Search Kaufman County Criminal Court Records

Kaufman County criminal court records are maintained at the courthouse in Kaufman, a fast-growing county seat east of Dallas in the DFW exurbs. The District Clerk holds felony case files for the 86th and 422nd Judicial District Courts, while the County Clerk stores Class A and B misdemeanor records. Kaufman County's rapid population growth has increased court activity significantly in recent years. You can search criminal cases free online through the state portal, visit the Kaufman courthouse in person, or submit a mail request. This page explains all three options and the offices involved.

Kaufman County District Clerk

The Kaufman County District Clerk is the official custodian of felony criminal records for the county. Kaufman County has two district courts, the 86th and 422nd Judicial District Courts, both of which hear felony criminal cases. The clerk manages dockets for both courts, processes grand jury indictments, stores all filings and orders, and keeps the final judgment and sentence for each case. Every felony charged in Kaufman County has its case file here.

As Kaufman County has grown, the volume of district court cases has increased substantially. Staff can search records by defendant name or cause number. In-person visits and mail requests are both accepted. Expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are filed with this office. When the court grants an expunction, the record is removed from public access and all agencies with copies are ordered to destroy them. Non-disclosure orders for deferred adjudication outcomes are also handled here and limit public access without erasing the underlying record.

How to Search Kaufman County Criminal Records

The re:SearchTX portal from the Texas Office of Court Administration is the primary free online tool for Kaufman County district court criminal records. It covers both district courts serving the county. Search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney. Results include charges, case status, filing dates, and upcoming hearings. No login is required.

For a broader search covering neighboring Dallas, Hunt, Van Zandt, or other counties at the same time, the DPS Criminal History Search is $3 per name and runs across all Texas courts. Given how many people in Kaufman County have ties to Dallas and surrounding areas, this statewide option is often worth the $3 cost. The FAST fingerprint service is the most reliable choice when precise identity confirmation is needed.

The Texas Office of Court Administration's re:SearchTX system is shown below. It includes Kaufman County district court criminal filings for both the 86th and 422nd Judicial District Courts.

In-person visits to the Mulberry Street courthouse in Kaufman give direct access to physical case files. Bring the cause number or defendant name. For mail requests, include a check or money order and clearly describe the records needed.

Kaufman County Misdemeanor Records

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Kaufman County are heard in county courts and stored by the County Clerk in Kaufman. Common charges at this level include first-offense DWI, assault causing bodily injury, and theft below the felony threshold. Kaufman County has County Courts at Law to handle the increased caseload that comes with a growing population. Both the District Clerk and the County Clerk are at the Mulberry Street courthouse.

To get a misdemeanor record, contact the County Clerk with the defendant's name or cause number. Staff can search and locate the file. Class C misdemeanors go through the justice of the peace courts or municipal courts in cities like Terrell, Forney, and Kaufman itself. Those records are not held by the County Clerk and must be requested from the court that heard the specific case.

Note: Class C misdemeanor records are at JP and municipal courts, not the County Clerk's office.

Kaufman County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Kaufman County are created by the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office when someone is booked into the county jail in Kaufman. The booking record shows the person's name, charges at the time of arrest, and the booking date. This is not a court record. It does not show whether someone was charged, convicted, or how a case ended. Many arrests do not result in a conviction.

For current Kaufman County Jail information, contact the Sheriff's Office. State prison inmates are searchable through the free Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search. The DPS sex offender registry is publicly available and searchable by county, city, and zip code at no cost.

What Kaufman County Criminal Records Contain

Kaufman County criminal case files contain documents from the start of charges through the final resolution of the case. Felony files begin with a grand jury indictment. Misdemeanor files begin with an information. As Kaufman County handles more cases due to population growth, the volume and variety of filings has increased over time.

Common items found in a Kaufman County criminal case file:

• Indictment or information with the specific charge
• Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
• Bond documents and conditions of release
• Pre-trial motions filed by both sides
• Hearing records and court orders
• Plea agreement or jury trial documentation
• Final judgment and sentence
• Probation or community supervision terms
• Any appeal filings and orders

Criminal records in Kaufman County are generally public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Expunged records, juvenile cases, and records under non-disclosure orders are not available through standard public requests. If a Kaufman County agency improperly denies access to records, the Texas Attorney General's Office handles open records complaints.

Fees and Record Access in Kaufman County

Copies of criminal case records from the Kaufman County District Clerk or County Clerk cost $1 per page. Certified copies add $5. You can pick up copies in person at the Kaufman courthouse or mail a written request to the appropriate clerk's office with payment. Include the defendant's full name, cause number if you have it, and whether you need plain or certified copies.

The re:SearchTX portal is free for case information already digitized in the system. The DPS statewide name-based search costs $3 per name. To confirm the current fee schedule before mailing payment, call the Kaufman County District Clerk at (972) 932-0272.

Legal Resources in Kaufman County

Lone Star Legal Aid serves the Kaufman County area and may assist qualifying residents with expunction petitions and civil legal matters. Use the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool to search for a private attorney by county and practice area. Given Kaufman County's proximity to Dallas, there are many criminal law attorneys in the area. Free self-help guides on expunction and Texas court records are at TexasLawHelp.org. Official court forms are available at the Texas Courts rules and forms page.

Cities in Kaufman County

Kaufman is the county seat and where all district and county courts are located. All criminal cases from anywhere in Kaufman County are filed and heard at the Kaufman courthouse on Mulberry Street.

Other communities in Kaufman County include Terrell, Forney, Seagoville, Mesquite (a small part), Crandall, and Combine. Terrell has a population around 20,000 and Forney has grown significantly, but both fall below the threshold for dedicated records pages on this site. All criminal matters for residents throughout the county go through the courts in Kaufman.

Nearby Counties

Kaufman County is east of Dallas in the DFW metro region. Each bordering county maintains its own courts and criminal records. Surrounding counties include Dallas County, Rockwall County, Hunt County, Van Zandt County, Henderson County, Navarro County, and Ellis County.