Texas - Disputing Public Records

Criminal Records

Obtaining an Official Record

You can obtain an official record of your criminal history in Texas by using the Texas Department of Public Safety website and paying a fee:

• Department of Public Safety
• Form for Requesting Personal Review (this form must accompany your fingerprint scan - read instructions in this document for more information)

Sealing/Expunging Records

The Texas Department of Public Safety manages the criminal records for the state of Texas. Use the information below to determine if you qualify for expunction of your criminal record, and if you do, use the form to file.

• Detailed information about the DCS criminal records services
• Petition for Expunction of Criminal Records

Fixing Errors

If you are a victim of identity theft, you can expunge your identifying information, including name, address, date of birth, driver's license number and social security number, falsely presented by an arrested person as the arrested person's identifying information. The person seeking the expunction should contact the district attorney in the county in which the person lives and file an application for expunction.

You are allowed to file a declaration with the sheriff of the county in which you reside stating your identity was used by another to frustrate proper law enforcement without your consent. Upon receipt of a declaration from the sheriff, the Department of Public Safety will create a record of the misused identity along with a unique password to be used by you to verify their identity to law enforcement. For more information concerning this procedure, contact the sheriff in your county of residence.

Civil Records

Civil records generally include judgments, liens and evictions, as well as other family and small claims cases.

Fixing Errors

The most efficient way to dispute a civil record in Texas is to contact the court in which the record was filed.

• Justice of the Peace courts and their contact information
• District and county court clerks

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies can stay on your credit record for as long as 10 years. The most important place these records can affect you is on your credit report. To dispute a bankruptcy record that is inaccurate, contact each of the three major U.S. credit bureaus. Each has a process online for disputing records that appear on your file.

• TransUnion
• Experian
• Equifax

Disputing the actual public record can be much more challenging since the consumer is the one who files for the bankruptcy in the first place. More information can be found on the United States Courts website.

General Contact Information

Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Records Service
CJIS Field Representatives
P.O. Box 4143
Austin, Texas 78765
Phone: (512) 424-2478
Email: [email protected]

U.S. Court Locator

Locate any court in the United States:

• Court Locator Search