District Courts
Bexar County District Courts handle several major categories of court business, including civil, criminal, and juvenile matters. This page explains how the district court system is organized, how to identify the correct court division, where to look for court records and docket information, what official court pages provide, and how to prepare before contacting or appearing before a court. It also explains the roles of Civil District Court Administration, specialized courts, court staff, and the county's central Courts Portal so users can avoid common problems such as contacting the wrong division or confusing a court with the office that maintains court records.
District Court System Structure
Bexar County does not operate a single district court that handles every type of case. Its district court system is divided into civil, criminal, and juvenile courts, with individual numbered courts and judges assigned within those divisions. The county also operates related specialty courts and administrative offices that support court operations.
The county's official Courts Portal is a useful starting point when you are uncertain which part of the court system applies to your situation. It organizes county court information into Civil District, Criminal District, Juvenile District, County Courts, specialty courts, and other court-related services. The portal also identifies access points for online court dockets and civil and criminal court records.
Before contacting a district court, determine the general type of case involved. Civil matters should normally be researched through the civil district court section, criminal felony matters through the criminal district court section, and juvenile district court matters through the juvenile section. This basic distinction can prevent delays because each division has its own judges, administrative structure, and court information.
Civil district courts
The Civil District Courts page is the county's main official source for information about Bexar County's civil district courts. It provides the current civil district judge listing along with court procedures, local rules, attorney resources, interpreter information, visiting judge information, jury trial dates, dismissal schedules, and other documents used in civil district court proceedings.
The civil division includes numbered courts such as the 37th, 45th, 57th, 73rd, 131st, 150th, 166th, 224th, 225th, 285th, 288th, 407th, 408th, and 438th Civil District Courts. The county page identifies the judge assigned to each court and provides court-specific contact information.
Criminal district courts
Bexar County maintains a separate Criminal District Courts page for criminal district court information. The criminal division includes the 144th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 226th, 227th, 290th, 379th, 399th, and 437th Criminal District Courts.
The criminal district court page also identifies several specialized criminal court programs and functions, including Felony Drug Court, Felony Veterans Treatment Court, Prostitution Prevention Court, Criminal Law Magistrate Court, Pre-indictment Court, and Felony Impact Court. Central Magistration is also identified separately. Users should not assume that a specialized program is the same office as the numbered criminal district court assigned to a case.
Juvenile district courts
The county's Juvenile District Courts page identifies the 289th, 386th, and 436th Juvenile District Courts, as well as an associate judge and general administrative counsel. Juvenile district court matters operate within their own part of the county court system rather than through the general civil or adult criminal district court listings.
The juvenile court page also connects users with related county court functions, including the Bexar County Central Magistrate Search, Jury Services, the Sheriff's Office Court Security function, and other court-related government information. When a matter specifically involves a juvenile district court, the juvenile court page should be used instead of relying on information intended for adult criminal or general civil proceedings.
Identifying the Correct Court
One of the most common problems for court users is knowing that a case is in a Bexar County district court but not knowing which specific court has responsibility for it. The numbered court matters because judges, staff, schedules, and administrative procedures are organized by court.
If you already have paperwork from a court proceeding, review it for the court number and the type of case. A reference to a numbered civil district court should be matched against the civil judge listing. A numbered criminal district court should be matched against the criminal listing. Juvenile district courts have their own numbered court list.
The judge listings can also help confirm that you are looking at the right court. Because judicial assignments can change, the official county pages are more appropriate for checking the current judge than relying on an older notice, saved search result, or unofficial directory.
Court versus court records office
A district court and the office responsible for court records are not necessarily the same thing. The Courts Portal separately identifies the District Clerk's Office and the district courts. This distinction matters when deciding where to direct a question.
The district court pages are designed around judges, court operations, procedures, schedules, and court-specific information. The Courts Portal separately provides access to civil and criminal court records search functions. A person looking for a record should therefore avoid assuming that calling a judge's court is the same as using the official records system.
Likewise, a question about a hearing schedule, court procedure, or the judge assigned to a numbered court is different from a search for historical case records. Keeping the court's function separate from the records function can save time and reduce transfers between county offices.
Civil Court Procedures
Civil district court users should pay particular attention to the procedural materials published by Bexar County. The civil district court page includes Civil District Courts Procedures and Bexar County Civil District Court Local Rules. The reference page indicates that the local rules were updated as of July 1, 2026, making the official county page the appropriate place to check the currently posted version.
The civil court page also provides attorney eFiling instructions and other filing-related material. These resources are especially relevant to attorneys and others who need to work within the court's electronic filing procedures. Because the county publishes dedicated eFiling instructions, users should rely on the instructions posted by the court rather than assuming procedures used in another county apply in Bexar County.
Local rules and orders
The civil court's online material includes local rules and several court orders or procedural documents. Examples identified by the county include Part 3 Civil District Court Rules, Special Order No. 72116, a Decorum Order, and a special order adopting the Civil District Courts' ad litem fee schedule.
These documents address different aspects of court practice and should not be treated as interchangeable. A local rule may apply broadly to civil district court procedure, while a special order can address a narrower court practice or administrative issue. Users working on a pending matter should identify the specific document that applies to the task they are trying to complete.
Motions and visiting judges
The civil district court page includes a procedure for setting a motion before a visiting judge as well as a Judge's Visiting Calendar. This is useful because a motion involving a visiting judge may involve a procedure that differs from simply contacting the regular numbered court.
Users should verify both the procedural instructions and the visiting judge information posted by the county before relying on an older calendar. The civil district court page treats the visiting judge calendar and the motion-setting procedure as separate resources, so both may be relevant when preparing for this type of setting.
Dismissal schedules
The civil division publishes DWOP schedules, including schedules identified for 2026 and 2027. DWOP information should be reviewed in the context of the court's posted schedule and procedures. A schedule is not the same thing as an individual case notice, and users should avoid assuming that a general calendar alone establishes what will happen in a particular case.
When reviewing a case that may be affected by a dismissal schedule, keep the exact court number and case information available and compare the information you have with the materials issued for that proceeding.
Civil Trial Scheduling
Bexar County's civil district court materials include available jury trial dates for the 2026-2027 period. This information can help attorneys and court users understand the dates the court has made available for civil jury trial scheduling, but an available-date document should not be confused with confirmation that a particular case has been placed on a specific trial date.
The civil court page also identifies a Chief Trial Assignment Clerk and Civil District Court Administration. These functions are part of the administrative structure supporting civil court scheduling and court operations. Users dealing with trial assignments should pay attention to the specific instructions provided for their case rather than relying solely on the general list of available dates.
Interpreter Requests
The Civil District Courts page provides a Sign/Foreign Language Interpreter Request and also publishes a Limited English Proficiency Plan and a Spanish version of that plan. These materials are part of the official civil district court resources.
If an interpreter is needed for a civil district court matter, use the county's designated interpreter request information rather than assuming that notifying an unrelated county office will place an interpreter request with the court. The separate interpreter resource exists so requests can be directed through the court's established process.
Bexar County also provides accessibility information for people using assistive technology. The county asks users experiencing an accessibility problem with website material to identify the nature of the problem, the preferred format, the web address of the affected material, and their contact information. This accessibility assistance is separate from a court interpreter request and should not be confused with the interpreter process used for court proceedings.
Child Support and Children's Courts
The civil district court structure includes Child Support Court and Children's Court functions. The civil court page identifies two Child Support Court associate judges and a Children's Court. Civil District Court Administration also states that it supports the Children's Courts Division and Specialty Programs, the Domestic Relations Office, and Child Support Probation.
These services are related to the civil district court system but should not automatically be treated as ordinary numbered civil district courts. If your paperwork identifies Child Support Court, Children's Court, Domestic Relations, or another specialty program, follow the terminology shown on that paperwork when looking for the corresponding county service.
This distinction is particularly useful when using the Courts Portal because the portal separately lists Child Support Court, Children's Court, Domestic Relations Office, Family Drug Court, Presiding Court, Staff Attorney Office, and other civil-related functions. Selecting the specific function named in your case materials is more reliable than selecting a general court category based only on the subject matter.
Civil Court Administration
Civil District Court Administration provides administrative support for Bexar County's civil district court system. According to the county, its mission is to provide judges and staff with the administrative support needed for an efficient, responsive, and effective court system.
The administration office supports several court functions, including the Presiding Civil District Court, Civil District Courts Staff Attorney Office, Jury Assignments, Children's Courts Division and specialty programs, Domestic Relations Office, and Child Support Probation.
This administrative role is different from the work of an individual numbered court. A numbered court is associated with a judge and its own court operations, while Civil District Court Administration supports broader functions across the civil district court system. Recognizing that distinction can help users avoid directing every civil court question to the administrative office.
Presiding civil court
The county identifies a Presiding Court within the civil district court structure. The Presiding Court is also listed among the offices supported by Civil District Court Administration. Users whose notices or court instructions specifically refer to Presiding Court should follow that designation rather than substituting the judge's numbered civil district court without confirming which court the matter has been assigned to.
Staff attorney office
The Civil District Courts page identifies an Office of Staff Attorney, and Civil District Court Administration lists the Civil District Courts Staff Attorney Office among the functions it supports. This office is part of the court's institutional structure and should not be confused with a private attorney service or the attorney representing a party.
Criminal Court Information
Criminal district court users should rely on the criminal division rather than civil court rules or civil filing instructions. Bexar County's criminal page provides a separate judge directory and hearing reports. The posted hearing reports are identified by date and are made available as spreadsheet files.
The criminal district court page also publishes a Limited English Proficiency Plan and a Spanish version. Criminal court users needing information related to language access should use the materials applicable to the criminal court system rather than assuming that a civil court document governs a criminal proceeding.
Specialized criminal courts
Several specialized criminal court functions appear on the county's criminal district court page. These include:
Felony Drug Court
Felony Veterans Treatment Court
Prostitution Prevention Court
Criminal Law Magistrate Court
Pre-indictment Court
Felony Impact Court
Central Magistration
A specialty court name on a document should be treated as meaningful. It may identify a particular program, judge, or stage of the criminal court process. Do not replace that designation with a numbered criminal district court unless your current case information identifies that numbered court.
Juvenile Court Information
The juvenile district court system is smaller than the civil and criminal district court divisions but has its own judges and administration. The county identifies three numbered juvenile district courts, an associate judge, and general administrative counsel.
Because juvenile proceedings are presented separately on the county website, people working with juvenile court information should use the juvenile court directory rather than general adult criminal court listings. A similar court number or judge name should not be used as a substitute for confirming the specific juvenile court shown on current case paperwork.
Online Dockets and Records
The Courts Portal provides entry points labeled Online Court Dockets and Civil & Criminal Courts Records Search. These functions serve different user needs from the individual judge directories. If your goal is to locate court record information, begin with the records search option identified by the county. If your goal is to review docket information, use the court docket option provided through the portal.
Before conducting a search, gather the identifying information already available from your court documents. Useful information may include the case number, party names, court number, and whether the matter is civil or criminal. Using the correct category matters because the county portal distinguishes civil and criminal records from other systems such as the Central Magistrate Search and jail-related information.
Records and arrest searches differ
The Courts Portal separately identifies Civil & Criminal Courts Records Search, Central Magistrate Search, Magistrate Recent Arrest Search, Adult Detainee Visitation & Information, and BCSO Jail Activity Reports. These are distinct systems or services.
A court case record should not automatically be searched as an arrest record, and a recent arrest search should not be treated as the same thing as a district court record. Likewise, jail information concerns detention and custody rather than the complete district court case record. Selecting the system that matches the information you need can prevent misleading or incomplete search results.
Preparing Before Court Contact
Before contacting a district court or related county office, organize the information from your most recent court document. Court staff can more readily identify the relevant court when you can provide precise information rather than only a person's name or a general description of the dispute.
When available on your paperwork, have the following details ready:
The exact numbered district court.
The case number shown on the court document.
The names of the parties as they appear in the case.
Whether the matter is civil, criminal, or juvenile.
The hearing, filing, or document you are asking about.
Any date stated on the most recent court notice.
The name of a specialty court or program if one appears on the document.
Use the exact court terminology shown on official documents. For example, "Child Support Court," "Presiding Court," "Criminal Law Magistrate Court," and a numbered district court are different designations. Providing the exact name reduces the chance that a question will be directed to the wrong office.
Common District Court Mistakes
Using the wrong division
Civil, criminal, and juvenile district courts have separate official pages and judge lists. Civil local rules and eFiling information should not be applied automatically to a criminal proceeding, and adult criminal court information should not be used as a substitute for juvenile court information.
Calling the wrong numbered court
Bexar County has many numbered district courts. Confirm the court number from current paperwork before contacting a court. A judge's name alone may be less reliable if you are working from an old document because judicial assignments can change.
Confusing records with the court
A judge's court, District Clerk's Office, online court records search, and court docket function serve different purposes. For record searching, use the county's identified records access point. For court-specific scheduling or procedural information, consult the appropriate district court page and the instructions associated with the particular court.
Mixing magistrate and district records
The Courts Portal separates district court records from Central Magistrate and recent arrest search functions. If you need information about an existing district court case, do not assume a magistrate or arrest search is a replacement for the civil or criminal court records system.
Relying on outdated procedures
Court rules, judges, schedules, hearing reports, and administrative documents can be updated. The civil court page specifically identifies local rules updated as of July 1, 2026 and publishes current and future DWOP schedule information. The criminal court page also posts hearing reports by date. When timing matters, compare your information with the current official county material.
Assuming a calendar is a notice
A visiting judge calendar, jury trial availability document, DWOP schedule, or hearing report provides court information, but it should not automatically be treated as an individual notice for a particular party or case. Always retain and review the documents specifically issued in your proceeding.
District Court Offices
Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2011
Civil District Court Administration
Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa, 5th Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2300
District Courts FAQs
Where can I find Bexar County civil court forms and notices?
Bexar County publishes several court-related forms and reference documents through its Civil District Courts page. Available materials include template forms and notices, a docket control order form, and interrogatories in support of a final decree of divorce. Before using a form, check that it matches the purpose of your filing and the requirements of the court handling your case. A general template does not replace a court-specific order or instructions already issued in your proceeding.
How do attorneys apply for ad litem or mediator work?
The official civil district court materials include an Ad Litem/Mediator Application, an Ad Litem Removal Request Form, and the county's posted attorney ad litem list. Attorneys interested in these assignments should use the current documents published by the court because application requirements, lists, and related administrative procedures may change. The county also publishes a separate order concerning the civil district courts' ad litem fee schedule.
Are criminal district court hearing reports available online?
Yes. The Criminal District Courts page publishes dated hearing reports in spreadsheet format. These reports can help users review information released for particular reporting dates. Because new reports are posted over time, use the most recent report relevant to the period you are researching rather than relying on a previously downloaded copy.
Does Bexar County publish courtroom conduct rules?
Yes. The civil district court resources include a Decorum Order addressing courtroom standards, along with other procedural orders and attorney materials. Anyone appearing in court should review applicable court instructions before the appearance, particularly when a judge or court notice provides additional requirements. The county's official materials are the appropriate source for checking currently posted courtroom guidance rather than assuming practices from another Texas county apply in Bexar County.