Bexar County Public Records: Court, Arrest, Property, Deeds & Tax Records
Bexar County public records are spread across the County Clerk, District Clerk, Central Magistrate, Bexar Central Appraisal District, Tax Assessor-Collector and other local offices. The right search depends on the record you actually need.
Use the official routes below to find court cases, recent arrest processing, deeds, liens, property ownership, appraisal data, tax accounts, marriage records and qualifying birth or death records.
Which Bexar County Office Has the Record?
Bexar County uses different systems for court records, recent arrest processing, recorded land documents, appraisal records and tax accounts. Searching the correct system first avoids many false or incomplete results.
| You need | Official source | Best starting detail |
|---|---|---|
| Civil or criminal court case | Bexar County Justice Information Portal | Case number or party name |
| Recent arrest processing | Central Magistrate Search | Name, SID or booking number |
| Deed, land record, lien, plat or foreclosure document | Bexar County Clerk Official Records | Grantor/grantee, document number or date |
| Property owner, value or appraisal record | Bexar Central Appraisal District | Address, owner or BCAD Property ID |
| Property-tax balance or payment | Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector | Account, property ID, owner or address |
| Marriage record | Bexar County Clerk | Names and approximate marriage date |
| Birth or death record | County Clerk or City of San Antonio registrar, depending on event | Name, event date and place of birth/death |
How to Search Bexar County Court Records
Bexar County now uses a consolidated Justice Information Portal for public court and related justice searches. Older court-record, fugitive and bail-bond search tools have been moved into the newer portal.
- Choose Smart Search for court records.
- Use the case number when you already know it.
- Otherwise search the party’s legal name.
- Open the matching result and confirm the court, filing date and parties.
- Use Search Hearings when your main question is a court date.
Public users do not need to register for ordinary public data. Registration is reserved for authorized justice partners seeking elevated access.
County Clerk vs. District Clerk
The District Clerk is the official custodian for civil district-court records and criminal felony court records. County Clerk court sections handle records such as misdemeanor, probate and certain county-level civil matters.
Bexar County Arrest and Central Magistrate Search
The Central Magistrate Search is useful for recent arrests involving Class B offenses or higher that were processed through the Central Magistrate Office.
- Search the recent arrest list or use the available person search.
- Compare the person’s name, age, SID and booking number.
- Review the listed charge information.
- Save the SID or booking number for follow-up.
- Search the Justice Information Portal for the related court case.
The Central Magistrate system focuses on people processed within the recent period shown by the portal. It should not be treated as a complete historical criminal-record database.
Search Bexar County Property Records
Bexar Central Appraisal District is the official source for appraisal values, owner display, property IDs, geographic information and appraisal-related records.
BCAD launched a new property-search experience in 2026 with Quick Search and additional filtering options.
- Select Property Search.
- Use the property address, owner name or BCAD Property ID.
- Open the matching property and confirm the location.
- Save the Property ID and legal-description information.
- Use the County Clerk Official Records search when you need the recorded deed.
BCAD search tips
- For an owner, enter last name first and then first name without a comma.
- For directional addresses, BCAD recommends the first letter, such as N instead of spelling out North.
- For a street-wide search, enter the street name without a street number.
- A BCAD Property ID is generally a 6- or 7-digit account number.
Search Bexar County Deeds, Liens and Land Records
The Bexar County Clerk Official Records Search is the correct system for land records, plats, foreclosures, marriage records, assumed names and other recorded documents.
- Choose the correct record department or category.
- Search by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number.
- Add a useful recorded-date range.
- Use Index Only for indexed fields or Full Text when OCR searching may help.
- Open the underlying recorded document before relying on the index alone.
The County Clerk describes this as a free online database where records can be searched and viewed, and available uncertified copies can be printed directly.
Search Bexar County Property Tax Records
The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector collects property taxes for the county and many other taxing jurisdictions. BCAD sets appraisal values; the Tax Office does not set or raise property values.
- Choose Property Tax Search.
- Search the correct property-tax account.
- Confirm the property and tax year.
- Review balances, payments or overpayment information.
- Use the Tax Office payment route only after confirming the account.
The county states that January 1 is the effective date of the property-tax roll and that the collection phase begins October 1.
Bexar County Birth and Death Records Have an Important Custodian Split
Birth and death records in Bexar County are more complicated than in many counties because some older rural records are held by the Bexar County Clerk while the City of San Antonio City Clerk serves as the local registrar for many Bexar County vital records.
Bexar County Clerk records
The County Clerk currently identifies several older records it can issue, including qualifying rural and unincorporated-area births before 1967 and certain rural death records from 1903–1967.
- Read the list of records actually maintained by the County Clerk.
- Confirm the year and location of the birth or death.
- Use the City of San Antonio route if the record belongs with the local registrar.
- Prepare the required application, identification and eligibility documents.
City of San Antonio Vital Records
The San Antonio City Clerk serves as local registrar for births, deaths and fetal deaths occurring in Bexar County. Its index currently includes birth records from 1897, death records from 1873 and fetal-death records from 1952.
- Choose Birth Certificate, Death Certificate or Vital Records Index.
- Use the index when you first need to confirm that a record is available.
- Review the eligibility and identification requirements.
- Choose the official ordering method for the certificate you need.
Search Bexar County Marriage Records
Marriage licenses purchased in Bexar County are recorded by the Bexar County Clerk, regardless of where the ceremony later takes place.
- Change the record department/category to Marriage when needed.
- Search using the names of the parties.
- Add a useful date range.
- Confirm the correct record before requesting a copy.
Ordinary marriage licenses are public records, and anyone may request a copy. A Declaration and Registration of Informal Marriage is handled differently and is not an ordinary public record; copies are limited to the applicants named on the declaration.
How to Submit a Bexar County Public Records Request
Bexar County’s open-records portal should not replace the specialized Clerk, court, appraisal or tax systems. The county specifically directs users to the correct record custodian when a dedicated search already exists.
- Check whether the record already belongs to the County Clerk, District Clerk or another specific office.
- Search existing online records before filing a broad request.
- Describe the exact document or information needed.
- Give a department, date range, case, property or contract identifier when available.
- Use the county request center when the record does not have a more specific custodian.
The county specifically directs marriage licenses, land records and county/probate court records to the County Clerk, and district-court records and divorce decrees to the District Clerk.
What to Do When a Bexar County Search Returns Nothing
| Problem | Likely reason | Try next |
|---|---|---|
| No court case appears | Secured case, wrong name, wrong court or no filed case | Use case number, alternate name spelling or contact the correct Clerk |
| Arrest appears but no court result | Recent Central Magistrate processing may precede court filing | Recheck the Justice Portal later using SID or booking details |
| Property search is too broad | BCAD Quick Search checks multiple fields | Use exact property ID or refine owner/address terms |
| BCAD owner found but deed missing | You are searching appraisal data | Move to County Clerk Official Records |
| Birth/death request sent to wrong office | Bexar County has County Clerk and San Antonio registrar routes | Check year, hospital/city location and custodian rules |
| Online record is not accepted | Certified copy required | Order from the official custodian |
Bexar County Public Records Offices
100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-335-2216
Main published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except county holidays.
Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva St., San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-335-2591
411 North Frio Street, San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-242-2432
233 N. Pecos La Trinidad, San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-335-2251
200 N. Comal, South Tower, San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: 210-335-6111
Bexar County Courthouse map
The historic courthouse is at 100 Dolorosa, but several important records departments are in nearby county buildings such as the Paul Elizondo Tower. Check the specific department address before visiting.
Before You Rely on a Bexar County Record
- Confirm the correct person, property, court and jurisdiction.
- Do not treat an arrest or booking record as proof of conviction.
- Use the actual deed or recorded instrument when an appraisal record is not enough.
- Remember that secured, confidential or restricted cases may not appear publicly.
- Order a certified copy when a court, agency or other recipient requires one.
Bexar County Public Records FAQs
1. Where do I search Bexar County court records?
Use the Bexar County Justice Information Portal. Smart Search provides public court-record access, while Search Hearings can be used for hearing-date research.
2. Do I need an account to use the Bexar County Justice Portal?
No registration is required for ordinary public data. Registration is intended for authorized agencies and justice partners requesting elevated access.
3. Where do I find recent Bexar County arrest records?
Use the Central Magistrate Search for recent people processed through the Central Magistrate Office, then check the Justice Information Portal for the related court case.
4. Where do I search Bexar County deeds and liens?
Use the Bexar County Clerk Official Records Search for land records, deeds, liens, plats, foreclosures and other recorded documents.
5. How do I find who owns property in Bexar County?
Use Bexar Central Appraisal District to search by address, owner or BCAD Property ID. Use County Clerk Official Records if you need the recorded deed itself.
6. Where do I search Bexar County property taxes?
Use the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector property-tax search. BCAD handles appraisal values; the Tax Office handles collection and payments.
7. Can I search Bexar County marriage records online?
Yes. Marriage is one of the record categories available through the County Clerk Official Records Search. Certified copies should be requested from the Clerk when needed.
8. Where do I get a Bexar County birth or death certificate?
The correct office depends on the year and location of the event. Some older rural records are held by the Bexar County Clerk, while the City of San Antonio City Clerk serves as the local registrar for many Bexar County births and deaths.
9. Why might a Bexar County court record not appear online?
The case may be secured, confidential, indexed differently, not yet filed, or outside the public-access category. Contact the correct Clerk when you know the case exists but cannot locate it online.
10. Are online Bexar County records enough for legal proof?
Not always. Online systems are useful for research, but courts, agencies, title companies and other recipients may require an official or certified copy from the record custodian.