Search San Antonio Probate Records
San Antonio probate court records are handled by the Bexar County Clerk's Probate Division. The city itself does not keep probate files. If someone in San Antonio dies and leaves behind property or debts, their estate goes through the Bexar County probate system. You can search for open and closed probate cases through the Bexar County online portals, or visit the Probate Division at the Bexar County Courthouse in person. The county maintains records for wills, estate administration, guardianships, and mental health proceedings. San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas, so the volume of probate cases here is high.
San Antonio Overview
San Antonio Probate Court Filing
San Antonio sits in Bexar County. All probate matters for San Antonio residents go through the Bexar County Probate Division. Under Texas Estates Code Chapter 51, you file in the county where the person who died last lived. For San Antonio, that is Bexar County.
The Bexar County Clerk's office has a full Probate Department. They handle everything from filing new applications to issuing certified copies of wills and court orders. The probate team can be reached at (210) 335-2241. Their office is inside the Bexar County Courthouse at 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78205.
| Office | Bexar County Clerk - Probate Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104 San Antonio, TX 78205 |
| Phone | (210) 335-2241 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | bexar.org/Probate-Division |
Bexar County also offers will safekeeping. You can deposit your will with the County Clerk for just $5. This keeps it in a secure location until it is needed. The service falls under Estates Code Section 252.001. The county also maintains historical Spanish Archives from the 1700s and has a major digitization project under way to make older records available online.
How to Search San Antonio Probate Records
Bexar County offers two main ways to search for probate court records online. The Bexar County Public Record Searches page links to tools for looking up case information. The county also has an Odyssey Portal and a Justice Information Portal at search.bexar.org where you can look up cases by name or case number.
You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX system to find probate records in Bexar County. It covers courts across all of Texas. For the most complete results, try both the county portal and the state system.
If you need copies, the Bexar County Clerk charges $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certification. You can request copies by e-filing, by mail, or in person. Have the name and case file number ready. The Bexar County Clerk's main page has details on all copy request options.
Note: The Bexar County District Clerk at bexar.org/District-Clerk handles some related court records too.
Probate Record Types in San Antonio
San Antonio probate court records include several types of cases. The most common is probating a will. Under Texas Estates Code Chapter 256, a will can be probated as a muniment of title when no full administration is needed. This is a simpler path for estates with no debts besides a mortgage.
Independent administration under Chapter 257 is the most common form of probate in Texas. The court appoints an executor who can manage the estate without asking for court approval on every step. Guardianship records, heirship determinations, and small estate affidavits under Section 205 are all part of the Bexar County probate court system too. Small estates under $75,000 (not counting the homestead) may qualify for the simplified affidavit process.
San Antonio also has a Small Estates Help Desk through SALSA that can help qualifying residents with the paperwork.
San Antonio Probate Resources
The Texas State Law Library at sll.texas.gov has research guides on probate and estate law that can help San Antonio residents understand the process.
The library is in Austin, but their online guides and digital collection are free to use from anywhere in Texas. All official probate forms are at txcourts.gov. Self-represented parties in San Antonio can file in person at the Bexar County Clerk's office rather than using the e-filing system.
The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690 that can match you with a San Antonio probate attorney. TexasLawHelp has step-by-step guides for people handling probate without a lawyer. If you need a death certificate to start probate, the Texas Department of State Health Services at dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics handles those. The first copy costs $20 and extras are $3 each.
E-Filing San Antonio Probate Cases
Attorneys must e-file probate cases in Bexar County through eFileTexas.gov. Self-represented filers can e-file but are not required to. Original wills still need to be filed by hand or mail since they cannot go through the electronic system. A copy of the will should be attached to the electronic application. The original must reach the clerk within three business days.
The state charges a $30 electronic filing fee for new cases. Each filing envelope also costs $2. Your Electronic Filing Service Provider may have its own fees on top of that. Most documents appear online within minutes of being accepted by the clerk.
Nearby Cities
Other Texas cities near San Antonio with probate court records information:
Bexar County Probate Court Records
San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County. All probate cases for San Antonio and the rest of the county go through the Bexar County probate system. See the full county page for more details.