Ellis County Court Records Search

Ellis County court records are held at the District Clerk's and County Clerk's offices in Waxahachie. The county sits south of Dallas and has grown significantly in recent years as the DFW metroplex has expanded. Both clerk offices maintain public records covering criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. You can search records online or visit the courthouse at the Ellis County seat of Waxahachie to get copies or review files in person. The county court system here covers felony cases, civil lawsuits above the county threshold, family law, misdemeanors, and probate. Online search is available at ellis.tx.publicsearch.us and through the statewide re:SearchTX portal. In-person requests can be made at the courthouse in Waxahachie during regular business hours.

Ellis County District Clerk

The Ellis County District Clerk maintains all district court records for the county. The office is accessible through the county website at co.ellis.tx.us/79/District-Clerk. District court jurisdiction in Ellis County covers felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, and all family law matters. Family cases include divorce, property division, custody, child support, conservatorship modifications, and adoptions. Every document filed in a district court case becomes a public record maintained by the District Clerk. The screenshot below shows the Ellis County District Clerk's official page at co.ellis.tx.us, which provides contact information and services available for court records. The District Clerk's page on the county website includes office details, services, and links for searching Ellis County court records.

To search district court records online, use re:SearchTX, the Texas Judicial Branch statewide portal. Cases e-filed through eFileTexas appear in this system and can be searched by party name, cause number, or attorney. Ellis County courts are participating courts in the e-filing system, so most recent civil and family cases show up there. For older cases or those that were not filed electronically, contact the District Clerk directly at the Waxahachie courthouse. In-person visits to the District Clerk's office let you review the physical case file and request copies. Bring the cause number if you have it, or the full names of the parties. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. The clerk can tell you the exact fees before making copies. The courthouse in Waxahachie is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Ellis County Clerk and Public Records

The Ellis County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal cases, probate filings, and the official public record. The clerk's page at co.ellis.tx.us/74/County-Clerk lists services and contact information. Property records including deeds, liens, releases, assumed names, and Commissioner Court minutes are all on file with the County Clerk. Marriage licenses are issued and kept by this office as well.

The screenshot below shows the Ellis County Clerk's official page at co.ellis.tx.us.

The County Clerk page covers property records, marriage licenses, probate filings, and misdemeanor court cases for Ellis County. Ellis County also maintains official public records through a dedicated portal. The public records search at elliscountytx.gov/818/Official-Public-Records covers county clerk records and allows online searches of official documents. The screenshot below shows that portal. The Ellis County official public records portal provides online access to deeds, liens, and other county clerk records. For additional online access to Ellis County Clerk records, TexasFile at texasfile.com provides free searches of official public records. The site indexes deeds and other property documents from county clerks across Texas. For records not available online, visit or call the County Clerk's office at the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie.

How to Search Ellis County Court Records

For district court cases, start with re:SearchTX. Enter a party name or cause number. The system shows cases filed electronically in Ellis County courts. For county clerk records, try the county's own public records portal at elliscountytx.gov or use TexasFile. Both are free to use. When you visit the courthouse in Waxahachie, go to the appropriate office based on the type of record. District court records go to the District Clerk on the District Clerk's floor. County court records, property documents, and probate files go to the County Clerk. Tell the clerk the names of the parties or the cause number. They will pull the file and can make copies. Always bring the cause number if you have it, since it makes the search much faster.

Mail requests are also possible. Write to the clerk's office with the case details, a list of the documents you need, and a check for the estimated cost. The office will process the request and mail copies back. Call ahead to get an estimate of the cost so your check covers it. For time-sensitive requests, visiting in person is the fastest option. Remember that e-filing has been mandatory for Texas civil courts for several years now. Most recent cases appear in the online systems. Older cases from before electronic filing was required may only be available as paper records at the courthouse. If a search turns up nothing online, that does not mean the case does not exist. It may just be too old to appear in the digital index.

What Ellis County Court Records Contain

Court records in Ellis County include all documents filed in a case from start to finish. Criminal files contain the indictment or complaint, warrant, bail information, plea, trial record, and sentence. Civil files include the petition, the answer, discovery orders, motions, and the final judgment. Family law files have the divorce petition, conservatorship order, child support calculation, property division agreement, and any later modifications. Probate files include the will, estate inventory, claims, and closing order. Every court file has at minimum a cause number, party names, filing date, case type, current status, and the judge assigned. The docket sheet lists every hearing and filing in the case. For e-filed cases, you can often view the actual documents online. For older paper cases, you see only the docket index and need to request copies from the clerk. Access to court records in Texas is governed by Texas Supreme Court Rule 12, not the Public Information Act. Most records are public. Sealed cases, juvenile matters, adoption records, and expunged cases are not available through standard channels. If a record is not in the online system, contact the clerk to ask whether the case exists and what access restrictions apply.

Ellis County Court Records Online Portal

The Ellis County District Clerk operates a public records search portal at ellis.tx.publicsearch.us. The portal shown below is the main online tool for finding court records in Ellis County without making a trip to the courthouse in 40th. You can search by party name or cause number and get back case type, filing date, party names, and docket history at no cost. The system covers all records maintained by the District Clerk, including felony criminal cases, civil suits, and family law filings. For records that predate the online system or that require actual document images, you will need to contact the clerk's office in 40th directly.

Use the portal above to run a name or cause number search before visiting 40th. If the case you need does not appear in the local portal, try the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers all 254 Texas counties and is maintained by the Texas Judicial Branch. For certified copies, plain copies, or documents not available online, contact the Ellis County District Clerk's office in 40th. Bring a photo ID and the cause number if you have it. Mail requests are also accepted if you include a check or money order for the estimated copy fee along with the case details. The Ellis County Clerk is another online tool for Ellis County court records. This resource covers a different part of the court system. Use it alongside the District Clerk portal for a complete picture of available case information in Ellis County. The ellis.tx.publicsearch.us portal remains the primary source for district court records maintained by the clerk's office in 40th.

Check both resources above when searching Ellis County court records. The District Clerk portal covers the widest range of case types. For statewide access across all Texas counties, use re:SearchTX. For certified copies or documents not available online, contact the Ellis County District Clerk's office in 40th by phone, mail, or in person. The Ellis County Public Records is another online tool for Ellis County court records. This resource covers a different part of the court system. Use it alongside the District Clerk portal for a complete picture of available case information in Ellis County. The ellis.tx.publicsearch.us portal remains the primary source for district court records maintained by the clerk's office in 40th. Check both resources above when searching Ellis County court records. The District Clerk portal covers the widest range of case types. For statewide access across all Texas counties, use re:SearchTX. For certified copies or documents not available online, contact the Ellis County District Clerk's office in 40th by phone, mail, or in person.

Legal Help in Ellis County

Lone Star Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying residents in Ellis County. Call (800) 733-8394 or visit lonestarlegal.org to see if you qualify. The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. Search for Ellis County attorneys through texasbar.com. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free guides and forms for many common legal matters. The Texas State Law Library at sll.texas.gov has research tools available online.

Cities in Ellis County

Ellis County includes Waxahachie and several other communities in the DFW area. All district court cases for the county go through the Waxahachie courthouse. Communities in Ellis County include Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, Corsicana, and Red Oak. None currently have individual city pages. All district court and county court filings go through the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie.

Nearby Counties

Ellis County is south of Dallas in the DFW metropolitan area. Several neighboring counties also have active court systems.