Ellis County Criminal Court Records
Ellis County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the courthouse in Waxahachie, Texas. The District Clerk handles felony criminal cases and the County Clerk manages Class A and B misdemeanor filings. Ellis County sits just south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has grown steadily as more people move into the region. Records can be searched online through the statewide re:SearchTX portal or the county's own online system, in person at the courthouse, or by mail.
Ellis County Overview
Ellis County District Clerk
The Ellis County District Clerk is the official record keeper for all felony criminal cases filed in the county. When a grand jury issues an indictment or a felony case is filed directly, the District Clerk assigns a cause number, opens the case file, and tracks it through the judicial process. All filings, motions, orders, and judgments become part of the permanent record stored by this office.
Ellis County is served by the 40th and 378th Judicial District Courts. Both courts handle criminal cases. The clerk's office can direct you to the right court once you have a name or cause number to search. Ellis County has an online portal through the District Clerk's website that allows searches for both criminal and civil cases, giving you another way to find case information before visiting in person.
Expunction and non-disclosure petitions for felony records are filed with the District Clerk. Staff can also confirm whether a case is sealed or if documents are restricted before you make the trip.
| Office | Ellis County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 109 S. Jackson Street Waxahachie, TX 75165 |
| Phone | (972) 825-5070 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Ellis County Criminal Records
The free statewide re:SearchTX portal is the best starting point for Ellis County criminal case searches. It covers district court felonies and county court misdemeanors. Search by name or cause number and see the charge, case status, court dates, and available documents. The system is updated regularly and free to use.
The Ellis County District Clerk also has an online portal linked from the county's website that provides local case access. This can be useful for more recent filings or for getting additional detail on a specific case.
The screenshot below is from the Texas Judicial Branch's re:SearchTX portal, which covers criminal and civil court records for Ellis County and all other Texas counties.
For older records not yet in the online system, contact the District Clerk directly. For a full Texas-wide criminal history search, use the Texas DPS Criminal History portal. Self-searches are free. Third-party searches cost a small fee. Certified reports go through the FAST fingerprint program.
Ellis County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Ellis County are heard in the county courts and records are held by the Ellis County Clerk. Charges at this level include first-offense DWI, assault causing bodily injury, theft in lower dollar ranges, and possession of small amounts of certain controlled substances.
The County Clerk's office is at the same Waxahachie courthouse. Use re:SearchTX to find out if a case is a district court felony or a county court misdemeanor before you contact the wrong office. That saves time for you and for staff. Misdemeanor expunctions go through the County Clerk's office.
Class C misdemeanors, including traffic offenses, are handled by municipal courts in Waxahachie, Ennis, and other cities, or by the Ellis County Justice of the Peace courts. The County Clerk does not have those records.
Arrest Records and Criminal History
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in the unincorporated county. City police departments in Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, and other towns handle arrests within their limits. Booking records are held by the agency that made the arrest, and the county jail processes bookings from multiple agencies.
The Texas DPS Criminal History portal provides the most complete picture of an individual's criminal history across Texas. It pulls data from agencies throughout the state. Self-searches are free. Third-party searches cost a small fee. Certified reports are available through the FAST fingerprint program.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry allows searches by county and name. The TDCJ offender search covers anyone who has been in the Texas prison system after a conviction anywhere in the state.
What Criminal Case Files Contain
Ellis County criminal case files hold the same types of documents found across Texas courts. The volume depends on how the case was resolved. Common items in a criminal case file include:
- Grand jury indictment or criminal information
- Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
- Bond documents and conditions of release
- Pretrial motions from both sides
- Court orders and judge's rulings
- Plea agreement and judicial acceptance
- Final judgment and sentence
- Community supervision or probation terms
- Restitution orders if ordered by the court
- Appellate filings if the case was appealed
Records expunged under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are removed from public access. Sealed court orders and juvenile files are also restricted. The clerk's office can tell you if a record is in a restricted category.
Fees and Requesting Ellis County Records
Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an added certification fee. Call the District Clerk to estimate the page count before sending payment for large files. Some case information is available electronically through the online portal at no per-page cost.
Mail requests go to the Ellis County District Clerk at 109 S. Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165. Include the defendant's full name, cause number if known, approximate dates, what you need, and payment. Staff will follow up if the amount differs.
Free legal help is available at TexasLawHelp.org for guides on expunctions and non-disclosures. Lone Star Legal Aid may serve qualifying Ellis County residents. The Texas Bar referral service connects you with a licensed attorney in the area. Texas court forms are at txcourts.gov.
Cities in Ellis County
Ellis County includes Waxahachie (county seat), Ennis, Midlothian, and other communities. No cities in Ellis County currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All criminal court filings from across the county are processed at the courthouse in Waxahachie.
Nearby Counties
Ellis County sits between the Dallas-Fort Worth metro and Central Texas. Find criminal court records for surrounding areas at: Dallas County, Kaufman County, Henderson County, Navarro County, Hill County, Johnson County, and Tarrant County.