Search Bexar County Public Records

Bexar County public records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk offices in San Antonio. The county serves roughly 2 million residents and holds records dating back to 1837. Court case files, property documents, marriage licenses, and vital statistics are all part of the public record here. You can search many Bexar County public records online through the county's free portals. For certified copies or full document access, you contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person. This guide covers each office, what they hold, and how to get the records you need.

Bexar County Clerk Office

The Bexar County Clerk is the official custodian for property records, marriage licenses, assumed name (DBA) filings, and vital statistics in the county. The clerk's office archives go back to 1837, making it one of the older county records repositories in Texas. Records are searchable online and in person at the Paul Elizondo Tower in downtown San Antonio.

The Bexar County Clerk's office maintains an online search portal for official records including real property documents, assumed names, foreclosures, and marriage licenses. You can search by party name, case number, filing date, attorney name, or document type. Public access kiosks at the courthouse are free to use for on-site searches.

A name search at the Bexar County Clerk's office costs $5 per name. If you use the public kiosks at the courthouse for self-service searches, those are free. Standard copy fees are $1 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5 certification fee per document.

The Texas Public Information Act under Government Code Chapter 552 gives you the right to request copies of any non-exempt government record. County offices have 10 business days to respond to a written public information request.

Bexar County District Clerk and Court Records

The Bexar County District Clerk maintains all district court records for the county. This includes civil cases, felony criminal matters, family law filings, juvenile records, and probate cases. The clerk keeps case files, dockets, judgments, and court orders for all district courts. Most are public records that anyone can request.

The Bexar County District Clerk's online system lets you search court records by party name, case number, filing date, attorney name, or SID (State ID) number. You can view case status and basic docket information. For full document images or certified copies, you contact the clerk or visit in person.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal also provides free access to Bexar County court case information. Search by name or cause number across all participating Texas courts. The statewide eFileTexas.gov e-filing system is used by attorneys filing in Bexar County courts.

Bexar County Records Search Portal

Bexar County offers a free online justice information portal at bexar.org. Through this portal you can search official records, court records, and find information about the county's courts and departments. The database includes property documents from the County Clerk, court case records from the District Clerk, and links to appraisal and tax information.

The portal's official records search covers assumed names, commissioners court records, foreclosures, land records, marriage licenses, and miscellaneous documents. The court records portion covers criminal charges and dispositions, civil case filings, family court matters, probate cases, and daily dockets. Search fields include party name, case number, filing date, attorney name, and document type.

Sales data in Bexar County is confidential under Texas Government Code Section 552.149, which exempts real estate sales prices from disclosure. Keep this in mind if you're researching property values, since the sale price won't be visible in the public records system.

Note: Juvenile records are restricted. Sealed court records require a court order to access. Some appraisal information is also held as confidential by the Bexar Appraisal District.

Property Records in Bexar County

Property records in Bexar County are filed with the County Clerk when real estate transactions occur. Deeds, mortgage documents, deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, judgment liens, and plat maps are all recorded here. The records go back to 1837, making Bexar County one of the oldest archival sources in Texas.

You can search property records online through the County Clerk's portal. Search by grantor name, grantee name, instrument number, or date range. Many document images are available online. For older records or physical document inspection, visit the clerk's office at the Paul Elizondo Tower in downtown San Antonio.

Recording fees follow the state schedule. The first page of any recorded document costs $26, and each additional page costs $4. These rates apply to deeds, mortgages, liens, UCC filings, and most other recordable documents.

The Texas Secretary of State handles statewide UCC filings and business entity records separately from the county. Check both the county and state systems for a complete lien search on any Bexar County property.

Vital Records in Bexar County

The Bexar County Clerk handles local vital records including birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Bexar County. Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk and become part of the official record once filed. Certified copies of marriage licenses cost $21.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section also maintains vital records for the entire state. You can order certified copies of Texas birth certificates ($23 for the first copy) and death certificates ($21 for the first copy) through DSHS. They accept online, mail, and in-person requests. Local county offices and the DSHS state office both serve as access points for these records.

To request vital records from Bexar County, contact the County Clerk at 210-335-2225 or visit the Paul Elizondo Tower in San Antonio. For DSHS orders, go to dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics and follow their ordering instructions.

Criminal Records and Public Safety

Criminal court records for Bexar County are held by the District Clerk and accessible through the county's online portal or the statewide re:SearchTX system. Felony cases go through district courts. Misdemeanor cases go through the County Court at Law. Both sets of records are generally public unless the court orders them sealed.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains statewide criminal history records. Anyone can submit a name-based criminal history search online for $3.15. Fingerprint-based searches are more accurate and are available for a higher fee. The DPS also maintains the Sex Offender Registry, which you can search at no charge by name, address, or zip code.

For criminal records specific to Bexar County courts, the Bexar County courts page provides information on how to access case information and request documents. The District Clerk's criminal records division handles requests for court files.

Cities in Bexar County

San Antonio is the largest city in Bexar County and one of the largest in the country. All cities in Bexar County use the same county records offices for property, court, and vital records.

Other communities in Bexar County include Leon Valley, Converse, Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz (partially), and many others. All county records go through the Bexar County courthouse in San Antonio.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bexar County. Check the correct county if you're unsure where a property or event is located.