about_the_office

My office is divided into 3 main departments: Real property records, criminal misdemeanor department and the civil/probate/mental health court.

Real property records includes the recording and filing of all real property transactions within Denton County. Additionally, this department also serves as the local registrar for births and deaths, and where you can obtain those certificates. Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the clerks in this department too. Finally, one of the other main services provided by this department is acceptance of passport applications.

The clerks in the criminal misdemeanor department maintain and store all of the criminal cases filed in our 5 County Criminal Courts and County Court at Law No. 1. The staff of this department also provides valuable staff support to each court. The cases in this department are classifed as Class A, B and/or C misdemeanors. County Court at Law No. 1 has been designated primarly as our 'juveile' court. Whereas the County Criminal Court hear cases pertaining to adults. As with all matters pertaining to juveiles, the records of the court proceedings and actions of juveniles are not open to the public.

Last, but certainly not least, is our civil/probate/mental health court staff, providing the same type of support to the Denton County Probate court Judge and Court Master. Cases heard in this court are civil cases, guardianship matters, trusts, probating wills, condemnation cases and those of eminent domain and cases involving the commitment of people diagnosed with mental illnesses. In May of 2002, County Court at Law No. 2 will be established and the clerks of this department will provide the necessary support to this new court too. In addition to all of the growth this department has seen, the mental health docket will become a four day-a-week demand.

I am proud of the accomplishments that have been made in each department and the receptiveness of each department supervisor of the innovative solutions we have implemented to increase our efficiency!