Bexar County District Court Case Search

In Bexar County, the District Court is the primary trial-level court. The District Clerk's Office typically maintains District Court records in Bexar County. These records encompass all events and actions taken from the pre-trial stage to the sentencing and post-trial stage. Inquirers often do District Court record searches for trial research, tracking case status, personal concerns (divorce, probate), or criminal record checks for employment or tenancy.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in Bexar District Court?

The Bexar County District Court comprises several district courts specializing in specific areas, including civil, criminal, and juvenile district courts.

In Bexar County, the criminal district court usually hears felony cases, including serious offenses such as robbery, murder, drug offenses, etc. District courts may also hear specific misdemeanors, such as official misconduct.

Bexar County Civil District courts often handle major civil litigations involving a stipulated sum of money, personal injury, contract disputes, and property issues. The county’s probate court has original jurisdiction over probate cases.

Juvenile district courts focus on crimes committed by minors and dependency or neglect cases. They may also handle adoptions or child protection cases.

The Bexar County District Court also has specialty divisions that try to keep offenders out of jail by focusing on their underlying issues. These include the Felony Drug, Esperanza, Felony Veterans Treatment, and Mental Health Courts.

Bexar County District Court

The Bexar County District Court is the county's central trial court and possesses general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases.

In Bexar County, the trial court system consists of several district courts. These courts typically have general authority over civil cases exceeding $200 (e.g., contract disputes, property rights, personal injury) and felonies (e.g., drug trafficking, murder, robbery, etc.).

Specialized district courts handling specific case types include family district courts (oversee complicated family law affairs), juvenile district courts (handle delinquency and dependency affairs involving minors), and criminal district courts that prioritize felony criminal trials.

The District Court is integral to Bexar County's judicial system. It offers residents easy access to equitable and efficient resolution of legal disputes, thereby preserving justice and the rule of law.

Interested persons may contact the Bexar County District Courts at the following locations:

Bexar County 37th Civil District Court
Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa St, 4th Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 335-2515
Fax: (210) 335-0595

Bexar County 186th Criminal District Court
Cadena-Reeves Justice Center
300 Dolorosa St, 3rd Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 335-2505
Fax: (210) 335-2509

Bexar County 289th Juvenile District Court
600 Mission Rd, San Antonio, TX 78210
Phone: (210) 335-1185
Fax: (210) 335-1174

Bexar County Case Lookup

Interested persons may find Bexar County court records from different courts using the following resources:

Online Searches

Requesters may use the Bexar County Justice Portal to search records maintained online by the District Clerk, County Clerk, or Justice of Peace Court.

Available court case records are typically related to major and minor civil and criminal legal matters. However, the platform restricts viewing sensitive information concerning adoption, child protection, juvenile, and mental health cases.

Viewing case summaries is free, but users may need to register for an account to view and download court documents.

To look up county case records on the Bexar County Justice Portal, click "Smart Search" and enter a name in the "Enter a Record Number" field. The name may be a defendant, attorney, judge, or company. Searchers must enter the Record Name in the last, first, and middle name order and click "Submit".

Walk-in Requests

Information seekers must visit the District or County Clerk's Offices between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to look up civil and criminal case information that is not exempt from the public by court order or state law.

When requesting Bexar County court records, searchers must provide specific details such as the case number, name of the parties involved, or type of case. A valid government-issued photo ID is also required for identification purposes.

Non-provision of a case number would incur a $5 research fee and charges for receiving copies of requested documents. Such costs may vary depending on the type and number of court records requested.

Public terminals in the County or District Court Clerk's office may also provide access to court records. These terminals allow record searches to look up cases by case number or party name.

Mail-in Requests

To conduct a mail-in request for Bexar County court documents, applicants must send a written request to the County Clerk or the District Clerk's Office.

The application must contain the first and last name of the requester, state the case type (criminal, civil, or family), and their name, address, and phone number.

Applicants must also include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for copies.

Non-certified copies of court records cost $1.00 per page, while certified paper copies cost $1.00 per page, plus a $5.00 certification fee.

Bexar District Court Case Search by Name

In Bexar County, information seekers may perform name-based searches of District Court records online, in person, or via mail.

Online

• Navigate to the Bexar County Justice Portal and click "Smart Search".
• Insert a name in the "Enter a Record Number" field. The name may be a defendant, attorney, judge, or company. Record searchers must enter the Record Name in the last, first, and middle name order.
• Next, click "Submit" to view the results.

Visitors uncertain about a name may use a wildcard (*) to find cases.

In-Person Search

Record searchers may visit the Bexar County District Clerk's Office between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, to carry out a name-based search in person. While at the Clerk's Office, they may use available self-service terminals to search records by name.

Mail-In

For mail-in name-based searches direct to the District Clerk's Office, the inquirer must include the following in their written request: case type, applicant’s name, address, and phone number. The packet must also contain the correct payment for record copies and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Bexar District Court Docket Search

A docket is a historical record of every action taken during a court case. From the first petition until the final judge's order, every item submitted to the court is documented or numbered on a docket page.

A court docket contains summaries and filings of upcoming cases. It assists the court in keeping track of multiple cases and is also a helpful tool for researching trials.

Interested parties seeking Bexar County online court dockets should visit the "Dockets and Records" page of the District Clerk's website and review the Justice Information Portal User Guide for additional details on accessing court dockets.

Lookup Bexar County District Court Online

Information seekers may access Bexar County District Court records online through the District Court Clerk's portal. Alternatively, third-party online resources like Texascourtrecords.us may offer seamless access to these records. Users may precisely search cases by entering case numbers, party names, or dates. These platforms typically have easy-to-use interfaces that enable instant viewing and downloading of court case records. However, such sites are run independently of government bodies. Consequently, records obtained may be inaccurate, inaccessible, or missing.

Supreme Court vs. District Court

The district court, a trial-level or local court, is a general jurisdiction court where major civil lawsuits, serious criminal cases, and other cases are first heard. Texas has over 500 district courts.

The Texas Supreme Court is a court of last resort that handles cases appealed from the lower courts, such as the district courts. Unlike most states, the Texas Supreme Court consists of two courts. The Texas Supreme Court handles civil appeals, while the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals oversees criminal cases, including death penalty appeals.

The US Supreme Court has broader legal authority than the Texas Supreme Court. As such, it is the country's highest appellate court for criminal and civil cases. The Court also handles constitutional matters, disputes between states, and more.