Ellis County Criminal Records Search | History and Cases

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Ellis County, Texas · Felony cases, misdemeanors, court history and dispositions

Find the Right Ellis County Criminal Case Without Searching the Wrong Clerk

Ellis County criminal records are split between offices. Felony district-court cases go through the District Clerk, while most Class A and Class B misdemeanor records go through the County Clerk. Both offices use the county’s online records system, but choosing the wrong office can make a real case look like it does not exist.

Start with the defendant’s name or cause number, confirm the court and filing date, then follow the docket until you find the actual disposition. If this began with a recent arrest, use the Sheriff’s inmate roster separately to confirm booking or current custody.

Search Ellis County court records Felony or misdemeanor? Check a recent jail booking
Full legal name Date of birth Cause number Approximate filing year Arrest date if recent
ELLIS COUNTY CASE VAULT ROUTING FILE
DISTRICT CLERK · FELONY
COUNTY CLERK · MISDEMEANOR
NAME
+ CASE
DISPOSITION LOCATED
A criminal-record search is not proof of guilt. A case can show an arrest, accusation, indictment or court filing without ending in a conviction. Always read the disposition for each charge and verify the person with more than a name alone.
Felony records

Start with the Ellis County District Clerk.

Misdemeanors

County Clerk handles Class A and B case records.

Online search

Index searching is available without a subscription.

Recent arrest?

Check the Sheriff roster separately from court history.

Source review

Official Ellis County sources reviewed August 21, 2026.

The Ellis County split that matters

Choose the record keeper before you search

This is the part many searchers miss. Ellis County does not put every criminal case under one clerk. The quickest route depends on the level of the charge.

FELONY CASE District Clerk

Use for felony district-court filings, judgments and case history.

See the felony workflow
CLASS A / B MISDEMEANOR County Clerk

Records from County Court at Law No. 2 and No. 3 are maintained here.

See the misdemeanor route
RECENT ARREST Sheriff / jail roster

Use to answer whether someone was recently booked or is still in county custody.

Check recent custody
STATEWIDE HISTORY Texas DPS

Use when the question is broader than Ellis County court cases.

Compare statewide history
Useful Waxahachie shortcut: the Ellis County District Clerk and County Clerk are both based at 109 S. Jackson Street. If you are unsure whether an older matter was filed as a felony or misdemeanor, you can confirm the correct clerk before ordering copies.

Go directly to the answer you need

This page puts case searching and court history first. Jail information appears later for people tracing a new arrest.

Avoid same-name mistakes

How to search when the name is common

A name hit is a lead, not an identity confirmation. This matters especially when you are researching employment history, a tenant, a potential partner, an old family case or another person you do not know well.

Compare the complete first and last name
Look for middle name or initial
Check the approximate age or date of birth when available
Compare filing year with the known timeline
Confirm whether the case is felony or misdemeanor
Match the court and cause number
Compare the arresting agency if the case began with an arrest
Read the final disposition before drawing a conclusion
Never use one matching name as proof of identity. Texas DPS also warns that name-based criminal-history searching can produce possible matches and that fingerprint comparison is the reliable way to positively link a person to a criminal record.

When your search returns too many cases

Narrow the year

Use a filing-date range around the arrest, citation or event you already know about.

Switch offices

If no felony result appears, check whether the matter was filed as a misdemeanor with the County Clerk—or vice versa.

Use the cause number

If another document gives you the court cause number, stop relying on the name search.

Case-history decoder

Read the docket as a timeline, not a list of scary words

Criminal dockets can be difficult to read because a long case may contain warrants, resets, motions and administrative entries that do not tell you how the charge ended. Start at the filing and move forward in time.

Case filed The clerk creates or records the criminal cause after the charging process reaches the court.
Charging document A felony may involve an indictment or other charging action; a misdemeanor case may use a complaint or information. This is more useful than relying only on an original jail-booking label.
Bond and pretrial activity The docket may show bond orders, attorney appointments, arraignment, motions, continuances and scheduled settings.
Plea or trial activity Look for plea documents, jury activity, findings or other entries showing that the case moved toward a decision.
Disposition Find the entry that explains how each charge ended: dismissal, deferred adjudication, conviction, acquittal or another court action.
Judgment or sentence When applicable, review the actual judgment and sentence rather than relying on a short index label.
A reset is not a result. Seeing several court dates, continuances or warrant entries does not tell you whether the defendant was eventually convicted. Keep moving through the docket until you find the disposition or final judgment.
The part that changes the meaning

Do not stop at “case found”—find how each charge ended

Common criminal-case outcome terms and what to verify
What you see
What it generally means
What to verify next
Pending
The case has not reached a final disposition in the displayed record.
Newest docket event and next scheduled setting.
Dismissed
The displayed charge was dismissed rather than ending in a conviction on that count.
Dismissal order and whether other counts remain.
Deferred adjudication
A Texas disposition that is different from an ordinary conviction and has its own legal consequences.
Order, conditions, completion and later docket activity.
Guilty / conviction
The court record reflects a conviction on the particular count.
Judgment, sentence and whether an appeal or later order changed anything.
Not guilty / acquitted
The defendant was not convicted on the displayed count after the adjudicative process.
Verdict or final judgment.
Closed
An administrative status showing the case is no longer active in the ordinary way.
The actual final disposition—“closed” alone does not explain the result.
For an employment, licensing, immigration or record-clearing issue: obtain the actual judgment, dismissal, disposition or other controlling document. An online index screenshot may not be enough.
Felony case records

Ellis County District Clerk: start here for felony history

What the District Clerk maintains

The District Clerk records district-court proceedings and judgments, keeps an index of parties and references judgments made in cases.

For a criminal search, this is the office to use for felony district-court records.

What to have ready
  • Full defendant name
  • Cause number, if known
  • Approximate filing year
  • Date of birth or another identity detail
  • Document name when requesting a copy
Ellis County District Clerk
Melanie Reed, District Clerk
109 S. Jackson St., Second Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone: 972-825-5091
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
District Clerk official page Search felony records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases

Ellis County Clerk: search the misdemeanor side separately

The Ellis County Clerk is the clerk for County Court at Law No. 2 and County Court at Law No. 3. The county states that these courts hear Class A and Class B misdemeanor offenses such as DWI, theft and assault cases.

Criminal Misdemeanor Division

The County Clerk’s Misdemeanor Records Division records information from these courts and provides administrative support that includes warrants, summons, subpoenas and commitments.

Records questions: 972-825-5062 or 972-825-5070

Need the court date instead?

The County Clerk specifically directs court-date inquiries and docket-scheduling questions to the court handling the case.

Court at Law No. 2: 972-825-5066

Court at Law No. 3: 972-825-5398

Ellis County Clerk
Krystal Valdez, County Clerk
109 S. Jackson St., Second Floor / Ground Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Mailing: P.O. Box 250, Waxahachie, TX 75168
Main: 972-825-5070
Criminal Division: 972-825-5062
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The County Clerk’s official page explicitly tells users to contact the District Clerk for felony information. If you are getting no misdemeanor result, confirm whether the case was filed as a felony before assuming the record is missing.
No result does not always mean no case

Why an Ellis County criminal case may be hard to find

You searched the wrong clerk A felony belongs with the District Clerk, while most Class A and B misdemeanors are County Clerk records.
The arrest is too recent A Sheriff booking can appear before a prosecutor has filed a court case.
The name is different in the index Try a maiden name, former surname, suffix, abbreviated first name or alternate spelling.
The matter is a Class C or municipal case Fine-only matters may belong to a Justice of the Peace or municipal court instead of the County Clerk criminal misdemeanor search.
The case is older Not every older file or image is necessarily available online. Contact the clerk that maintains the record.
The document is not public A public case index may exist while a particular document image is restricted.
The record was legally restricted Expunged, sealed, juvenile or otherwise confidential information may not appear through public access.
The case is in another county An arrest or offense connected with Ellis County does not guarantee that every related case was filed there.
Useful clerk call script
I am trying to locate a criminal case for [full name], with an approximate arrest or filing date of [date/year]. I do not have the cause number. Can you confirm whether this office maintains the case and what information you need to locate the record or order a disposition?
Copies and proof of disposition

When an online result is not enough

A portal result can answer “does a case exist?” For formal proof, request the specific document that answers the question—usually a judgment, dismissal, disposition, order or other filed instrument.

Ellis County District Clerk copy fees published for 2026
Copy type
Published fee
When it helps
Regular paper copy
$1 per page
Ordinary reference copy.
Certified copy
$1 per page + $5 certification fee per document
Formal proof when certification is requested.
Electronic copy, pages 1–10
$1 flat
Small electronic record requests.
Electronic copy, 11+ pages
$0.10 per page
Larger electronically available records.
Order the smallest useful document set. If you only need to prove that a charge was dismissed, ask whether the dismissal or final disposition alone will answer the receiving agency’s requirement rather than buying an entire case file.
County Clerk copy pricing and portal image charges can differ from District Clerk certification charges. Confirm the current price with the office maintaining the specific case before ordering.
Case history vs. criminal history

These searches answer different questions

Choose the database based on the question you actually have
Search
Best for
Not designed to prove
Ellis County court case search
Local filings, docket history, case number, court and disposition.
A complete Texas or national criminal history.
Ellis County Sheriff roster
Recent booking and current county detention information.
Final guilt or court disposition.
Sheriff open-records request
Sheriff-created incident, arrest or investigative records that are legally releasable.
A court judgment maintained by the clerk.
Texas DPS criminal history
Broader public Texas criminal-history information.
Positive identity from a name match alone.
TDCJ inmate search
State-prison location and related TDCJ information.
A new county-jail booking.
If the issue started with an arrest

Check current custody before waiting for a court case

A family member searching shortly after an arrest usually needs a jail answer before a court-history answer. Ellis County Sheriff links to a current inmate roster for booking and custody information.

1. Search the inmate roster

Confirm the person and current booking before calling the courthouse.

Open the official-linked Ellis County roster
2. Save the booking details

Write down the booking number, charges, booking date and other displayed identifiers.

3. Search the court later

Once a cause is filed, use the appropriate County Clerk or District Clerk criminal search to follow the legal outcome.

Do not interpret a missing court case immediately after arrest as a dismissal. The arrest, prosecutor review and court filing are separate steps.
Ellis County Sheriff / Jail
300 S. Jackson Street
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Jail Information: 972-825-4931
Sheriff Administration: 972-825-4901
Dispatch: 972-937-6060
Arrest report vs. court record

Request the Sheriff narrative separately from the criminal case

The court docket tells you what happened in court. A Sheriff offense or incident report is a different record and can contain the law-enforcement narrative behind the event.

Confirm that the Ellis County Sheriff created the record

If another police department made the arrest or investigated the incident, request its report from that agency instead.

Open the Sheriff’s current Open Records Requests page

Ellis County Sheriff states that requests must be made in writing.

Read current Sheriff open-record instructions
Describe the record precisely

Include the full name, incident date, approximate time, location, report number and the exact item requested when known.

Provide usable contact information

The Sheriff requires the requester’s full name, mailing address and contact phone number.

Expect a release review

The Sheriff’s current page states that gathered information is sent to the District Attorney’s Office to determine what may legally be released.

Copy-ready records request
I request the releasable offense report, arrest report, probable-cause information and identified supplements concerning [full name] for the incident on or about [date] at [location]. Known identifiers include booking number [number], cause number [number] and report number [number]. Please advise of any copying cost before processing if the amount will be substantial.
Current Sheriff records page lists:
In person: 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165
Mail: same address, ATTN: Open Records Clerk
Fax: 972-825-4941
The official page also publishes its current email-submission instruction; use that page directly rather than relying on an email copied from an older guide.
Family help after a recent booking

If the person is still in Ellis County custody

Video visitation

Ellis County uses JailATM for video-visit account creation and scheduling.

  • Select Video Call after opening the service.
  • Create an account before scheduling.
  • Published schedule: Tuesday–Saturday, 12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
  • Last sign-in: 7:30 p.m.
  • Visits are first-come, first-served and times may change.
  • Late arrival can shorten the visit.
Check current visitation rules

Inmate telephone calls

Ellis County states that an inmate can make free local calls during booking for bail, family or attorney contact.

  • Population calls use Correct Solutions.
  • Weekdays: 10:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
  • Weekends: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 a.m.
  • Provider support: 877-618-3516.
  • Detention officers do not pass personal verbal or written messages.
Read current inmate phone information

Current personal-mail route

Except for categories such as legal and medical mail and qualifying publisher material, the Sheriff currently directs inmate correspondence to:

JailATM.com – Ellis County Jail
Inmate ID: inmate full name and booking number
2830 S. Hulen St. Box 809
Fort Worth, TX 76109
Do not send important original photographs or irreplaceable documents through ordinary inmate mail. The Sheriff states that correspondence routed through the electronic-mail process is destroyed after it is electronically received by the inmate, including pictures.
Recheck inmate mail before sending Open Ellis County Sheriff
Court-appointed counsel

Ellis County has an Indigent Defense Coordinator

A person accused of a criminal offense who cannot afford a lawyer may apply for appointed counsel. The county’s Indigent Defense Coordinator manages the appointment process under the District Court and County Courts at Law indigent-defense plans.

Application detail people miss

Ellis County states that applications submitted by email or regular mail must be notarized.

The office asks people to contact it to schedule an appointment.

After an attorney is appointed

Keep the lawyer’s name, phone number, cause number, assigned court and next court setting together. If a defendant posts bond after requesting an appointed lawyer, confirm the appointment with the Indigent Defense Coordinator.

Ellis County Indigent Defense Coordinator
109 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Susan Soros: 972-825-5385
Maria Urias / Spanish assistance: 972-825-5482
Email: IDC@elliscountytx.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Application and current instructions
Prosecutor and victim assistance

When the question is about prosecution rather than record copies

The Ellis County and District Attorney prosecutes felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases and provides victim-assistance services. The clerk maintains court records; the prosecutor handles prosecution-related functions.

County & District Attorney
109 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165

Criminal Division: 972-825-5035

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Victim Assistance
109 S. Jackson St., 4th Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165

Phone: 972-825-5035

Protective-order assistance is also available through the office.

Open County & District Attorney Open Victim Assistance
Broader Texas criminal history

Use DPS when Ellis County alone is not the question

Texas DPS public criminal history

Use DPS when you need broader Texas public criminal-history information rather than a single Ellis County court docket.

  • Search using as much identifying information as possible.
  • Full name and date of birth improve matching.
  • DPS uses name variations and matching logic.
  • Name-based results can be possible matches rather than positive identity.
  • Search credits are consumed even when no match is returned.
Open Texas DPS public search

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Use TDCJ when someone has moved into state-prison custody or when you need state confinement information.

  • Search by name, SID or TDCJ number.
  • Useful for state location and offender information.
  • Not the right first tool for a newly booked Ellis County inmate.
Open TDCJ inmate information
County search + DPS search still requires identity verification. Do not combine records simply because two people share the same name.
When the record is wrong

Correct the office that owns the inaccurate entry

Capture the incorrect record

Save the case number, portal result, date viewed and exact field that appears wrong.

Find the controlling document

A certified judgment, dismissal or corrected order is stronger than a verbal explanation.

Identify the record owner

A court-record error goes to the clerk maintaining the case. A Sheriff report issue goes to the law-enforcement record holder.

Check Texas DPS separately

A local court correction does not guarantee that every linked statewide or commercial database has already updated.

Dispute private background reports separately

Provide the reporting company with the certified disposition and identify the specific inaccurate item.

Correction and record clearing are different. Correction fixes information that is inaccurate. Expunction or nondisclosure deals with an accurate record that may qualify for legal restriction or removal.
Expunction and nondisclosure

Get the final disposition before asking whether the record can be cleared

Expunction

An eligible Texas expunction can require covered arrest records to be removed or destroyed under the applicable law and order.

The Ellis County District Clerk’s fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists an $350 filing fee.

It also lists an additional $25 per agency to serve the petition and order unless an email is provided for that agency, in which case the schedule states there is no fee to serve those agencies.

Order of nondisclosure

An eligible nondisclosure order restricts public disclosure of qualifying criminal-history information but does not mean every authorised government agency loses access.

The 2026 Ellis County District Clerk fee schedule lists a $350 filing fee for nondisclosure.

Do not assume the court assignment from an old guide. Ellis County local judicial rules allocate expunction and nondisclosure matters according to current court assignments and case circumstances. Verify filing placement with the District Clerk before submitting.
Get the arrest date and arresting agency
Get every cause number arising from the event
Obtain the final disposition for every charge
Check whether another charge arose from the same arrest
Use current Texas eligibility guidance
Confirm Ellis County filing fee before payment
TexasLawHelp expunction guide Texas court forms Ellis County District Clerk
Local contact sheet

Ellis County criminal-record offices in one place

District Clerk · Felony records
109 S. Jackson St., Second Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5091

8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Clerk · Misdemeanor records
109 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165

Main: 972-825-5070

Criminal: 972-825-5062

County Court at Law No. 2
109 S. Jackson St., Third Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5066

8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

County Court at Law No. 3
109 S. Jackson St., Third Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5398

8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

County & District Attorney
109 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5035

Indigent Defense Coordinator
109 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165

972-825-5385

Spanish: 972-825-5482

Ellis County Sheriff / Jail
300 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165

Jail: 972-825-4931

Administration: 972-825-4901

Sheriff Criminal Investigations

972-825-4913

Use the Open Records Requests process when you need releasable records rather than investigation assistance.

Map: Courts & Administration

Why this address matters: the District Clerk, County Clerk, county criminal courts, prosecutor and Indigent Defense Coordinator are concentrated at the 109 S. Jackson government complex. Confirm the correct floor or office before your visit.

Map: Ellis County Sheriff and Jail

Before driving to Waxahachie: call the correct clerk if you need an older file, certified copy, restricted document or unusual case type. Confirm hours, payment requirements and whether the document is already available online.
Fast local problem solver

If this is your situation, do this next

Ellis County criminal-record shortcuts
Your situation
Best next action
“I know the person was arrested today.”
Search the Sheriff inmate roster first. A court case may not be filed yet.
“I found a DWI misdemeanor.”
Search County Clerk criminal records and identify whether Court at Law No. 2 or No. 3 has the case.
“I am looking for an old felony.”
Search District Clerk records; contact 972-825-5091 when the file or image is not online.
“I need proof the case was dismissed.”
Find the disposition, then request the dismissal or certified disposition from the correct clerk.
“The booking charge and court charge differ.”
Use the filed court case and final disposition rather than treating the original booking description as controlling.
“The name has several matches.”
Do not guess. Compare cause number, filing year, DOB or other identifiers.
“I need the police narrative.”
Identify the arresting or investigating agency and request its releasable offense or incident report.
“I want a full Texas criminal history.”
Use Texas DPS in addition to—not instead of—the Ellis County docket when local case detail matters.
“The record is wrong.”
Get the controlling court document and dispute the error with the office that owns the incorrect entry.
“The case was dismissed; can it disappear?”
A dismissal does not automatically mean expunction. Check current Texas eligibility using the complete disposition.
10 Ellis County criminal-record questions

Questions people usually have after opening the database

How do I search Ellis County Texas criminal records online?

Use Ellis County’s official Online Records Search at public.lgsonlinesolutions.com. Select the correct clerk office and Criminal record type, then search with the defendant’s name, cause number or other available filters. Felony records are maintained by the Ellis County District Clerk, while Class A and Class B misdemeanor records are maintained by the County Clerk’s Criminal Misdemeanor Division.

Which Ellis County office has felony criminal records?

Felony district-court records are maintained by the Ellis County District Clerk at 109 South Jackson Street, second floor, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. The office can be reached at 972-825-5091 and lists regular hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where do I find Ellis County misdemeanor criminal cases?

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases handled by Ellis County Court at Law No. 2 and Court at Law No. 3 are maintained by the County Clerk’s Criminal Misdemeanor Division. Call 972-825-5062 or the County Clerk main line at 972-825-5070 for record questions.

Is the Ellis County criminal records search free?

Ellis County’s linked Online Records Search instructions state that searching is free without a subscription. Guest Login allows users to view index information and image previews. A registered account is needed to purchase full document images, and the portal’s instructions state that users may purchase up to five images before a subscription is required.

What is the difference between an Ellis County case search and a Texas criminal history search?

An Ellis County court case search shows cases maintained by local clerks, including filings, docket activity and dispositions. A Texas Department of Public Safety criminal history search is a broader statewide name-based search. A county case search should not be treated as a complete statewide background check.

How do I find the final outcome of an Ellis County criminal case?

Open the correct Ellis County criminal case and review the docket and available images for a dismissal, plea, deferred adjudication order, judgment, sentence or other disposition. If official proof is needed, request a certified copy from the clerk that maintains the case.

Why can I find an Ellis County arrest but no criminal court case?

A recent arrest can appear before a prosecutor has filed a court case, the matter may have been filed under a different cause or spelling, the case may belong in another court, or charges may not have been filed. Verify the booking, arresting agency and date, then search both the appropriate clerk records and the Ellis County inmate roster when the arrest is recent.

How do I request an Ellis County Sheriff’s arrest or incident report?

Use the Ellis County Sheriff’s current Open Records Requests page. Requests must be in writing and should identify the person, incident date, location, report number and specific records requested when known. The Sheriff’s page states that records gathered by the office are reviewed to determine what can legally be released.

Can I get a court-appointed lawyer for an Ellis County criminal case?

A person accused of a criminal offense who cannot afford counsel may apply for a court-appointed attorney subject to eligibility. Ellis County’s Indigent Defense Coordinator can be reached at 972-825-5385, with Spanish-language assistance at 972-825-5482. Applications submitted by email or regular mail must be notarized according to the county’s current instructions.

Can an Ellis County criminal record be expunged or sealed?

Some Texas records may qualify for expunction or an order of nondisclosure, but eligibility depends on the arrest, charge, outcome, waiting period and other case history. The Ellis County District Clerk’s 2026 fee schedule lists a $350 filing fee for expunction and $350 for nondisclosure, with additional expunction service fees in some situations. Verify current eligibility, court assignment and fees before filing.

Official resources

Primary Ellis County and Texas sources

Ellis County court records
Arrest and custody
Texas and legal help
Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Ellis County District Clerk, County Clerk, Sheriff’s Office, County and District Attorney, an Ellis County court, Texas DPS, TDCJ or a law firm.

Court access, document availability, fees, jail procedures, providers, schedules and office hours can change. Recheck the linked official source before paying, mailing documents, travelling to an office or relying on a record for an important decision.

A criminal charge or arrest does not establish guilt. Verify identity with multiple identifiers and read the final disposition for each count.

Official-source review updated August 21, 2026. No VideoObject schema is included because no title-specific video with sufficiently verified metadata was selected for this page. Yoast can continue handling the page-level Article, WebPage, Organization and breadcrumb schema; this HTML adds FAQPage schema only.

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