Find Property Records in Ellis County

Ellis County property records are kept by the County Clerk in Waxahachie, Texas. The clerk's office records deeds, deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lien releases, easements, plat maps, and other land instruments for all real property in the county. Ellis County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and sees significant residential and commercial real estate activity. Whether you are researching a property purchase, checking for recorded liens, or verifying ownership history, this guide covers how to search and what resources are available.

Ellis County Clerk Office

The Ellis County Clerk is the official custodian of all property records filed in the county. The office is in the courthouse in Waxahachie and records deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, oil and gas leases, easements, and plat maps. Ellis County's proximity to Dallas has driven rapid growth in recent years, and the clerk's office handles a high volume of new residential subdivision recordings, mortgage filings, and related documents.

All instruments are indexed by grantor and grantee name. You can also search by instrument number, document type, or date range. The county's online search portal provides free access to the deed and lien index along with document images for most records. For older historical records, the paper index books in the clerk's office may be necessary.

Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested in person, by mail, or online through the clerk's portal. eRecording is available for title companies and law firms handling large volumes. Mail submissions should include a check payable to the Ellis County Clerk.

Search Ellis County Property Records

The Ellis County Clerk maintains the official portal for searching land records. You can search by name, document type, or date range at no cost for basic lookups.

The Ellis County Appraisal District is a good starting point for identifying current ownership before searching deed records. The CAD database lets you search by owner name or property address to get the legal description and account number.

For in-person searches, the courthouse is at 101 W. Main St. in Waxahachie. Public terminals are available in the clerk's office. You are expected to conduct your own search or hire a title company to do it. Third-party services like TexasFile also cover Ellis County records.

Note: Ellis County is adjacent to Dallas County. Confirm that the property address is in Ellis County before searching here, as some communities like Midlothian and Ennis straddle or are near county lines.

Property Record Types in Ellis County

The Ellis County Clerk records all instruments that create or affect interests in real property within the county. Under Texas Property Code Section 12.001, recorded documents give constructive notice to all subsequent buyers and lenders. You are treated as having seen what is on file even if you did not check.

Common document types in Ellis County include warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mechanic's and materialman's liens, lien releases, federal tax liens, subdivision plats, homeowner association documents, easements, right-of-way agreements, and assumed name certificates. The county's rapid residential growth has generated large volumes of new subdivision plat recordings, HOA declarations, and deed of trust filings. Commercial development along the I-35 corridor also drives significant commercial real estate transaction recordings. Under Texas Property Code Section 13.001, all of these documents become constructive notice once recorded.

Ellis County Appraisal District

The Ellis County Appraisal District maintains property tax appraisal records for all taxable property in the county. The CAD online database at elliscad.com is searchable by owner name, address, or account number. Search results include the current assessed value, legal description, exemptions, and taxing entities for each parcel.

Ellis County's rapid growth means new subdivisions are being added to the appraisal rolls regularly. For recently platted subdivisions, the CAD may not yet have records for individual lots until the subdivision is complete and the plat is filed. For newly purchased properties, the appraisal district ownership records may lag by several months behind the deed filing at the clerk's office. Always check both the CAD and the deed records for the most current picture of ownership and encumbrances.

Recording Fees and Procedures

The Ellis County Clerk charges $26 for the first page of any recorded instrument and $4 per additional page. This fee structure is set by state law. A $0.25 per name surcharge applies when more than five names are indexed in a document.

eRecording is available for Ellis County and is the preferred method for title companies and lenders in the DFW market. You can also submit documents by mail with a check payable to the Ellis County Clerk and a return envelope. In-person submissions are accepted during business hours at the Waxahachie courthouse. Once recorded, the instrument number and recording date are stamped on the document and the original is returned to the filer.

Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Uncertified copies are cheaper and work for most research and due diligence purposes. Confirm current fees before placing a mail copy order.

Texas Public Information Act

Ellis County property records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Any person can request access to these records without giving a reason. The clerk's office must respond without unreasonable delay, and for records already indexed online, access is effectively immediate through the public portal.

The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes and publishes guidance on your rights as a records requester. Some personal data, like social security numbers and financial account numbers, is redacted from online document images under Texas law but remains in the original paper records at the clerk's office.

Additional Resources for Property Research

The Texas Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division provides statewide guidance on exemptions, protests, and appraisal procedures. Ellis County has multiple taxing entities including the county, several cities, school districts, and special purpose districts. The Comptroller's site helps you understand how all of these entities interact.

For historical title research, the Texas General Land Office holds early land grant records covering North Texas including Ellis County. The Texas Secretary of State's SOSDirect is useful for researching business entities involved in commercial property transactions. The Texas State Law Library offers research guides on recording requirements and Texas real property law.

Nearby Counties

Ellis County is south of Dallas in North Texas. Several neighboring counties are part of the greater DFW region. Confirm the correct county for properties near county lines.