Justice of the Peace

Bexar County Justice of the Peace courts handle several types of civil and Class C misdemeanor matters, including small claims, debt claims, landlord-tenant cases, repair and remedy cases, traffic citations, and other matters assigned to justice courts. This article explains how the four Bexar County JP precinct courts are organized, how to identify the correct court, what types of cases they handle, how civil filing fees and service fees work, how traffic citations can be addressed, what information to prepare for online or written requests, and which official county resources contain forms and court rules.

How Justice Courts Are Organized

Bexar County operates four Justice of the Peace precinct courts. Each is identified by a precinct and place number, and each court has its own judge, office, case responsibilities, and contact information. The county's Justice of the Peace Courts page serves as the central official directory for the four courts.

The four courts are Precinct 1, Place 1; Precinct 2, Place 1; Precinct 3, Place 1; and Precinct 4, Place 1. The judges identified by Bexar County are Judge Sylvia M. Ruiz for Precinct 1, Judge Roberto A. Vazquez for Precinct 2, Judge Julie Bray Patterson for Precinct 3, and Judge Anna Campos for Precinct 4. The county also maintains an official JP judges page that connects users with information about each court.

For many transactions, identifying the correct precinct is more than an administrative detail. A citation may specifically direct the defendant to one particular Justice of the Peace court. Civil cases also must be filed under the applicable court rules and venue requirements. Sending a payment, request, or document to a different JP office can create problems because the four precinct courts are separate court offices rather than interchangeable service counters.

Finding the Correct Precinct

People dealing with a traffic citation should first examine the ticket itself. Bexar County instructs defendants to send payment to, or appear at, the exact JP precinct and place number shown on the citation. The same principle applies when submitting requests for deferred adjudication, a driving safety course, review of a not-guilty plea, or other citation-related matters: the citation identifies the precinct that should receive the request.

For precinct information based on an address, Bexar County provides a civil cases information page.

Eviction Cases

An eviction case is a lawsuit seeking possession of real property, frequently involving a landlord seeking possession from a tenant. Bexar County states that a claim for unpaid rent may be joined with an eviction case when the amount of rent due and unpaid is no more than $10,000. That limit excludes statutory interest and court costs but includes attorney fees, if any.

Eviction cases are governed by Rules 500 through 507 and Rule 510 of Part V of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. When Rule 510 conflicts with another provision of Part V, Rule 510 controls. Bexar County provides an eviction form through its civil cases page.

Small Claims Cases

A small claims case may seek recovery of money damages, civil penalties, personal property, or other relief allowed by law. Bexar County states that the claim may not exceed $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any.

These cases are governed by Rules 500 through 507. Someone preparing a small claims filing should distinguish this type of case from a debt claim. The fact that both may involve money does not make the categories interchangeable; the county provides separate forms and descriptions for each.

Debt Claim Cases

A debt claim case involves an action to recover a debt brought by an assignee of a claim, a debt collector or collection agency, a financial institution, or a person or entity primarily engaged in lending money at interest. The maximum claim identified by Bexar County is $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any.

Debt claims are governed by Rules 500 through 507 and Rule 508. If Rule 508 conflicts with another provision in Part V, Rule 508 controls. Because the county treats debt claims as a distinct case category, filers should use the corresponding debt claim materials rather than automatically using a small claims form.

Repair and Remedy Cases

A repair and remedy case is filed by a residential tenant under Chapter 92, Subchapter B of the Texas Property Code. Its purpose is to enforce a landlord's duty to repair or remedy a condition that materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant.

The relief sought may not exceed $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any. These cases are governed by Rules 500 through 507 and Rule 509, with Rule 509 controlling if it conflicts with another provision of Part V.

Civil Filing Fees and Service

Justice Court filings can involve both filing fees and service fees, and the two should not be confused. Bexar County's official filing fee schedule identifies separate amounts for filing a case and for service by Bexar County Constables.

For the 2026 fee schedule, several common Justice Court filings have a $54 filing fee. The county lists a $54 filing fee for a debt claim petition, eviction petition, repair and remedy petition, small claim petition, petition for an occupational driver's license, towing administrative hearing request, application for order of retrieval, application for writ of re-entry, and application for restoration of utility service.

Service fees vary by the type of document. Examples in the 2026 schedule include:

Debt claim petition: $92 service fee and $54 filing fee.
Small claim petition: $92 service fee and $54 filing fee.
Repair and remedy petition: $92 service fee and $54 filing fee.
Eviction petition: $117 service fee and $54 filing fee.
Application for order of retrieval: $92 service fee and $54 filing fee.

Bexar County explains that service fees must be multiplied by the number of persons or parties who must be served. By contrast, the filing fee is charged per case rather than per defendant or other party named in the case. The service amounts in the county schedule are for service by Bexar County Constables; another serving agency may charge a different amount.

Other Justice Court transactions have their own fees. The county's 2026 schedule lists a $22 jury trial demand, a $10 transcript, a $64 appeal including transcript, a $54 motion for new trial, and separate charges for certified copies and photocopies. Bexar County also states that new civil process fees become effective January 1, 2027, so a person filing after that date should rely on the fee schedule then in effect rather than an older amount.

Self-Help Forms and Packets

Bexar County provides court-related self-help materials for people using the justice court system. The county's Self-Help Packets page includes materials for small claims, eviction cases, debt claim defendants, writs of retrieval, illegal lockouts, and restoration of utilities.

Examples include packets for filing an eviction case, filing a small claims case, responding when a debt claim has been filed against you, responding to an eviction case, and responding to a small claims case. Spanish-language materials are also identified for several eviction and small claims topics.

These packets are informational. Bexar County specifically states that they do not constitute legal advice and that the court is not responsible for the accuracy of information contained in a packet. Court staff likewise cannot provide legal advice.

Traffic Tickets in JP Court

Traffic citations handled through a Bexar County Justice of the Peace court require attention to the court date and the exact precinct shown on the ticket. County instructions state that a person must send payment to, or appear at, the designated JP precinct and place on or before the specified court date and time.

Failure to appear or pay on or before the court date may result in an arrest warrant. Bexar County also states that a charge of failure to appear or violate promise to appear may be filed, with a possible fine of up to $500 for each offense.

The county's fines and payments instructions identify several matters that may be handled before the court date, depending on the violation. These include paying applicable fines or fees, requesting a driving safety course, providing proof of insurance that was valid at the time of the offense, and presenting documentation that may qualify certain violations for dismissal with the required fee.

Driving Safety Course Requests

Bexar County allows eligible defendants to request a driving safety course for certain violations. The request must be made on or before the court date. The county warns defendants not to take a driving safety course without receiving pre-approval from the exact court shown on the citation.

Qualifications described by the county include having a valid Texas driver's license or permit, not having used a driving safety course to dismiss another ticket during the preceding 12 months, and not having been charged with speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the posted limit. The county's online citation instructions also state that a person with a commercial driver license is not eligible and that valid liability insurance in the person's name is required.

For the procedure described on Bexar County's traffic ticket page, the defendant must request the course on or before the court date and pay a $10 reimbursement fee plus applicable court costs of $136, for a total of $146. The total is $171 when the violation occurred in a school zone.

The defendant must also complete and sign the court's affidavit. If the affidavit is mailed, it must be notarized. A driving record must be obtained and filed with the court, proof of financial responsibility must be provided, and the Texas-certified driving safety course must be completed within 90 days of the date the court affidavit was signed. After completing the course, the court copy of the completion certificate must be filed with the court and must contain the defendant's signature.

Deferred Adjudication

Deferred adjudication may be requested for many violations, but eligibility depends on the type of case. Bexar County states that a commercial driver license generally makes a person ineligible. A person seeking review by the judge must enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or no contest, and doing so as part of the request includes waiving the right to a jury trial.

If deferred adjudication is granted, court costs and an administrative fee are assessed. The deferral period can last from 30 to 180 days. Bexar County states that the period begins when the required court costs and administrative fees are paid.

For a traffic violation to be dismissed through deferred adjudication, no moving violation may appear on the defendant's driving record during the deferred period. If a moving violation does appear, the court may send a show-cause letter requiring an appearance before the judge. The judge may then revoke the deferred adjudication and place the violation on the driving record.

Handling Citations Online

Bexar County provides several online options for citation-related matters through its citation handling page. The available procedures include online payment, requests for deferred adjudication, requests for a driving safety course, submission of a not-guilty case for review by an Assistant District Attorney, certain administrative dismissal requests, and requests for remote hearings.

Online Payment Consequences

A citation may be paid online without appearing in court. Bexar County states that payment results in waiver of a jury trial and a finding of guilty, or conviction. The conviction may be reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety and may disqualify the defendant from deferred adjudication or a driving safety course.

The county advises allowing one to three business days for an online payment to be processed. When a warrant is involved, the county states that the warrant will be recalled the next business day. The payment receipt should be retained as proof of payment.

Information for Online Requests

Requests for deferred adjudication should include the person's name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, driver's license number, charges, plea, and a statement concerning ability to pay. The precinct is determined from the citation.

A driving safety course request requires similar identifying information. The person must also provide proof of the eligibility requirements, state under penalty of perjury that a driving safety course has not been taken during the previous 12 months, and provide a statement about ability to pay.

A person pleading not guilty may submit the case for review by an Assistant District Attorney. The request should include identifying and contact information, date of birth, driver's license number, charges, a not-guilty plea, a brief explanation of why the person believes the charge is not supported, and a statement about ability to pay. The person must also choose whether the case should be heard and decided by a jury or by the judge.

Remote Hearing Requests

Justice Courts may conduct certain proceedings remotely by telephone or video conference. Bexar County identifies possible remote matters such as show-cause hearings involving deferred disposition or defensive driving, outstanding warrants, essential matters, requests for occupational driver's licenses, and civil matters when both parties agree to appear remotely. Other matters may also be heard remotely if approved by the judge.

The county states that Justice Courts use Zoom for remote proceedings. A video appearance requires an electronic device with internet connectivity and video and sound capability. A telephone appearance may also be used.

A remote hearing request should include the person's name, address, telephone number and alternate number, email address, case number, and a brief description of what the person wants the court to hear. For a civil case in which both parties have agreed to appear remotely, the request should also include the other party's contact information. Documents or other evidence intended for the hearing may be attached, and applicable documents must also be provided to the other party.

The remote-hearing procedure is not intended for filing an original petition. Users preparing a new civil action should follow the appropriate civil filing process rather than submitting the case as a remote-hearing request.

Cases Involving Minors

Bexar County states that juvenile cases are not eligible for online disposition. Depending on the offense, matters involving juveniles may include defendants under age 21. For these cases, the defendant should communicate with the precinct court identified on the citation through the methods provided by that court.

Payments by Mail or In Person

Traffic payments can also be submitted by mail or in person under the county's payment instructions. Someone paying by mail should first refer to the applicable ticket fine schedule to determine the total amount for the violations shown on the citation. Scheduled fines include mandatory state and county court costs.

A mailed payment is treated as a guilty plea and waiver of trial by judge or jury. Bexar County instructs mail payers to use a money order or cashier's check payable to the JP precinct number shown on the ticket and to include the return reply form and a copy of the citation. Cash should not be mailed.

For an in-person payment, Bexar County states that cash, cashier's checks, and money orders are accepted. Checks are not accepted. If the particular violation does not appear on the fine schedule, county instructions direct the defendant to contact the court shown on the citation on or before the court date rather than guessing at the amount.

Administrative Dismissal Situations

Certain violations may qualify for dismissal after proof of compliance is reviewed by the judge. Bexar County gives examples including driving without a license, no insurance, no vehicle registration, no hunting or fishing license, no hunter education course, and similar violations.

Depending on the statute and circumstances, dismissal may require a statutory administrative fee or may occur without one. A submission for review should include the person's identifying and contact information, date of birth, driver's license number, charges, plea, a statement about ability to pay, and the documentation supporting compliance.

The county's fines and payments page also identifies several specific pre-court remedies. Examples include presenting proof that an expired driver's license was renewed within 20 days of the offense by the first court appearance, proof that registration was remedied within the specified period, or proof that an address was changed within 20 days. Each remedy has its own conditions and, where specified by the county, a dismissal fee.

Court Rules and Case Preparation

Justice Court users should distinguish court rules from self-help materials and ordinary office instructions. Civil cases are governed by the applicable provisions of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, including Part V for Justice Court matters. Bexar County publishes the Justice Court Rules document from its official website.

Before filing or responding to a matter, it is useful to identify the case category and gather the information tied to that procedure. For a civil filing, this may include the correct petition or application, the number of parties requiring service, and the applicable filing and service fees. For an existing civil matter, the case number becomes particularly important when requesting a remote hearing or submitting documents connected to a scheduled proceeding.

For a traffic citation, the ticket itself should remain the primary reference for the precinct, charge, court date, and other case-specific information. Requests involving deferred adjudication, a driving safety course, or review of a not-guilty plea require detailed identifying information and a plea selection. A remote-hearing request requires the case number rather than only the citation holder's name.

Common Problems to Avoid

Sending documents to the wrong precinct: Citation-related payments and requests should go to the exact JP precinct identified on the ticket.

Missing the court date: Failure to appear or pay by the specified date can result in additional charges and may lead to an arrest warrant.

Taking a driving safety course too early: Bexar County instructs defendants not to take the course without prior approval from the court listed on the citation.

Paying online without considering the result: Online payment is treated as a guilty disposition and can affect eligibility for other citation options.

Using a small claims form for every money dispute: Justice Court separately classifies small claims and debt claims, with different rules applying to debt claim cases.

Calculating service fees only once: Bexar County service fees must be multiplied by the number of persons or parties who need to be served.

Using an outdated fee schedule: The county identifies new civil process fees taking effect January 1, 2027.

Submitting an original petition as a remote-hearing request: The county expressly states that the remote-hearing process is not for filing original petitions.

Trying to dispose of a juvenile matter online: Cases involving juveniles are excluded from the county's online disposition process.

Expecting court staff to provide legal advice: Bexar County states that its staff cannot provide legal advice, and its self-help packets are informational materials rather than legal advice.

Office Hours and Accessibility

All four Bexar County Justice of the Peace precinct offices list regular hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and are closed on county holidays. Because citation instructions may require action on or before a specific court date, users should account for those operating hours when planning an in-person visit or court-related submission.

Bexar County also provides accessibility assistance for people using assistive technology. The county asks users who experience difficulty accessing website material to identify the nature of the accessibility problem, the preferred accessible format, the web address of the material involved, and their contact information. The county maintains an official Accessibility Assistance directory page for these issues.

Justice of the Peace Offices

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1
3505 Pleasanton Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78221
Phone: 210-335-4500

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 1
7723 Guilbeau Rd., Suite 105
San Antonio, TX 78250
Phone: 210-335-4800

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Place 1
320 Interpark Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone: 210-335-4700

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 1
8794 East Loop 1604 North #2
Converse, TX 78109
Phone: 210-335-4900

Justice of the Peace FAQs

Can a civil case be resolved through mediation instead of a hearing?

Possibly. Bexar County states that its courts generally encourage alternative dispute resolution because mediation may resolve a dispute without the time and expense associated with continued court proceedings. The Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center provides free mediation services to county residents and may work with landlords, tenants, and representatives of rental assistance programs. Mediation does not automatically end a pending case; the parties must reach an agreement, and any required court procedures still need to be completed. More information is available through the county's civil cases information.

Are there separate filing instructions for individual precincts?

Yes, precinct-specific instructions may be posted in addition to the countywide Justice Court materials. For example, the Precinct 1, Place 1 page publishes its own service request form, eviction petition form, e-filing memorandum, and e-filing requirements effective August 1, 2024. Before submitting a document electronically or using a precinct-specific form, check the webpage for the court handling the case rather than assuming every precinct follows identical submission procedures.

Which rules should I check when preparing evidence for court?

Bexar County's official Justice of the Peace materials link several different authorities, including the Justice Court Rules, the Texas Rules of Evidence, and Chapter 15 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. These materials address different parts of a case, so a procedural rule should not be treated as a substitute for an evidence or venue rule. The county's Justice of the Peace Courts page provides access to the official court-rule links used by the JP courts.

Where can I verify who currently serves as the judge?

Bexar County maintains an official JP judges directory identifying the judge assigned to each precinct and place. Checking that page is useful when preparing a filing, reviewing a court notice, or confirming that older paperwork still reflects the current court assignment.