San Antonio Family Court Records Search
San Antonio family court records are maintained by the Bexar County District Clerk and cover all cases filed in the family district courts that serve the city. With over 1.5 million residents, San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas, and Bexar County has fifteen family district courts handling divorce, custody, child support, paternity, and protective orders. You can search records online through the Bexar County court records portal, and this page explains your options for finding cases, requesting documents, and getting copies of family court filings in San Antonio.
San Antonio Quick Facts
Bexar County District Clerk
The Bexar County District Clerk is the primary keeper of family court records for San Antonio. District Clerk Mary Angie Garcia maintains filings for all district courts in Bexar County, including the fifteen family district courts. The office is located at the Paul Elizondo Tower, 101 W. Nueva Street in downtown San Antonio.
Bexar County's family district courts include the 37th, 45th, 57th, 73rd, 131st, 144th, 150th, 166th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 195th, 224th, 225th, and 285th Judicial District Courts. The 48th and 49th Judicial District Courts are designated Child Support Courts, handling support establishment, modification, and enforcement for the county. San Antonio residents file family cases at the Paul Elizondo Tower, and in-person requests are accepted at that location.
| Office | Bexar County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Dolorosa Street, Suite 104 San Antonio, TX 78205 |
| Phone | (210) 335-2591 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | bexar.org/District-Clerk |
Mail requests for records are accepted at the same address. Include party names, cause number if known, and payment for copy and certification fees. The office will provide an estimate for large requests before processing.
Searching San Antonio Family Court Records
The Bexar County court records portal lets you search across all Bexar County courts including family, criminal, civil, and probate. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Many case documents are available for online viewing and download for registered users, and public access terminals are available at the courthouse for free in-person searches.
The statewide tool re:SearchTX is also available and pulls records from Texas district courts including Bexar County. It shows party names, case type, filing date, and basic docket entries. Some documents are viewable directly through re:SearchTX depending on what has been uploaded by the clerk's office.
For records related to the Bexar County public records search, the county also maintains a portal at bexar.org/Public-Record-Searches with links to various record types. Juvenile court records are not available online and require in-person access with proper authorization.
Note: Certified copies of family court documents must be requested in person or by mail from the District Clerk's office. Online systems show case data but do not provide certified copies directly.
San Antonio City Records and Courts
The San Antonio City Clerk maintains official city records, council documents, and processes open records requests under the Texas Public Information Act. The City Clerk office is at 100 Military Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205.
For city-level public information requests, contact the City Clerk's office or submit a request through the city's online portal. City records are different from court records; family court filings are kept by the District Clerk, not City Hall.
The San Antonio Police Department Records Unit handles police report requests for involved parties. SAPD Records is located at 315 S. Santa Rosa, San Antonio, TX 78207. Police records may be relevant in family cases involving domestic violence or protective orders, but they are separate from family court filings held by the District Clerk.
The San Antonio Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, parking violations, and city code violations. Call (210) 207-7830 for general inquiries. Family law matters go to the District Clerk, not Municipal Court, but protective order violations may appear in municipal records.
Family Cases in San Antonio Courts
San Antonio residents file family court cases under Texas state law, primarily the Texas Family Code. Divorce cases are governed by Family Code Chapter 6. At least one spouse must live in Texas for six months and in Bexar County for 90 days before filing under Family Code Section 6.301. Texas also has a mandatory 60-day waiting period after a divorce petition is filed before a judge can sign the final decree.
Custody and conservatorship cases follow Family Code Chapter 153. Texas uses the term "managing conservator" rather than "custodian." The court's default is joint managing conservatorship unless circumstances make that not in the child's best interest. Either parent can petition the court to modify a prior custody order if there is a material and substantial change in circumstances since the order was entered.
Paternity actions are filed under Family Code Chapter 160. Either parent can file, and the court can order genetic testing. Once paternity is established, the court can address child support and conservatorship in the same case. San Antonio has a Spanish-speaking population, and the Bexar County courts maintain bilingual resources for some proceedings.
Legal Help in San Antonio
Several organizations help San Antonio residents with family law matters. Lone Star Legal Aid serves low-income clients in the region with free civil legal services including family law. Call (800) 733-8394 or check lonestarlegal.org for eligibility guidelines. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also serves San Antonio and can be reached at (210) 212-3700.
The State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service is at (800) 252-9690 and online at texasbar.com. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has self-help forms and guides for divorce, custody, and child support. Official court forms for Texas are also available at txcourts.gov. Electronic filing through eFileTexas.gov is available for all district court filings.
Bexar County Family Court Records
San Antonio is located in Bexar County. All family court filings, including divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders, go through the Bexar County District Court system. For more details on the Bexar County clerk offices, resources, and record access options, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other major Texas cities have family court records through their county district clerk offices.
- Austin - Travis County
- Houston - Harris County
- Corpus Christi - Nueces County