Ellis County Court Records Search | Criminal and Civil Cases

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Ellis County, Texas · Criminal, civil, felony, misdemeanor and district-court records

Find the Right Ellis County Court File Without Searching the Wrong Clerk

Ellis County court records are split between more than one office. If you need a Class A or B misdemeanor, county civil or probate case, start with the County Clerk. For a felony, divorce, family or other district-court case, use the District Clerk.

Both offices use Ellis County’s online record-search system for many public records. You can search without buying a subscription, review case index information, and open available document images. This guide shows which office to choose, what to enter, what the result means, how to buy or certify a document, and what to do when a case does not appear.

Search Ellis County court records Which clerk do I need? Case not showing?
Party or defendant name Cause number Approximate filing date Case type Assigned court if known
ELLIS COUNTY COURT FILE ROUTER MATCHING OFFICE
COUNTY CLERK
DISTRICT CLERK
CASE
CORRECT COURT FILE FOUND
Do not assume every Ellis County case is stored by the same clerk. Sending a felony question to the County Clerk or a County Court at Law misdemeanor question to the District Clerk is one of the easiest ways to waste time.
Misdemeanors

County Clerk Criminal Misdemeanor Division.

Felonies

District Clerk district-court records.

County civil

County Clerk Civil Division.

Divorce / family

District Clerk; 378th handles family matters.

Main location

109 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie.

Start here

Which Ellis County office has the case?

COUNTY CLERK Class A or B misdemeanor

DWI, theft, assault and other misdemeanor cases heard by County Court at Law 2 or 3.

Search misdemeanor records
DISTRICT CLERK Felony criminal case

Felony causes and district-court criminal records route through the District Clerk.

Search felony records
CIVIL RECORDS Lawsuit or judgment

County Court at Law civil cases may be with the County Clerk; district-level civil cases are maintained by the District Clerk.

Find a civil case
OTHER COURTS Divorce, probate or JP case

Divorce and district family matters use the District Clerk; probate uses the County Clerk; JP cases stay with the correct Justice Court.

Route another case type
Fastest rule: if you already know the cause number or assigned court, use that information before searching by name. It reduces same-name results and usually tells you which clerk maintains the file.

Go directly to what you need

Use the court-record sections first. Arrest and jail information is included only where it helps identify the correct criminal case.

Before paying

Guest Login, registered account and subscriptions explained

Guest Login

  • Searches record indexes.
  • Allows you to review available case information.
  • Can show a preview of available document images.
  • Cannot purchase the full image.
  • No subscription is needed merely to search.

Best for: confirming that a case exists before spending money.

Registered account

  • Requires a valid email address for verification.
  • Allows purchases of available images.
  • Ellis County states that five images may be purchased before a subscription is required.
  • Purchased items remain accessible through the account.

Best for: obtaining available online document images.

Online purchase detail: Ellis County’s current instructions state that every online purchase includes a mandatory $0.30 transaction fee. Review the cart before checking out.
Do this before buying an image: verify the party name, cause number, case type, filing date and assigned court. A document from the wrong same-name case is not useful merely because the surname matches.
Criminal court records

Search Ellis County misdemeanor and felony cases differently

Class A and B misdemeanors

The Ellis County County Clerk maintains misdemeanor records for County Court at Law 2 and County Court at Law 3.

Examples published by the county include:

  • DWI
  • Theft
  • Assault
  • Other Class A and B misdemeanor offenses

Criminal Misdemeanor Division: 972-825-5062

County Clerk: 972-825-5070

Felony cases

The Ellis County District Clerk maintains district-court records, including felony criminal cases.

Use the District Clerk when the charge is a felony, the case is assigned to a district court, or the County Clerk search tells you to contact the District Clerk.

District Clerk: 972-825-5091

What to save from a criminal court result

Defendant’s complete name
Cause or case number
Filing date
Assigned court
Filed offense
Case status
Docket entries
Final disposition for each count
Do not use the arrest allegation as the final answer. A booking charge can be rejected, amended, reduced, dismissed or replaced by a different filed charge. The court case is the better source for what prosecutors filed and how the count ended.
Civil court records

County civil and district civil cases can route to different clerks

County Clerk Civil Division

The County Clerk serves as clerk for civil cases filed in County Court at Law 1.

County Court at Law 1 has broad concurrent civil jurisdiction and also handles probate, guardianship and several related case types.

Civil Desk: 972-825-5063

District Clerk civil records

District-court proceedings are maintained by the District Clerk. This includes district civil cases, family cases and judgments entered in district court.

District Clerk: 972-825-5091

Why this can feel confusing: Ellis County courts can have concurrent civil jurisdiction. If a party name search returns several cases, use the assigned court and cause number rather than trying to determine jurisdiction from the dollar amount alone.
Common Ellis County civil-record routes
Case
Likely record holder
Best starting point
County Court at Law 1 civil lawsuit
County Clerk
County Clerk Civil Division
District civil lawsuit
District Clerk
District Clerk record search
Divorce
District Clerk
District Clerk / 378th District Court
SAPCR / family case
District Clerk
District Clerk
Probate or guardianship
County Clerk
Probate Division
Small claim / qualifying justice civil case
Justice Court
Correct Justice of the Peace precinct
Result decoder

Know what the court-search fields are telling you

Use these fields to confirm the right Ellis County case
Field
What it tells you
What to verify next
Cause number
The court identifier for a specific filed case.
Use it whenever you contact the clerk or assigned court.
Case style
The names of the parties associated with the case.
Check middle names, suffixes and party roles.
Case type
Criminal, civil, family, probate or another category.
Confirm that you selected the correct clerk office.
Filing date
When the case entered that court system.
Compare it with the known incident, arrest or dispute timeline.
Court
The assigned judge or court handling the case.
Use the court page for current docket information.
Case status
A general current state such as pending or disposed.
Read the actual docket or judgment instead of relying only on the status label.
Docket entry
A filing, order, hearing, setting or other event entered in the case.
Open the associated image when publicly available.
Disposition
How a criminal count or case was resolved.
Review each count separately and obtain a certified copy when proof is needed.
Judgment
A formal court ruling or final judgment entered in the case.
Use the signed document rather than a search-result summary for official purposes.
Images
Publicly available document images associated with the indexed record.
Some images require purchase and some records are restricted.
Troubleshooting

Why an Ellis County court case may not appear

You selected the wrong clerk A felony will not follow the same route as a County Court at Law misdemeanor.
The spelling is different Try the surname alone, former name, maiden name, suffix or business-name variation.
Your filters are too narrow Remove guessed filing dates, court numbers or case-status filters.
The case is very recent A newly filed matter may not be immediately searchable online.
The matter belongs to a Justice Court Fine-only criminal cases and qualifying small claims may be handled by a JP precinct.
The record is confidential Sealed, juvenile, adoption and other legally restricted material may not be publicly viewable.
You are searching an arrest, not a filed case An arrest does not always produce a filed criminal prosecution under the same charge description.
The case was transferred or appealed Follow later cause numbers, appellate records or a different court when the docket shows a transfer.
Copy-ready clerk call
I am trying to locate an Ellis County [criminal / civil / family / probate] case for [full party name]. The approximate filing or arrest date is [date], and the cause number may be [number]. Can you confirm whether your office maintains the case, whether there is a different cause number, and how I can obtain the public docket or document I need?
Docket and hearing date

Do not call the records desk to schedule a court setting

Clerk records and court scheduling are different tasks. The County Clerk specifically directs people to the assigned County Court at Law for court-date and docket-scheduling questions.
Find the cause number Search the court record and copy the exact assigned court.
Open the assigned court’s official page Court pages publish coordinator contacts, forms, calendars and current procedures.
Check the court calendar Ellis County publishes calendars and court-specific docket information for some courts.
Verify a changed setting Do not rely solely on an old notice or search result when the hearing is approaching.
Contact the court coordinator when necessary Have the cause number and party name ready.
Family-case example: the 378th Judicial District Court publishes a dedicated online court calendar. Use the cause number and current calendar rather than assuming an older hearing date is still active.
Copies and certification

Choose an online image, regular copy or certified court record

Current District Clerk copy charges published for 2026
Record type
Published charge
When it helps
Regular paper copy
$1 per page
Personal reference or ordinary paper copy.
Certified copy
$1 per page + $5 certification fee per document
When official proof is required.
Electronic copy, 1–10 pages
$1 total
Small electronically stored document.
Electronic pages over 10
$0.10 per page
Larger electronically available records.
County Clerk civil fee information also lists non-certified printed copies at $1 per page, electronic documents up to 10 pages at $1, pages over 10 at $0.10 each, and certified copies at $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee.
Online portal charges are separate from clerk copy fees. The LGS portal displays the purchase option for available images and adds its current mandatory transaction fee at checkout.

When a certified copy is worth requesting

Proof that a criminal charge was dismissed
Certified judgment or sentence
Expunction or nondisclosure preparation
Licensing or employment dispute
Immigration or legal review
Enforcement of a civil judgment
Certified-copy request wording
I am requesting a certified copy of [document name] in Ellis County cause number [number], styled [case name]. Please confirm the page count, certification charge, available delivery method and total amount before I submit payment.
Cases outside the main criminal/civil route

Divorce, probate and Justice Court records go to different places

Divorce and family

The District Clerk maintains district-court family records.

The 378th Judicial District Court handles adoptions, divorce cases, suits affecting the parent-child relationship and name changes.

Open the 378th District Court
Probate and guardianship

The County Clerk Probate Division supports County Court at Law 1.

It handles records involving estates, guardianships and related probate matters.

Probate Division: 972-825-5079

Justice of the Peace cases

Justice Courts handle fine-only misdemeanors and qualifying civil or small-claims matters.

The current county description places justice-court civil jurisdiction at up to $20,000 when jurisdiction is not assigned elsewhere.

Find the correct Justice Court
Do not assume a traffic ticket or small claim is a County Clerk criminal or civil case. Identify the issuing or filing Justice Court precinct first.
Court directory

Ellis County courts most likely to appear in your search

Use the case record to confirm the current assigned court
Court
Useful jurisdiction clue
Phone
40th Judicial District Court
District civil matters and other district jurisdiction; county page also lists felony jurisdiction.
972-825-5060
378th Judicial District Court
Adoptions, divorce, SAPCR matters and name changes.
972-825-5014
443rd Judicial District Court
Current court page describes felony criminal cases, writs, pleas and criminal dispositions.
972-825-5284
504th Judicial District Court
Current court page describes felony criminal cases and certain expunction/nondisclosure matters.
972-825-5630
County Court at Law 1
Civil, probate, guardianship, CPS and other listed matters.
972-825-5255
County Court at Law 2
County Court at Law jurisdiction including misdemeanor criminal matters.
972-825-5066
County Court at Law 3
County Court at Law jurisdiction including misdemeanor criminal matters.
972-825-5398
Ellis County’s web pages are not perfectly synchronized about district-court assignments. For that reason, this guide does not tell a reader to predict a court from the charge alone. The current case record and cause number should control which court you contact.
Criminal-case verification

Turn an arrest result into a verified Ellis County court outcome

Write down the booked name Use the exact name shown in the arrest or jail record.
Save the arrest date and charge Treat the charge as a search clue—not as the final prosecution result.
Decide misdemeanor or felony Class A or B misdemeanor records generally begin with the County Clerk; felony cases route to the District Clerk.
Search the party name Use a filing-date range around the arrest if the system provides one.
Match the timeline Compare party name, filing date, court and offense to the known arrest.
Save the cause number The cause number becomes the best identifier for future court searches.
Read the filed offense It can differ from the original arrest allegation.
Read the final disposition Check each count separately for dismissal, plea, conviction, acquittal or other action.
Order proof when necessary Get a certified judgment, dismissal or disposition when the outcome must be documented.
Arrest ≠ filed case ≠ conviction. Those are three different stages. A reliable background or legal review should distinguish all three.
Filing documents

Searching a case is different from filing into a case

County civil e-filing

Ellis County states that attorneys are required to e-file civil documents, except in specified circumstances such as juvenile cases. Self-represented parties may e-file but are not generally required to do so.

Open eFileTexas
Criminal filings

The County Clerk provides permissive criminal e-filing information for attorneys. Filing procedures depend on the court and case type.

Do not upload a pleading to the public records-search portal. The records portal is for searching and purchasing available records.

Clerks can explain filing procedures and fees, but Ellis County repeatedly warns that clerk staff cannot provide legal advice or prepare legal strategy for a party.
Public-access limits

Why a court file or image may be unavailable online

Sealed record A court order may restrict public access to part or all of a case.
Expunction An eligible expunction can remove covered records from normal public access.
Nondisclosure Certain criminal-history information may be restricted from public disclosure while remaining available to authorised agencies.
Juvenile information Juvenile records have separate confidentiality rules.
Adoption or protected family information Sensitive family records can have statutory or court-ordered access restrictions.
Image not digitized or not public An indexed case can exist even when a public document image is not available through the portal.
If the index identifies the exact case but the needed image is unavailable, call the appropriate clerk with the cause number and exact document name. That is more effective than repeatedly changing search terms.
Contacts and location

Ellis County court-record offices in Waxahachie

Ellis County County Clerk
109 S. Jackson St.
Second Floor / Ground Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165

Main: 972-825-5070

Fax: 972-825-5075

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Clerk Criminal Division

Criminal: 972-825-5062

Main: 972-825-5070

Class A and B misdemeanor records.

County Clerk Civil Division

Civil: 972-825-5063

Main: 972-825-5070

County Court at Law civil records.

County Clerk Probate Division

972-825-5079

Probate, guardianship and related records.

Ellis County District Clerk
109 S. Jackson St.
Second Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5091

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Courts & Administration
109 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5000

Fax: 972-825-5010

Mailing address for the County Clerk

Krystal Valdez, Ellis County Clerk
P.O. Box 250
Waxahachie, TX 75168

Map to Ellis County Courts & Administration

Before driving to Waxahachie: call the correct division when you need a certified record, an older file or a document that does not appear online. Confirm the total fee and whether the requested document can be sent electronically or must be picked up.
Avoid these search mistakes

Six Ellis County details that make the search easier

Do not buy a subscription first

Ellis County says searching is free. Confirm the record exists before paying.

Use Guest Login first

It is enough for index information and available image previews.

Save the cause number

It is far more useful than repeating a broad same-name search later.

Separate felony from misdemeanor

Felonies and County Court at Law misdemeanors use different clerk offices.

Do not ask the clerk to interpret a judgment

Clerk staff can provide the record but cannot give legal advice.

Get certified proof when the result matters

A screenshot is convenient; a certified dismissal or judgment is stronger proof.

10 Ellis County questions

Ellis County court-record search FAQs

How do I search Ellis County Texas court records online?

Use the Ellis County Online Records Search linked by the County Clerk and District Clerk. In the LGS portal, select Search, choose the appropriate clerk office and record type, enter a party name or available case information, and open More Information or Images for the matching case. Searching is free; a Guest Login can view index information and image previews, while a registered account is needed to purchase available images.

Which Ellis County clerk handles felony court records?

Felony and other district-court records are maintained by the Ellis County District Clerk. The District Clerk is located at 109 South Jackson Street, second floor, Waxahachie, Texas 75165 and can be reached at 972-825-5091.

Which Ellis County office handles misdemeanor court records?

The Ellis County County Clerk maintains Class A and Class B misdemeanor records for County Court at Law 2 and County Court at Law 3. The Criminal Misdemeanor Division can be reached at 972-825-5062 or the County Clerk main line at 972-825-5070.

Where do I search Ellis County civil court records?

County-level civil cases filed in County Court at Law 1 are maintained by the Ellis County County Clerk Civil Division. District-level civil cases are maintained by the District Clerk. Because Ellis County courts have overlapping civil jurisdiction, identify the assigned court or clerk office before ordering a record.

Can I search Ellis County court records without paying for a subscription?

Yes. Ellis County’s current online-record instructions state that searching is free without a subscription. Guest Login provides index information and image previews. A registered user can purchase available court-record images, and the county states that up to five images can be purchased before a subscription is required.

How much do Ellis County court record copies cost?

The Ellis County District Clerk’s 2026 fee schedule lists regular paper copies at $1 per page, certified copies at $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee per document, electronic documents of 1 to 10 pages at $1 total, and pages over 10 at $0.10 per page. County Clerk civil fee information lists similar copy charges. Confirm the current amount with the appropriate clerk before ordering.

Why can I see an Ellis County case but not the document image?

Guest access may show only index information and an image preview, some documents may require purchase, and legally confidential or restricted records may not be publicly viewable. Register for the online system when an available image needs to be purchased, or contact the clerk that maintains the case if the image is unavailable.

How do I find an Ellis County court date?

First identify the assigned court from the case record. For misdemeanor docket questions, contact County Court at Law 2 or County Court at Law 3 rather than the County Clerk records desk. District courts publish court-specific calendars and procedures on the Ellis County website. Always verify a setting with the assigned court because docket dates can change.

Are Ellis County Justice of the Peace cases in the same court-record system?

Do not assume they are. Ellis County Justice Courts handle fine-only criminal cases and civil or small-claims matters within justice-court jurisdiction, including qualifying disputes up to $20,000. Use the correct Justice of the Peace precinct for JP records rather than assuming the County Clerk or District Clerk court search contains the case.

How do I verify the outcome of an Ellis County criminal case after an arrest?

Use the arrest or booking information to identify the defendant and approximate filing date, then search Ellis County court records. Class A and B misdemeanors generally route through the County Clerk, while felonies route through the District Clerk. Open the matching case and review the filed charge, docket activity and final disposition rather than relying on the original arrest allegation.

Official resources reviewed

Ellis County sources used for this page

Online search and County Clerk
Criminal and civil divisions
District records and courts
Accuracy and court-record use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational website. It is not the Ellis County County Clerk, District Clerk, judiciary, Sheriff, District Attorney or any Texas court.

Court assignments, access restrictions, copy fees, filing rules, document availability and office procedures can change. Verify the cause number and use the current official clerk or assigned court before relying on a record for a legal, employment, housing, financial or background-check decision.

Criminal accusations are not convictions. A person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Read the filed charge and final disposition rather than treating an arrest or case filing as proof of guilt.

Last official-source review: August 21, 2026. Primary sources reviewed include the Ellis County County Clerk, District Clerk, Criminal Misdemeanor Division, Civil Division, County Courts at Law, Judicial District Courts, Justice Courts, current online-record instructions and the District Clerk’s 2026 fee schedule.

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