Run a Free Denton County Warrant Search (See Who Is Wanted)

Conduct a free Denton County warrant search on anyone using the guidance this resource offers.

Because of the rights afforded under the Texas Public Information Act, you can search for various warrant information throughout the county and even the state.

This type of search can inform you of outstanding warrants you didn’t know you had. It could also be used to check on potential warrant information for someone you know. These are some examples, but you can access warrant information for any reason.

While warrant details are publicly available, there are various ways in which government agencies may make this information available. Rest assured that this article shows you how to find warrant information and much more — both efficiently and effectively — in Denton County, Texas.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

Execute a Free Denton County Warrant Search (an Overview)

As you consider conducting a warrant search in Denton County, you should first know some general information. A searcher needs to understand potential exceptions, the types of warrants you can search, and what you need to know to find the information you seek.

The default rule is that warrant information is publicly available for inspection and copying through Texas’ Public Information Act.¹ Many types of warrants are covered under this statute (later, you will find information on the different kinds you may encounter in Denton County); however, some are more likely to be available than others.

For instance, arrest warrants are rarely restricted. However, search warrants, before they are fully executed, may be restricted under the exception of government records, the release of which may harmfully impact an ongoing law enforcement investigation. Unlike those for arrests, potential searches for criminal information need to be restricted to ensure someone does not tamper with potential evidence.

For those warrants that are publicly available, you will have multiple options to access this information. For instance, you can look for this information informally by searching in person or through certain government agency online search tools. You also have the option to request warrant information by email, phone or mail.

When searching, make sure you have the necessary information to find what you are looking for. First, ensure you have the correct spelling of the person’s complete name and the county (complete address is a bonus) where they reside. In addition, you will want to ensure you know the county where the warrant was issued so that you do not waste time searching with the wrong government agency.

This information does not guarantee a successful search, and you may clearly not have one of these elements. If that’s the case, try supplementing your search with additional information about the person, such as distinguishing features, physical characteristics, or other identifying data (e.g., date of birth).

Alternatively, information about the actual warrant, such as when it was issued and its reason, may help a government agency track down this information for you.

The custodian of warrant information may differ from one county to the next, even within the same state. In Denton County, the record custodian for warrant information is the appropriate court that issued the warrant, which is primarily the District Clerk or the County Courts at Law.

Another place you can sometimes look for warrant information is with local government agencies in certain cities and towns. In Denton County, cities like Little Elm operate municipal courts. You may be able to access certain limited types of warrant information with them.

With the information provided above, you are ready to learn how to look for warrant information in Denton County.

Determine Who Has an Active Warrant in Denton County Texas

Now that you have some background information, you are ready to look up warrant information. The quickest way to access warrant information is by conducting an online search through the District Clerk Criminal Case Records or those maintained by the Justice of Peace & County Court.²

The search tools are identical and can be used for a name or case number search. You can also focus your results by including a date of birth, case status and filing date range. The search results page will provide the case number, defendant info, status, charges and filing information.

For warrant information, click on the case number to view the complete online criminal record. Warrant information will be located in the “Events & Orders of the Court” section.

If you are looking for more detailed warrant information, you can go in person to conduct a search or contact the appropriate court that handled the matter. You can contact the Denton County Courts at Law by phone at 940-349-2014 or by going to the address below:³

Denton County Courts at Law
1 Courthouse Dr.
Denton, Texas 76208

For Denton County District Clerk warrant information, you can view their FAQ page or call them at 940-349-2200. You also have the option of conducting an in-person search or submitting a Record Request Form to the address below:⁴

Denton County District Clerk
1450 East McKinney St.
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, Texas 76202

You can also email this record request form via email to [email protected]. A last option with the courts is to inquire with the warrant division at 940-898-5696.⁵

If you still need additional assistance with locating a warrant, you can also consider contacting the Denton County Sheriff’s Office.⁶ Their warrants phone numbers are 940-349-1560 and 972-434-5505. Alternatively, you can talk to someone in person at the address below:

Denton County Sheriff’s Office
127 North Woodrow Ln.
Denton, Texas 76205

One last thing to consider checking out is the Denton County wanted suspects list.⁷

If you want to look for information at the municipal level (city or town), here is an example of how to access warrant records in a Denton County city, Little Elm. Little Elm has its own municipal court. Through the municipal court, you can perform an online search for warrant information.⁸

You can use this tool to conduct an online name search for warrant information. If you have the person’s date of birth or driver’s license number, you can also include that to narrow down your search results.

Once you conduct your search, the results page will contain both citation information (charge, date, person and date of birth) as well as the current status. The current status will indicate if there is a pending warrant.

You can then select to view the complete online criminal record to view additional warrant information. If you need more detailed warrant information on the person, you can contact the Little Elm Municipal Court directly. You can call them at 972-731-1453 or by going to the address below:

Little Elm Municipal Court
88 West Eldorado Pkwy.
Little Elm, Texas 75068

Some states designate government agencies to maintain warrant information throughout every county. There is no specific statewide government agency that maintains warrant information in Texas, so searches will need to be conducted at the county level.

Each Warrant Type & Their Meanings

While it is helpful to know how to search for this type of information, having an understanding of the various warrants you may encounter in Denton County will allow you to perform a more targeted and effective search. Understanding these different warrants, what causes their issuance and their purpose can also help you as you are reviewing the information you found.

Any of the warrants you find may be considered active. When you see information indicating that it is an active warrant, that simply means that it has not been fully resolved or executed. Below is a brief summary of the warrants you may encounter while conducting a search in Denton County:

A search warrant is often the most restricted warrant for public access until fully executed. The search warrant is issued by a judge to allow law enforcement the opportunity to search a particular area (usually private, such as a person’s home or car) for evidence of a crime. To be issued a search warrant, law enforcement must present the judge with enough proof to establish probable cause of criminal evidence at this particular location.

An arrest warrant is typically public information as its availability can help others be aware of dangerous people and assist law enforcement as to their whereabouts. An arrest warrant is issued once law enforcement provides probable cause that a person committed a crime. When issued, law enforcement can take the person into custody.

A blue warrant allows law enforcement to take a person into custody for violating a term of their probation or parole. A bench warrant allows law enforcement to take someone into custody for failing to follow a court order. This type of warrant is issued directly by a judge without law enforcement’s request and usually occurs when someone fails to show up for their court hearing.

If a person has fled the jurisdiction after they committed a crime, then they can be issued a fugitive warrant. Or, if they become delinquent on their payments for their children, they may be issued a child support warrant.

A Capias Pro Fine warrant is a unique type that is issued when a person has a judgment against them (civil or criminal) and fails to make proper restitution as was imposed on them.

How To Resolve a Warrant in Denton County Texas

While you are now well prepared to conduct a search of various warrants in Denton County, you still need to know what to do with this information. If you are just searching for this information out of curiosity, there is typically nothing further you need to do. However, you may find out that you, or someone you know (e.g., family member, friend, colleague, neighbor) has an active warrant for their arrest.

Resolving Your Active Warrant: If you find out that you have an active warrant, you need to resolve it. Warrants are issued for a wide range of reasons, and some may be easier to resolve than others.

For instance, a bench warrant may be able to be resolved by rescheduling a hearing. Or a capias pro fine warrant may be handled by immediately paying any restitution you owe.

However, if you have an arrest warrant, you will likely have to turn yourself in to law enforcement. In this situation, first contact an attorney so you know your rights and what next steps you need to take. In addition, contact a bail bondsman. If you have an opportunity for bail, you will want to have everything set up in advance to make for a smoother process.

Lastly, do not forget to let any family members know who may be concerned about your whereabouts.

Someone Else Has a Warrant: In this situation, you have some discretion. If you know the person well and the warrant does not involve a violent crime, you could extend them the courtesy of this information.

In some situations, a person may not have been aware of the warrant. Passing along the information to a third party is also acceptable if you do not know the person well.

If you are dealing with a warrant for a violent crime or felony, you should not contact the person. Instead, let local law enforcement know as they are best equipped to handle the matter safely. You can contact the Denton County Sheriff’s Office by phone at 940-349-1600 or the Texas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-388-8477.^{9, 10}

It is now time for you to conduct your Denton County warrant search; use the information provided here to assist you in finding the warrant records you seek.