Ellis County
Ellis County is located in the western parts of the State of Texas and was established in December 1849. The county was named for Richard Ellis, the President of the defiant 1836 Constitutional Congress which declared the independence of the Lone Star State from Mexico. Ellis County's 952 square miles of total area is home to over 152,000 residents.
The court system in Ellis County comprises district courts, constitutional county courts, county courts at law, justice courts, and municipal courts. The Ellis County municipal courts primarily handle city ordinance violations, including traffic tickets, building code violations, and other infractions that occur within city limits. They can also hear minor civil cases related to city ordinances and preside over some juvenile cases, such as curfew violations.
Ellis County has several justice courts, each presided over by a justice of the peace (JP). These courts are often referred to as "small claims courts" because they handle civil disputes involving small monetary amounts. The county courts at law have jurisdiction overlapping with both the constitutional county court and district courts, depending on the case. The county courts at law handle a broader range of cases compared to the constitutional court, including civil matters where the amount in controversy can reach up to $100,000, probate matters, and family law cases.
The Ellis County constitutional court has limited jurisdiction compared to district courts, handling both civil and criminal matters. On the civil side, the court typically hears cases where the amount in controversy is between $200 and $10,000. Criminal cases are typically limited to Class A and Class B misdemeanors. The district courts in Ellis County handle the most serious legal matters. These courts have general jurisdiction over both criminal and civil cases. On the criminal side, district courts hear felony cases, including capital crimes, aggravated assault, and other serious offenses. Civil cases handled by district courts often involve matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000 or cases involving family law such as divorces, child custody, and child support.
The clerk of the court maintains court records for Ellis County courts. If you want a copy of a court record, you may visit the court where the case was filed. The county provides an online records search portal for court records. The guest login feature on the portal only allows users to view the index information on records. When accessing the portal via the login, users will not be able to purchase the full image of a record; they will only be able to see a preview of the image. If they wish to have the ability to purchase images, they must register on the site. For more information on using the portal, see the online record search instructions guide.
