Ellis County Obituary Records
Ellis County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Waxahachie, Texas. Located south of Dallas in the DFW metroplex, Ellis County has vital records dating from 1903. If you need to request a certified death certificate, search for obituary notices from Waxahachie or Ennis, or trace family history for someone who died in this county, this page explains the county clerk process and the resources available for Ellis County death records.
Ellis County Overview
Ellis County Clerk Death Records
The Ellis County Clerk's office in Waxahachie is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Ellis County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.
Ellis County has grown significantly as part of the southern Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The clerk's office handles a large volume of vital records requests. The website at co.ellis.tx.us provides current information on vital records services and office hours.
| Office | Ellis County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 250, Waxahachie, TX 75168 |
| Phone | (972) 923-5070 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.ellis.tx.us |
Searching Ellis County Obituaries
Order Ellis County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. For genealogy research, FamilySearch at familysearch.org has indexed Texas death records including Ellis County entries. The Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov holds microfilm of early county vital records. The Waxahachie Daily Light carries local obituary notices that appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com.
Note: The DSHS statewide death index covers Ellis County from 1903. Online ordering is often faster than mailing a request to the Waxahachie courthouse.
Requesting Ellis County Death Certificates
To request a certified death certificate by mail, send a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Ellis County Clerk, P.O. Box 250, Waxahachie, TX 75168. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Ellis County Obituary Records
Ellis County has a rich history as one of the original Texas counties, with settlement going back to the Republic of Texas era. Death records from the early 1900s reflect the cotton farming communities of North Texas. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections including Ellis County entries. The Waxahachie Public Library and the Ellis County Museum hold local historical materials including newspaper archives useful for obituary research.
The Ellis County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Waxahachie.
The Ellis County Clerk in Waxahachie maintains death certificates and vital records for this North Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Ellis County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days of death. Ellis County records under 25 years are restricted under Chapter 193. Records 25 years or older are public. Section 193.007 governs delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Ellis County.
Ellis County Obituary Resources
Contact the Ellis County Clerk at (972) 923-5070, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries from Waxahachie appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Ellis County is located south of Dallas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.