Search Ellis County Public Records

Ellis County public records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk in Waxahachie, the county seat in North Central Texas south of Dallas. These offices hold property deeds, court case filings, marriage licenses, and other official county documents. The County Clerk handles property recordings and vital records, while the District Clerk manages civil and criminal court files. Records are available in person at the Waxahachie courthouse, by mail, or through online public databases. This guide covers how to search and request Ellis County public records.

Ellis County Clerk Records

The Ellis County Clerk in Waxahachie is the official custodian of public records for the county. This office maintains property instruments including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, easements, and plat maps. They also handle marriage licenses, assumed name certificates, and commissioners court minutes. Ellis County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, with significant residential development adding to the volume of property filings each year.

Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee. You can request records in person at the Waxahachie courthouse, by mail, or through the County Clerk's online portal if available. Mail requests should include the record type, party names, and approximate dates. Enclose payment by check or money order. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Vital records filed in Ellis County, including birth and death certificates, can be obtained from the County Clerk. For statewide records, use Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. State birth certificates cost $23 and death certificates cost $21.

District Court Records

Ellis County is served by the 40th and 378th Judicial Districts. The District Clerk in Waxahachie handles all district court filings, including civil cases, felony criminal matters, family law cases, divorces, and probate proceedings. The county's proximity to Dallas has contributed to a growing caseload that covers a wide range of civil and criminal matters.

You can search Ellis County court records online through re:SearchTX, the free public portal operated by the Texas Office of Court Administration. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. Attorneys and parties file documents electronically through eFileTexas.gov.

The Texas courts overview explains how the district court system works in rapidly growing counties like Ellis County in the DFW area.

Public Information Act Access

The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request records from any Ellis County government office. Requests must be in writing and agencies have 10 business days to respond. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes and provides free assistance to the public when requests are denied.

Standard PIA copy fees are $0.10 per page. Legal exemptions apply to some records, including certain law enforcement records and personal information. Any denial must be in writing and cite the applicable legal exemption. You can ask the Attorney General to review any denial.

Note: Ellis County's rapid growth means the county clerk and other offices handle high volumes of records requests. Online tools are often the fastest option for basic searches.

Criminal Records and Background Searches

The Texas DPS Crime Records Service maintains the statewide criminal history database. A name-based search costs $5.00 and covers arrests and convictions from all Texas law enforcement agencies, including those in Ellis County. The Ellis County Sheriff's office and city police departments each hold local incident reports subject to the Public Information Act.

For federal cases, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas handles Ellis County jurisdiction. Those records are searchable through PACER for a small per-page fee. The Texas Secretary of State also maintains business entity and UCC filing databases that are relevant for commercial records tied to Ellis County businesses.

Cities in Ellis County

Waxahachie is the county seat of Ellis County. Other cities in the county include Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, and Waxahachie. No cities in Ellis County currently meet the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city records page, though the county's growth may change this over time.

Nearby Counties

Ellis County is in North Texas south of Dallas, bordering several counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond.