Bexar County Family Court Records

Bexar County family court records are maintained by the District Clerk's office in San Antonio, Texas. Bexar County is the fourth most populous county in Texas, home to San Antonio and surrounding communities. Family court records covering divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, and paternity cases are filed here and are accessible online and in person. This page explains how to find and request Bexar County family court records, covers the district courts that handle family law matters, and provides contact details, fees, and legal help resources.

Bexar County District Clerk

The Bexar County District Clerk is the official keeper of all family court records in the county. Gloria A. Martinez serves as the District Clerk. Her office is located at 101 W Nueva, Suite 217, in San Antonio. The District Clerk maintains records for all family district courts, handles certified copy requests, and manages the public access terminals in the courthouse. You can reach the office at (210) 335-2113.

Mary Angie Garcia served previously and the current clerk at 100 Dolorosa Street, Suite 104, continues that tradition of comprehensive records access. The District Clerk's office handles family court records for 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 as Child Support Courts. This is one of the most complex family court systems in the state, given the size of the county.

The Bexar County Clerk, Lucy Adame-Clark, handles official public records including marriage licenses going back to 1837 and vital records going back to 1873. For family court case files, the District Clerk's office is the right contact. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for free in-person searches.

How to Search Bexar County Family Court Records

Bexar County offers several tools for searching family court records. The centralized court records search at bexarcountycourt.org/court-records allows you to search by name, case number, or date range across civil, criminal, family, and probate courts. Many documents are available for online viewing and download for registered users. Public access terminals at the courthouse are available for free in-person searches.

The Bexar County centralized court records portal gives access to family court cases and other Bexar County district court records.

The Bexar County public records portal at bexar.org provides free online search access to official county records including land records, marriage records, and other official documents.

The Bexar County official records search at bexar.org/2984/Public-Record-Searches gives free access to an online database where you can search and view documents, print uncertified copies, and search multiple document types including marriage records, land records, and public notices. This is managed by the County Clerk and covers official county records.

The court records search portal at bexarcountycourt.org is the better option for searching family court case filings.

The bexarcountycourt.org court records portal searches across Bexar County family courts and other district courts, covering civil, criminal, family, and probate cases in San Antonio and the surrounding area.

The statewide re:SearchTX system is also available for cases filed electronically since 2018. Civil case searches conducted by District Clerk staff cost $5.00 each. Certified copies must be requested at the clerk's office in person or by mail.

Types of Family Court Cases in Bexar County

Bexar County's 15 family district courts handle a large volume of family law cases for one of Texas's most populous counties. Divorce cases, both agreed and contested, are the most common filing. Texas divorces follow Texas Family Code Chapter 6 and can be based on no-fault grounds (insupportability) or fault-based grounds including cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, or living apart for three years. All property acquired during marriage is community property, and the court divides it in a just and right manner.

Custody and conservatorship cases are a major part of the Bexar County family court docket. Under Texas Family Code Chapter 153, the courts determine conservatorship based on the best interest of the child. Joint managing conservatorship, where both parents share decision-making, is the most common outcome. The court also sets out the possession schedule, which tells each parent when they have the children.

The 48th and 49th Judicial District Courts in Bexar County are dedicated child support courts, reflecting the high volume of support cases in the county. These courts handle cases under Texas Family Code Chapter 154. Bexar County also handles protective orders, paternity suits, adoptions, guardianship, and name change cases through its district and county courts.

Filing Family Court Cases in Bexar County

To file a family court case in Bexar County, the residency requirement under Texas Family Code Section 6.301 must be met. At least one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Bexar County for 90 days. Residents of San Antonio and all other communities in Bexar County file at the District Clerk's office in downtown San Antonio. The Original Petition for Divorce is the first document filed, along with a filing fee.

Texas law requires a minimum 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be granted after the petition is filed, under Texas Family Code Section 6.702. For agreed divorces, once the 60 days pass and all documents are in order, the judge can sign the Final Decree. Contested cases may involve mediation, hearings, and a trial before a judge enters the final order.

Attorneys must e-file through eFileTexas.gov. Self-represented parties may use e-filing or bring paper documents to the clerk's office. Since September 2021, all child support orders must include a Record of Support Order filed using the state-mandated form per Texas Family Code Section 105.008. The Texas court forms page has current approved forms, and the Bexar County open records portal accepts requests through the Bexar County Public Information Act Request Center.

Fees and Public Access in Bexar County

Bexar County offers free search access through its online records portal and free printable uncertified copies for records that are printable online. Civil case searches conducted by clerk staff cost $5.00. Public kiosks at the courthouse are free for on-site searches. Certified copies carry a per-page fee plus a certification charge. Contact the District Clerk's office at (210) 335-2113 for the current certified copy fee schedule.

Family court records in Bexar County are public records under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Anyone can request copies of public case records. Some records are not available. Juvenile records are confidential and not available online. Sealed cases require a court order to access. Personal information like Social Security numbers is redacted from public copies. Documents submitted under seal in family cases may also be protected.

If you cannot afford filing fees or copy costs, the court has a waiver process. You file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs at the clerk's office. For statewide divorce record indexes, contact Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. Certified copies of divorce decrees still come from the Bexar County District Clerk for divorces filed in Bexar County.

Note: The Bexar County Criminal Records division at 300 Dolorosa Street provides name-based criminal background checks at $3.00 per name. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Legal Help in Bexar County

Bexar County has several legal aid and self-help resources for family court matters. The Texas Judicial Branch self-help program at txcourts.gov/programs-services/self-help provides free guides for self-represented litigants in family law cases. The site explains court procedures and links to forms approved for use across Texas courts.

TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org is the main free resource for family law guides in Texas. It covers divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders with step-by-step instructions and form links. This is one of the best starting points for anyone who does not have an attorney and needs to understand what documents to file and how.

Bexar County Legal Aid provides free or reduced-cost legal services to qualifying residents. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid also serves the San Antonio area and handles family law cases for eligible clients. Call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 for a lawyer referral. The San Antonio Bar Association may also have a local referral service. The Texas State Law Library at guides.sll.texas.gov provides free access to family law form guides and e-books for Texas residents.

Cities in Bexar County

Bexar County includes San Antonio and many surrounding communities. All family court cases for residents of any city or unincorporated area in Bexar County are filed at the Bexar County District Court in downtown San Antonio.

Other communities in Bexar County include Leon Valley, Converse, Universal City, Live Oak, Selma, Schertz (partially), Helotes, Alamo Heights, and many more. All family court filings go through the Bexar County District Court in San Antonio.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bexar County. Verify your address to confirm which court system handles your family law case.