Dallas-Fort Worth Courthouse Guide for Personal Injury Claims

Texas venue rules (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 15.002) generally require you to file in the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. For Dallas-Fort Worth residents, this means one of two main county courthouses depending on where your crash or injury occurred.

Dallas County — George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. The District Clerk's office is in Suite 103. Phone: (214) 653-7307. The Civil Courts Division (County Clerk) is on the 1st Floor, Suite 101. Phone: (214) 653-7099. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dallas County has 30 district courts that handle civil matters including personal injury cases.

Tarrant County — Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 100 North Calhoun Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Phone: (817) 884-1240. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. County Courts at Law are in the Tarrant County Courthouse at 100 West Weatherford Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196. Phone: (817) 884-1101. Tarrant County has 10 district courts handling civil cases.

If you were injured on a highway that passes through both counties, you can generally file in any county where the accident occurred. If you are unsure which county has jurisdiction, check your police report — it lists the investigating agency and jurisdiction.

Texas requires mandatory electronic filing for attorneys in all civil cases through eFileTexas.gov. Attorneys must use an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP) to submit documents through the Texas e-filing portal. Self-represented litigants are encouraged to e-file but may still file documents in person at the district clerk's office. The eFileTexas system is available 24/7 and there is no additional fee for using the portal itself.

Your petition must state the facts of the accident, identify each defendant, explain the legal basis for liability under Texas law, and specify the relief you seek. Texas is a fact-pleading state — your petition must set out specific facts, not just legal conclusions. Include the date and location of the accident, what the defendant did wrong, how it caused your injuries, and what damages you are claiming. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 47 requires you to state whether you seek monetary relief of $250,000 or less, or more than $250,000.

After filing, the court assigns a cause number. You must serve each defendant with the citation and petition. In Texas, service is made by the county sheriff, constable, or a certified private process server (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99, 103). The defendant has until 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of 20 days after service to file an answer (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99). If the defendant does not answer, you can seek a default judgment.

For technical support with eFileTexas, contact the service provider you selected during the filing process. For questions about court procedures, contact the Dallas County District Clerk at (214) 653-7307 or the Tarrant County District Clerk at (817) 884-1240.

Filing fees in Texas are set by statute and vary by court level and county. For a personal injury lawsuit filed in Dallas County District Court, the total filing fee is approximately $300 to $350, which includes the state consolidated civil fee of $137 (Tex. Local Gov't Code § 133.151) plus additional county and statutory fees. Tarrant County district court filing fees are comparable, typically ranging from $300 to $360 depending on the specific fees assessed.

County court at law filing fees are somewhat lower — approximately $250 to $300 in both Dallas and Tarrant counties. Justice court (small claims) filing fees range from approximately $35 to $100 depending on the claim amount. Each county publishes its specific fee schedule on its website. Contact the clerk's office for the exact current amount: Dallas County District Clerk at (214) 653-7307 or Tarrant County District Clerk at (817) 884-1240.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, Texas provides a fee waiver process. File a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 with your petition. The court will review your financial situation to determine eligibility. Beyond the filing fee, expect additional costs: service of process fees ($75 to $150 for sheriff or constable service), deposition transcript fees, and expert witness fees. Most personal injury attorneys in Dallas-Fort Worth work on contingency — they advance these costs and recover them from your settlement or verdict.

Texas justice courts (the equivalent of small claims courts) handle civil disputes where the amount in controversy is $20,000 or less, exclusive of statutory interest and court costs (Tex. Gov't Code § 27.031). If your personal injury damages — medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering combined — exceed $20,000, you cannot use justice court.

Texas organizes civil cases into three tiers by claim amount. Justice Court handles claims of $20,000 or less. County Courts at Law handle claims from $20,001 to $200,000 (in most counties). District Court handles claims over $200,000 (and has concurrent jurisdiction with county courts at law for claims between $200 and $200,000). The jurisdictional amounts may vary slightly by county depending on local rules.

Justice court is faster and less formal — hearings are typically scheduled within 30 to 60 days, the rules of evidence are relaxed, and many people represent themselves. Cases follow the simplified procedures in Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Part V (Rules 500-507). However, the $20,000 cap is strict and you cannot split a claim to fit under the limit. Most personal injury cases involving even a single ER visit and follow-up care will exceed $20,000 in medical bills alone, making district court or county court at law the appropriate venue.

Dallas County provides online case search through the District Clerk's website at dallascounty.org. You can search by cause number, party name, or attorney name to find filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries. The Dallas County Civil Courts Division (County Clerk) also provides case information online.

Tarrant County offers online case lookup through its District Clerk Self-Service Application (DCSA) at dcsa.tarrantcounty.com. You can search civil, family, and criminal cases by case number or party name. The statewide re:SearchTX system at research.txcourts.gov provides access to court records from participating Texas courts — though not all courts have fully integrated with the system.

These systems show the docket for your case: every filing, hearing date, and court order. For personal injury cases, this is useful for tracking deadlines, monitoring motions, and confirming hearing dates. If you cannot find your case online, contact the district clerk's office in your county for assistance.

Even with e-filing, you may need to appear at the courthouse for hearings, case management conferences, mediations, and trial. When you arrive at any Dallas-Fort Worth courthouse, expect security screening — empty your pockets, remove belts, and send bags through the X-ray machine. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced in courtrooms. No weapons are permitted except by licensed peace officers.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled hearing. Check the docket board in the lobby or ask the clerk's office to confirm your courtroom assignment. Dress professionally — business casual at minimum. Address the judge as 'Your Honor.' If you are self-represented, the judge may explain procedures, but you are expected to follow the same rules as attorneys.

Parking at the George Allen Courts Building in downtown Dallas is available in nearby parking garages and metered street parking. The DART light rail has a Convention Center Station within walking distance. The Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building in Fort Worth has a parking garage on Calhoun Street. Trinity Metro bus routes serve downtown Fort Worth, and the TEXRail commuter line stops at Fort Worth Central Station, a short walk from the courthouse.

If your injury was caused by a government entity — a city, county, school district, or the State of Texas — you face additional requirements under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Chapter 101). You must provide formal notice to the governmental unit within 6 months of the incident (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101). The notice must include the time and place of the incident, a description of the injury, and the amount of damages claimed.

Local government entities may impose shorter notice periods by ordinance or charter provision, but no shorter than 30 days. For example, if the City of Dallas or the City of Fort Worth has adopted a shorter notice period by ordinance, you must comply with that shorter deadline. The Texas Tort Claims Act also caps damages at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death claims against a single governmental unit (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.023).

Government tort claims in Texas are complex because of sovereign immunity, short notice deadlines, and damage caps. If a government entity may be responsible for your accident — a pothole on a city-maintained road, a defective traffic signal, an accident with a government vehicle, or an injury on government property — consult an attorney immediately to preserve your rights. DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) accidents also require notice within 6 months.

If you were injured in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and you are considering filing a lawsuit, take our free 2-minute assessment. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Texas's filing deadline for your specific claim, whether your case would likely land in justice court, county court at law, or district court, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Filing a lawsuit is a big step — but understanding your options should not be. Our assessment is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about what comes next.