Searching Court Records
Most searches start online. The county runs one free portal that covers cases, hearings, jail, and payments. The questions below cover how to use it and what to expect.
How do I search Bexar County court records online?
Use the Bexar County Justice Portal. Choose Smart Search for court cases, Search Hearings for hearing dates, Jail Search for custody, or Make Payments for criminal and traffic payment cases. The portal replaced the old search.bexar.org court, fugitive, and bail searches. It is free, and public data needs no account. For the full walk-through of fields, results, and copies, see the Bexar County court records page. That page covers Smart Search and the County Clerk official records tool side by side.
Do I need to register for the Justice Portal?
No, not for public data. The portal home and the user guide both say registration is not required for public access. Registration is reserved for authorized law enforcement and justice partners. Elevated access requests go to a county email, and non-justice requests are denied. So a regular user just opens Smart Search and runs the query. The court records page shows the public search screen and how to read the case summary you get back.
What name format should I use?
Enter names in Last, First Middle order. A name can be a defendant, plaintiff, attorney, judge, or company. Searches are not case sensitive. You can also use an asterisk as a wildcard, such as Smith, J star, with a minimum of three characters for a last name and one for a first name. A case number needs four characters before the asterisk. More tips on fields and filters are on the court records page.
Why did my search return too many results?
The portal shows a maximum of 200 results. If you hit that cap, narrow the search. Use advanced filters like case type, case status, file date range, judicial officer, SO number, booking number, or business-name mode. A date of birth or a case number also helps when a name is common. For hearing dates rather than full case files, the court dockets page explains the Search Hearings tool and its filters.
How do I find a court hearing date?
Use Search Hearings in the Justice Portal. Pick the location, the hearing type, the search type, and a date range. You can add a judicial officer or courtroom if you know it. Results show in a list or a calendar view. This is the fastest way to confirm when and where a case is set. The court dockets page covers the hearing search step by step and what each column means.
Can the public search warrants?
Public warrant access is limited. The portal user guide says only certain authorized agencies and justice partners, such as law enforcement, have the clearance to search warrants. A regular user cannot run a full active-warrant lookup. Instead, search the related court case or contact the court or clerk that issued the order. The warrant records page explains the gated access, the warrant types, and how to resolve an outstanding warrant.
Jail and Arrests
Arrest and jail data come from the Sheriff, not the clerks. The next answers explain the recent-arrest tools, the jail roster, and why data can lag.
Where do I find inmates in the Bexar County jail?
Use the Justice Portal Jail Search for the roster, the Central Magistrate Search for recent arrests, or the Jail Activity Reports for daily booking activity. Central Magistrate lists Class B or higher arrests processed in the last 24 hours. The Jail Activity Reports stay online for seven days, then roll off. For the full set of jail tools, profile fields, and mailing rules, see the inmate records page.
What does a Bexar County jail record show?
The public jailing service can show the booking number, the booking and release dates and times, the arrest date, the current name, race, gender, height, weight, hair, and eyes. It also shows the SO number, DOB, facility, mugshot availability flags, and charge details. Charge data can include disposition, arresting agency, bond type, fine and cost fields, the warrant number, and the issuing authority. The inmate records page breaks down each field.
Why is a jail record incomplete or missing?
The Sheriff's Jail Activity Reports page says some data may not be updated yet, depending on where a defendant is in booking. So a very recent arrest may not show all fields right away. Check again later, or call the official jail or sheriff contacts. Booking takes time to post. The arrest records page covers the Central Magistrate 24-hour list, which is the best tool for the most recent arrests.
How do I confirm someone was released?
Search the Jail Search by name, SO number, or booking number, then open the View Jailing detail for the release date, release time, and disposition. The jail service can show historic releases, not only current inmates. For state prison releases use the TDCJ offender search, and for federal releases use the Bureau of Prisons locator. The released inmates page lists each of these tools and how to use them.
How do I send mail to an inmate?
Use the inmate's name and SID number, add the unit if you know it, and mail to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center at 200 N. Comal Street, San Antonio, TX 78207. Incoming mail is opened, inspected, scanned to a kiosk, held two business days, then destroyed. Books must be paperback, sent from a publisher or bookstore, with the SID on the label. Full mailing and book rules are on the inmate records page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate
Family and estate matters split between the two clerks. These answers point you to the right office for licenses, decrees, and estates.
How do I apply for a marriage license?
Complete the online application first, then appear in person at the Marriage Office, the Southside Annex, or Records on the Run within four days. Bring ID, your Social Security number if you have one, and the fee. A formal marriage license is $80, and an informal license is $45. The County Clerk issues these licenses. The marriage and divorce records page lists the steps, the offices, and the document rules.
Is there a waiting period after a marriage license?
Yes. Texas has a 72-hour waiting period after you get the license. A judge can waive it, and active-duty military, a Twogether in Texas certificate, or remarriage to the same person can also waive it. The license is good for 90 days and works anywhere in Texas. For the timing rules and how to request a copy, see the marriage and divorce records page.
Are marriage and divorce records public?
Formal marriage licenses are public, and anyone can request a copy if the license was recorded in Bexar County. Informal marriage certificate copies are limited to the two applicants. Divorce decrees are court records held by the District Clerk, not the County Clerk. So a divorce request routes through the District Clerk's civil records. The marriage and divorce records page explains where each request goes.
Where are probate records handled?
Bexar County has Probate Courts 1, 2, and 3 at 100 Dolorosa. The Probate Clerk is in the basement of the Old Courthouse at the same address. Probate court handles wills, heirship, estate administration, guardianships, trusts, and civil mental health commitments. Probate Court No. 1 also takes the mental health commitment matters. For filing details and what the records show, see the probate records page.
Records, Fees, and Access
The last group covers which clerk holds which file, what copies cost, and the limits of online data. Read these before you pay for a copy.
Where do I get felony criminal records?
The District Clerk is the custodian for felony criminal court records. You can search online through the Justice Portal, or contact the Criminal Filing counter for certified files. A felony case lives with the District Clerk, while a misdemeanor lives with the County Clerk. To trace a charge from arrest to result, start with the arrest records page, then open the matching court case.
Where do I get civil district or divorce records?
The District Clerk holds civil district court records, including divorce decrees. The county's open-records routing says divorce requests go through the District Clerk, not the County Clerk. So a civil suit or a divorce decree points to the same office. The District Clerk page covers the civil and criminal counters, the records page, and how to request a certified copy.
Where do I get misdemeanor records?
Misdemeanor records are handled through the County Clerk and the county courts at law. The County Clerk's public searches page links to a Misdemeanor Court Records Search. So a Class A or Class B misdemeanor file sits with the County Clerk, not the District Clerk. The County Clerk page lists the office's record types and search tools, and explains what the County Clerk keeps.
How much do District Clerk copies cost?
The District Clerk fee schedule lists copies at $1 per page and certified copies at $5 per document after the copy fee. A search fee runs $5. Emailed imaged copies cost $1 per page by written request, then $0.10 each for additional pages after the first 10. The office does not take personal checks. The court records page compares online copies with certified copies and explains when you need each.
Is the online portal an official certified record?
No. The portal usage notice says online information is a free convenience, not a replacement for official records from county offices. So a printout from the portal is for reference. For any legal or formal use, request a certified copy from the proper clerk. The public records page explains the open-records routing and how a public information request differs from a court-record request.
Where can I request other open records?
Use the county's open-records routing page. Marriage, land, county court at law, probate, and wills go to the County Clerk. District court matters and divorce decrees go to the District Clerk. Arrest, mugshot, magistration, and jail records go to the Sheriff. Routing the request to the right office is the key to a fast answer. The public records page walks through each path and the Texas Public Information Act basics.