Ellis County Court Records

Ellis County Courts, TX *

Ellis County lies just to the south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, in the Dallas Division. Because Ellis County has a large population, it is served by multiple types of courts. The main headquarters of the court system in Ellis County is the historic Ellis County Courthouse.

Overview of the Ellis County Court System

The Ellis County Court system oversees numerous civil disputes within the county, including the admission of wills to probate, estate management, and the appointment of guardians or executors for estates. Other civil disputes might include divorces and child custody, property line disputes, and landlord-tenant issues. The court system also hears criminal cases from minor traffic citations for failure to yield to misdemeanors and felonies.

Residents of Ellis County may need the court system for a variety of reasons, such as property disputes or landlord-tenant issues. People may have family court cases to resolve, such as child support, custody, and paternity. They may need a resolution for a criminal or civil case. Many employers, property landlords, and county workers rely on court records to check past criminal history, prior evictions, or to prepare for court proceedings.

Types of Courts in Ellis County, TX

There are several types of courts in Ellis County, and to access them properly, you need information about the court systems. While many courts in the county are held in the historic courthouse, some are held elsewhere. Ellis County even has a separate court for veterans. Here is the breakdown of the court systems in Ellis County.

District Courts

The District Courts may represent one county, parts of a county, or several counties, depending on the jurisdiction. Ellis County is served by three District Courts.

The 40th District Court's jurisdiction is:

Felony criminal cases
Large civil cases involving more than $100,000
Juvenile cases involving sentencing or certification for trial as an adult

The 378th District Court's jurisdiction is:

Adoptions
Divorces, child custody, and child support
Adoptions
Name changes

The 443rd District Court's jurisdiction is all criminal felony cases.

In addition, the District Courts have a specialty court for veterans who have entered the criminal justice system called the Veterans Treatment Court. This court, run by a judge who is also a veteran, offers veteran offenders treatment and rehabilitation services rather than prison.

County Courts at Law

In Texas, counties can choose the type of county court system they use. There are constitutional county courts and county courts at law. Some counties have both Constitutional County Courts and County Courts at Law, while others have only one. Ellis County has a Constitutional County Court, but the County Judge serves as the administrator of the county government and finances. Civil and criminal cases originate with one of the Ellis County Courts at Law.

Family law, divorce, child support, and custody
Probate, trusts, and estates
Child abuse and neglect
Felonies and misdemeanors
Civil cases (damages between $500 and $200,000)
Guardianship and mental health
Appeals from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts

Ellis County has three County Courts at Law, with different course load types. County Court at Law #1 hears civil cases, probate and guardianship cases, and cases involving Child Protective Services (CPS). County Courts at Law #2 and #3 hear both civil and criminal cases.

Justices of the Peace

Ellis County has four Justices of the Peace. While the Municipal Courts are responsible for minor infractions within the city limits, Justices of the Peace handle those same infractions for those jurisdictions outside the city limits. Justices of the Peace also have other functions in Ellis County.

Class C Misdemeanors
Driver's License suspensions
Performing marriages
Evictions and foreclosures
Inquests
Arrest and search warrants
Administer oaths of office

When someone dies in Ellis County, a justice of the peace can hold an inquest, which is a call for an investigation into their death. An investigation could happen if someone dies without witnesses (such as a doctor), a suspicious death (such as a suspected murder or suicide), or an unnatural death.

Municipal Court

Ellis County has 10 municipal courts: Ennis, Italy, Maypearl, Midlothian, Milford, Oak Leaf, Palmer, Pecan Hill, Red Oak, and Waxahachie. Municipal court systems in Texas cover minor infractions that occur within city limits. These infractions have fines as punishment with no jail time. Examples of cases municipal courts hear include speeding tickets, running a red light, and parking violations.

Jurisdictions:

Class C misdemeanors
City code violations
Junk vehicles and illegal dumping
Construction without permits

How to Access Ellis County Court Records

While many counties in Texas have little to no access to court records unless you visit the courthouse in person, Ellis County records are more accessible. Here is information about how to access the court records you need in the county.

Online Access

Some of the municipalities in Ellis County (Ennis Municipal Court, Midlothian Municipal Court, Oak Leaf Municipal Court) have records online, but they may be limited. You may want to contact the municipal court clerk with questions or for clarification. The Justices of the Peace in Ellis County have a searchable database of cases, but understand that not all records, especially older ones, may be complete. Ellis County Courts at Law has a searchable court database for court cases. You can also access county and district court records by using the re:SearchTX database search.

Alternative Online Options

Not all Texas court systems' documents are available on the same database. In fact, the availability of court case documents can be fragmented. If you are pressed for time, you may want to consider using a third-party database when searching for court records. CourtCaseFinder is a third-party search engine you can use to search across multiple jurisdictions at the same time.

In-Person Requests

The ten municipal courts: Ennis, Italy, Maypearl, Midlothian, Milford, Oak Leaf, Palmer, Pecan Hill, Red Oak, and Waxahachie all have instructions for in-person requests. You can visit the municipal court locations (usually inside city hall) to make in-person requests for records. Justices of the Peace have in-person requests as well. You can request information by contacting the Justice of the Peace' s office in each precinct directly. Information from the County Courts at Law and the District Courts can be obtained in person through their court clerks.

Archived Records

If you want archived records for the Ellis County Court systems, whether you have online access or not, depends on how old the case is. Most jurisdictions in Ellis County do not have online archives of records dating back to 2016. For older court cases, you would want to request the records from the court clerk in person or by mail.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Attorneys who do not ordinarily practice in Ellis County may be unfamiliar with which court they need to consult for information. In general, district courts in Ellis County handle all felonies, some family law cases such as divorce and child custody, and large civil cases. County courts hear A and B misdemeanors, civil cases, probate cases, and guardianship cases. Justices of the peace hear small-claims cases and evictions, perform marriages, and hold inquests. Municipal courts hear small infractions with fees but no jail time, code violations, and traffic offenses. Filing online with eFile Texas is required. Ask the clerks for more information if you are unsure about the county's court processes.

How to File a Case in Ellis County

It is really important not to waste your time when you need to file a case in one of the courts in Ellis County. Following these steps is one way to ensure you get the results you want with as little time and effort as possible.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Municipal courts are very specific in their jurisdictions. They only rule on infractions brought by government agencies within the city limits, such as police and fire departments, and code enforcement agencies. You would not file a case in municipal court.

Justices of the Peace in Ellis County also handle infractions such as C Misdemeanors, but they hear infractions outside the city limits. You can also use one of the justices of the peace to file small claims and civil lawsuits under $20,000, evictions, liens, and foreclosures.

County Courts at Law hear civil cases, including family law, probate, and guardianship matters, as well as larger civil lawsuits. They can have preliminary hearings for felonies and Class A and B misdemeanors.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

You would not need to complete forms to file a case in the municipal court system in Ellis County. Justices of the Peace forms for Ellis County are available online, along with detailed instructions. The Courts at Law also have forms and instructions on their websites. District forms and instructions can be found on the District Court Clerk's website. What if you aren't sure how to fill out the forms correctly? You can always ask the clerk of the court for help.

Step 3: File Your Case

You would not need to file a case in any of the municipal courts. You can file online with eFile Texas for justice-of-the-peace, county, and district cases. Small claims cases can still be filed in person with a justice of the peace in Ellis County.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

If you file online with eFile Texas, you can pay your filing fees online as well. If you file in person with a justice of the peace, you can pay the filing fees in person with a money order or a cashier's check. If you cannot afford to pay your filing fees, you can ask the court to waive the fees by submitting paperwork.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Texas requires you to serve the other litigant with court paperwork. You are allowed to have a process server, court clerk, sheriff, constable, or an adult over 18 serve the paperwork. The process server, person, or agency must file a proof of service with the court.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

Once you have served the other party, you will need to continue monitoring your case. Be sure to either check the status of your case through the court's online portal or through the court clerk.

Ellis County Courthouse Directory

Because Ellis County has multiple courts, it is important to know where to go to access court records or conduct court research. Here is a breakdown of the courts' locations in Ellis County.