In DFW the state process runs through county constables and justice courts. Tarrant County lists a $180 fee for a chapter 24B notice to immediately vacate, Dallas County justice courts list $134 to file an eviction and $405 for a writ of possession, and each county has its own precinct maps and e-filing rules.
The statewide rules on trespass, the 2025 removal complaint and the 2026 eviction steps are laid out in our Texas squatter law guide. This page applies them to Dallas-Fort Worth. It names the offices that take a complaint or a filing in Tarrant, Dallas, Collin and Denton counties, the fees they post, and the local quirks worth knowing before you go.
Start by finding the precinct
Both the eviction suit and much of the officer work are tied to a precinct. State law requires an eviction suit to be filed in the justice precinct where the house is located, and a chapter 24B complaint goes to the sheriff or a constable of the county where the property sits. Many DFW cities spread across more than one county and more than one precinct, so look up the address rather than guessing from the city name.
- Tarrant County has eight justice of the peace precincts and eight constable precincts. The constables' page links a Justice and Constable Precincts Map.
- Dallas County says its justice of the peace districts and constable precincts are the same. Each of the five precincts has two courts, numbered 1-1 through 5-2.
- Collin County has four justice court precincts, with an interactive map and a PDF map on its justice court page.
- Denton County posts a separate page for each justice court. Precinct 3, for example, is at 400 N. Valley Parkway in Lewisville.
Filing a chapter 24B complaint in DFW
The complaint form itself is set by statute and is the same everywhere in Texas. What varies by county is who you hand it to and what they charge. The statute says the officer's fee equals what the officer would receive for executing a writ of possession, and that the officer may charge a reasonable hourly rate to stay and keep the peace afterward.
Tarrant County's 2026 fee schedule spells this out. It lists a line for a "Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24B Notice to Immediately Vacate" at $180, plus $80 per deputy per hour after two hours, flagged as a new fee established by SB 1333. The writ of possession line carries the same $180 and $80 figures.
In Collin County, the constables' FAQ says any constable's office can direct you to the correct precinct, and that constables are peace officers who handle civil and criminal duties. For Dallas and Denton County houses, the constable for the precinct where the house sits can say how that office takes 24B complaints and what it charges. The statutory form calls for a copy of government-issued ID and, for an agent, a document showing authority.
Before you sign: the 24B complaint is made under penalty of perjury, and a person wrongly removed can sue for three times the fair market rent plus damages and fees. If the occupant was ever a tenant, or is family, the complaint is not available. A Texas real estate attorney can tell you whether your facts fit.
Tarrant County eviction costs
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Citation for eviction | $90 |
| Writ of possession | $180, plus $80 per deputy per hour after two hours |
| Chapter 24B notice to immediately vacate | $180, plus $80 per deputy per hour after two hours |
These are officer fees. The justice court's own filing fee is separate, so check it with the precinct where you file. The schedule page was last updated January 5, 2026.
Dallas County justice courts
Dallas County's justice courts post their own fee schedules. Courts 1-2 and 3-1 both list:
- Eviction filing: $134
- Writ of possession: $405, effective January 1, 2026
- Appeal filing fee: $64
- Jury demand: $22
Court 3-1's schedule adds that evictions require an $80 service fee for each additional defendant, and Court 1-2 lists an $80 citation service fee within Dallas County. With more than one occupant named, ask the clerk for the exact total before you pay.
Two practical notes from the court pages. Justice Court 1-1 moved to mandatory e-filing and electronic communications on March 1, 2025, with all proceedings still held in person. Justice Court 1-2 accepts electronic, in-person and mailed filings, but says all appeals must be filed in person. Court 1-1's eviction page also posts forms, including a writ of possession form and self-help packets for filing an eviction case.
Collin and Denton County filings
Collin County's justice court page points filers to Guide and File, a free state program that walks you through questions and fills in the filing forms. You can then e-file them or print them and bring them to the court. Its constables' FAQ, asked about getting a non-paying tenant out, directs landlords to an attorney, the Property Code, the Rules of Civil Procedure or a local justice court.
In Denton County, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 says civil filings have gone through e-File since September 1, 2022. Each precinct posts its own page, so confirm the rules for the court that covers your address. Precinct 3's office lists 972-434-4750.
What owners usually gather
- A copy of the recorded deed from the county clerk, to show record ownership.
- The justice and constable precinct for the address.
- Advice from a Texas real estate attorney about which track fits: a trespass report, a 24B complaint or an eviction suit.
- For a 24B complaint, the intake process and fees of that county's constable or sheriff.
- For an eviction, the court's e-filing rules and fee schedule, and the cost of the citation, the writ and any extra deputy hours.
If the house is empty now and you want to keep it that way, our DFW vacant house checklist covers the local code rules on securing it.
Selling a DFW house after an occupant problem
After a removal or an eviction, some owners would rather sell than repair, re-rent or keep watching the property. You can ask us about your house at any stage.
Cash Home Advisors is based in Fort Worth and buys houses across DFW. We pay all closing costs and can close in 7–14 days, and you see the closing statement before you sign. Request a cash offer, see our service area, or read about selling in Fort Worth or Dallas.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Tarrant County charge for a chapter 24B removal?
The 2026 Sheriff and Constable Fee Schedule lists a Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 24B Notice to Immediately Vacate at $180, plus $80 per deputy per hour after two hours. It is marked as a new fee created by SB 1333.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in a Dallas County justice court?
The fee schedules for Justice Courts 1-2 and 3-1 both list evictions at $134 and a writ of possession at $405 effective January 1, 2026. Court 3-1 adds an $80 service fee for each additional defendant.
How do I find the right constable in Collin County?
Collin County's constable FAQ says you can contact any constable's office and be directed to the correct precinct. The justice court page also has an interactive precinct map.
Can I file a Denton County eviction online?
Denton County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 says it has taken civil filings through e-File since September 1, 2022. Check your own precinct's page, since each justice court posts its own filing rules.
Sources
- Tarrant County, 2026 Sheriff and Constable Fee Schedule
- Tarrant County Constables
- Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Courts
- Dallas County Justice of the Peace Courts
- Dallas County Justice Court 1-2, Filing fees
- Dallas County Justice Court 3-1, Fee schedule
- Dallas County Justice Court 1-1, Evictions
- Collin County Justices of the Peace
- Collin County Constables, FAQ
- Denton County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 24B
General information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a Texas attorney or CPA about your situation.