A and B misdemeanors to a county court at law, and Class C tickets and city-ordinance cases to the municipal court that issued them. If you only have a cause number, look it up in your county's online case search or call the district or county clerk. The county list above links to each county hub for the specific clerk numbers and portals.
Can someone go to court for me?
For most misdemeanor and felony settings you must appear in person unless the judge excuses you, though an attorney can sometimes appear for certain pretrial settings. A friend or family member cannot stand in for you. Class C municipal matters can often be handled by mail, online, or through a lawyer without appearing. When unsure, ask the court coordinator or clerk what your setting requires.
What should I wear to court?
Dress business-casual and conservative — a collared shirt or blouse, slacks or a knee-length skirt, and closed-toe shoes. Avoid hats, tank tops, shorts, ripped clothing, flip-flops, and offensive graphics. Many courthouses enforce a dress code and may turn you away, so err on the formal side. Silence your phone and expect a security screening at the door.
What if I can't make my court date?
Don't just skip it. Contact the court coordinator or clerk as early as possible about rescheduling, and tell your lawyer right away if you have one — they may be able to request a continuance or reset. An unexcused absence can lead the judge to issue a bench warrant and, in some cases, forfeit your bond. If a warrant has already issued, see the warrant note in the "What to bring" section above before going near a courthouse.
Are municipal court and county court the same?
No. A municipal court is a city court that handles Class C misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and city-ordinance cases, run by a municipal clerk. A county court at law handles Class A and B misdemeanors (and some appeals from municipal court), with records kept by the county clerk. They are different courts, in different buildings, run by different clerks, handling different charge levels.
What is the difference between a district court and a county court at law?
A district court is a state trial court that hears felony criminal cases, with records kept by the district clerk. A county court at law hears Class A and B misdemeanor cases, with records kept by the county clerk. In short: felony equals district court; lower misdemeanor equals county court at law.
Where do I pay a fine?
You pay where the case is filed. Class C traffic and city-ordinance fines go to the municipal court that issued the ticket — usually online, by phone, in person, or by mail. Misdemeanor and felony court costs and fines go to the county or district clerk for the court handling the case, often through that county's online payment portal. Confirm the method on your county hub or the court's website, and keep your receipt.
What happens if I show up late to court?
Arriving late risks having your case passed, your bond forfeited, or a bench warrant issued if the judge already called the docket without you present. Security screening and parking at busy courthouses take time, so plan to arrive 30 minutes or more early. If an emergency is delaying you, call the court coordinator or clerk right away instead of not appearing.
Facing charges in one of these courts?
L and L Law Group, PLLC can help. Whether your case is in a Dallas, Fort Worth, McKinney, or Denton courtroom, we'll review it free and confidential — call or request a consultation.