Bexar County is a County in the U.S. State of Texas. With a rapidly growing population estimated to be over two million people, it is the fourth-largest county in Texas and the sixteenth-largest nationally. Its County seat is in San Antonio, and it is home to treasures such as the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Alamo.

Courts in Bexar County

Bexar County has several courts, including District Courts, Constitutional County Courts, County Courts at Law, Statutory Probate Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

There are thirty District Courts in Bexar County. The courts have the highest jurisdiction in the county and consist of multiple divisions exercising jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and juvenile cases.

Constitutional County Courts in Bexar County exercise jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. For criminal cases, they exercise jurisdiction over misdemeanors punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or a jail sentence not exceeding one year. The court also hears civil cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $10,000. 

Bexar County has fourteen County Courts at Law. These courts have appellate jurisdiction over cases appealed from the Justice of Peace and Municipal Courts. They also exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction. However, their criminal jurisdiction only covers misdemeanors. 

In Bexar County, Probate Courts exercise jurisdiction over probate matters, including probate of wills, administration of estate, guardianship, and mental health proceedings.

Justice Courts in Bexar County have civil and criminal jurisdiction. They hear criminal matters such as traffic misdemeanors and misdemeanors without potential jail penalty. They also hear civil cases, including small claims, mortgage foreclosures, and enforcement of some liens on personal property.

Lastly, Municipal Courts in Bexar County are of the lowest rank. There are twenty-two of these courts in the County. The courts exercise civil jurisdiction over cases such as the ownership of dangerous dogs. They also exercise criminal jurisdiction over some misdemeanors.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Bexar County

Public court records are records generated during legal proceedings and made accessible to the public. They include records of cases, documents in the court registry, and court judgments. The Clerk of the District Court maintains the record for all divisions of that court. The Office of the Clerk makes these records available online.

Apart from accessing the records online, the public can also visit the Office of the Clerk to view them or send mail requesting the needed records. When sending a request for records, the request should include identifying information, such as the full name of the plaintiff, the attorney involved in the case, a date range, and a document type.

Types of Public Court Records in Bexar County

The public is granted access to court records such as the following in Bexar County:

• Civil Court Records: such as records of cases on breach of contract, foreclosure, liens, and personal injury cases
• Criminal Court Records: including records of court proceedings for misdemeanors and felonies.
• Family Court Records: such as records of proceedings on custody and divorce
• Probate Court Records: including records of wills and estate, name change, and guardianship

Confidential Court Records in Bexar County

Bexar County allows public access to court records but certain records and information are considered confidential and exempt. This may be because of a statute declaring the record confidential or a court order sealing the record. The following records are considered confidential in Bexar County:

• Unexecuted summons or warrants
• Pretrial bails
• presentence reports
• Records containing sensitive material or classified information

Juvenile Delinquency in Bexar, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Bexar County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 71 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Bexar County. Of that total, 6% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 4 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Bexar County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Bexar County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Bexar County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	San Antonio
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1835
Total Square Miles:	1,256
2019 Population:	1,958,578
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Bexar County, TX Courts