The primary purpose of Worthless (Hot) Checks in the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office is to receive complaints of theft arising from the passing of worthless checks and to develop those complaints into prosecutable cases. The staff conducts investigations that ordinarily involve obtaining and analyzing documentation, and as necessary, interviewing witnesses.
In 2014, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office collected over $440,000 in worthless check restitution. In addition, court-ordered probation or jail time resulted in an additional $60,000. The Criminal District Attorney’s Office returned $800,000 to victims, through its restitution account, for criminal offenses not related to worthless check complaints
The Worthless Check Department hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Worthless (Hot) Checks
Criminal Justice Center (basement)
401 W. Belknap Street
Fort Worth, TX 76196
817-884-1603
Generally speaking, a potentially prosecutable worthless check is one that is given in the immediate exchange for property or money, or is one given to induce the performance of service or, in special circumstances, at the immediate conclusion of a service.
Eligible bad checks include:
Ineligible bad checks include:
Filing a Hot Check Complaint
There are certain procedures which must be complied with before this office can accept a “hot check” for prosecution. These procedures are required by law and are as follows:
After expiration of the notice period, you may mail or bring the following to our office to file a complaint:
Downloadable Forms:
The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office utilizes special forms that must be completed by the hot check victim when filing checks with the office. By clicking on the links below, you may open and save a copy of these forms. The forms must be fully read, sworn to and signed before a Notary Public. If filing your complaint in person, our office can provide a notary. If filing your complaint in the mail, we prefer you send your complaint form and all evidence via certified mail.
TIPS FOR SPOTTING BAD CHECKS
County Telephone Operator 817-884-1111
Tarrant County provides the information contained in this web site as a public service. Every effort is made to ensure that information provided is correct. However, in any case where legal reliance on information contained in these pages is required, the official records of Tarrant County should be consulted. Tarrant County is not responsible for the content of, nor endorses any site which has a link from the Tarrant County web site.
100 E. Weatherford, Fort Worth, Texas 76196
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