Real Property/ Land Records

Bexar County real property and land records are maintained primarily by the Bexar County Clerk’s Office, which records deeds and other property-related instruments, provides public access to recorded documents, issues copies, and maintains notices and liens filed in the county’s official records. This article explains where these records are kept, how to search for land records online, how to record a document in person or by mail, what fees and payment methods apply, how to obtain deed copies, how lien and foreclosure records are handled, and which County Clerk offices are directly involved.

Real Property Records Overview

The Bexar County Clerk’s Office Recordings Division is responsible for filing, recording, and maintaining several categories of public records. Its responsibilities include Real Property Records, Personal Property Records, Notices of Trustee Sales, Military Discharges, and Public Notices. For property owners, buyers, researchers, lenders, and other users, the real property records function is the primary county service for locating recorded deeds and related land documents.

The county’s Real Property/Land Records service page is the main official source for recording procedures, deed and lien information, foreclosure information, and access to the county’s public record systems. Records that are not restricted by law or court order may be made available through the County Clerk’s public search system.

A recorded real property document becomes part of the County Clerk’s official real property records after it is accepted, cashiered, assigned an instrument number, and scanned. Recording a document and searching an existing document are different services. Someone who already has a signed deed, release, or other record to file generally works with the Recordings Division. Someone who wants to research a previously recorded deed, lien, or similar instrument may use the online records search or the Deed Records Department.

Official Land Records Search

The Bexar County Clerk manages a free online Official Records Search that includes land records along with several other categories of county records. Users looking specifically for deeds or other recorded property instruments should select the land records department or category rather than searching unrelated record collections.

The Official Records Search allows users to search by information such as grantor or grantee, subdivision, document type, or document number. A recorded-date range can also be applied to narrow results.

Search Terms and Date Ranges

The system provides several ways to identify a document. A grantor or grantee search can be useful when a person or business name is known. A subdivision search may help when the legal property description involves a named subdivision. Users who already know the type of instrument can search by document type, while an existing document number can provide a more direct way to locate a specific record.

Date filters can be used to focus the results on documents recorded during a particular period. The search interface includes preset recorded-date ranges such as the last 24 hours, last several days, recent weeks, several months, or the last year.

The County Clerk also explains that multiple searches can be run at the same time by opening additional search tabs within the official search system. This can be useful when researching several names, document types, or date ranges rather than repeatedly replacing the terms in one search.

Index and Full-Text Searching

The online system distinguishes between an index-only search and a search that includes document text produced through optical character recognition.

Search Index Only: Searches information that has been indexed for the document. When multiple words are entered, the system searches for each word individually.

Search Index & Full Text (OCR): Searches document contents in addition to indexed information. When multiple words are entered, the system searches for them as a phrase.

This distinction matters when a name, subdivision, or other term does not appear in the indexed fields but may appear within the recorded document itself. Users should also recognize that OCR-generated text may be different from the official recorded image of the instrument.

Limits of Online Records

The online search contains an important limitation. In accordance with state law, information has been redacted from certain instruments in the database. The county also states that the online database does not constitute the official repository of real property records and may not reflect the complete or unaltered contents of records maintained in the official real property records.

For that reason, an online image or search result can be useful for research, but users who require an official certified document should request a certified copy through the County Clerk rather than treating an online printout as a certified record.

The County Clerk’s broader Public Record Search information also explains that the online database allows documents to be searched and viewed and that uncertified copies may be printed directly from the system.

Recording Property Documents

Real property documents may be filed with the Bexar County Clerk either in person or by mail. The County Clerk requires the original document with original signatures for recording. A copy will not be recorded.

This requirement is especially significant when someone has scanned a signed document or has only a photocopy. The existence of an electronic image does not make that image an acceptable substitute for an original document when using the in-person or mail recording procedures described by the County Clerk.

What Happens After Filing

According to the County Clerk, recordings submitted through the office are completed immediately. After the document is cashiered, assigned an instrument number, and scanned, the original document is returned.

The instrument number is an important identifier because it connects the recorded filing to the county’s official record system. Once a document has been recorded, that recorded document may later be located through the land records search and, depending on the request, copied or certified through the County Clerk.

In-Person Recording Locations

Property documents may be recorded through the County Clerk’s Recordings operation at the Paul Elizondo Tower. The County Clerk also provides recording services at the Southside Annex inside Bexar County Precinct 1. Exact addresses and phone numbers for these offices are provided in the department list at the end of this article.

County Clerk office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with Wednesday hours extended to 5:45 p.m., excluding county holidays. The Southside Annex is listed by the County Clerk as providing services Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Recording Documents by Mail

The County Clerk also accepts real property documents by mail. The original document must be sent to the Bexar County Clerk’s Office, attention Recordings. Because the county specifically requires originals with original signatures, users preparing a mail filing should not substitute a photocopy for the original instrument.

Payment should also comply with the County Clerk’s accepted payment rules. Checks should be made payable to the Bexar County Clerk.

Real Property Recording Fees

The filing fee for a real property document is $25 for the first page and $4 for each additional page, per document. For example, the published fee schedule lists a two-page document at $29, a three-page document at $33, a five-page document at $41, and a ten-page document at $61.

The official Real Property Recording Fees schedule breaks the first-page charge into a $5 recording fee, a $10 records management and preservation fee, and a $10 record archives fee. Each additional page is $4.

For general real property recordings, the County Clerk accepts cash, credit cards, checks, and money orders. Checks must be payable to the Bexar County Clerk. The deed-recording information specifically states that acceptable payment methods include cash, check, money order, or credit card, except American Express.

Property-related records can have different fees depending on the type of filing or copy. The published schedule also identifies separate charges for instruments such as plats and federal tax liens. Users should therefore verify the applicable fee category rather than assuming every land-related document uses the same total charge.

Deeds and Release of Lien

The County Clerk records deeds but does not prepare deeds or other documents for the public. This is an important distinction for anyone arriving at the Recordings Division expecting county staff to draft a deed, release, or other real estate instrument. The clerk’s role is to accept and maintain recordable documents, not to create them for the parties.

Recording a Release of Lien

Once a Release of Lien has been received, it may be recorded in person or through the mail. For an in-person filing, the original release is taken to the County Clerk’s Recordings Department. For a mailed filing, the original document is sent to the County Clerk’s Office.

The same basic real property recording fee applies: $25 for the first page and $4 for each additional page per document. The county’s original-document requirement also applies, so a photocopy of the release is not accepted for recording under these procedures.

Getting a Copy of a Deed

After a deed has been recorded, a replacement copy can be requested if the original deed has been misplaced. A plain, uncertified copy may be located through the Official Public Records Search by selecting Land Records.

A certified deed copy must be obtained through the County Clerk. Certified copies may be requested in person through the Deed Records Department or by mail through the County Clerk’s Office. The published fee is $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee per document.

The distinction between a plain copy and a certified copy should be kept in mind before placing a request. Printing an image found through the online land records search produces an uncertified copy. Certification requires the County Clerk’s certification process and the associated certification fee.

Researching Property Liens

Information about liens recorded against real property may be researched through the County Clerk’s Deed Records Department or through the Official Records Search. When searching online, users may need to try property-owner names, relevant document types, or other known record information to locate instruments affecting the property.

A recorded lien search through the County Clerk should not be treated as a county guarantee that a property has clear title. The County Clerk specifically states that the office does not guarantee clear title and is not responsible for encumbrances on property.

This distinction can prevent a common misunderstanding. The Deed Records Department maintains and provides access to recorded documents, but it does not provide a guaranteed title search. The presence or absence of a particular instrument in a basic public search should not be represented as a formal determination of title status.

Electronic Real Property Recording

The Bexar County Clerk has implemented electronic recording for real property documents. Electronic filing, however, is not presented as a general filing option available to every member of the public. The county identifies specific categories of persons and entities authorized to file electronically under Section 195.003.

Authorized electronic filers include:

An attorney licensed in Texas.

A bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union operating under United States or Texas law.

A federally chartered lending institution, federal government-sponsored entity, federal instrumentality, or an approved mortgagee making federally insured loans.

A person licensed to make regulated loans in Texas.

A title insurance company or title insurance agent licensed to do business in Texas.

An agency of the state.

A municipal clerk.

Someone who does not fall within an authorized electronic-filing category can still use the County Clerk’s stated in-person or mail procedures for recording real property documents.

Foreclosure Records and Notices

Foreclosure documents are closely connected with the county’s real property records because Notices of Trustee Sales and other foreclosure-related filings may appear in the County Clerk’s official records. The county distinguishes between mortgage foreclosure and tax foreclosure.

A mortgage foreclosure is described by the county as the forced sale of property pledged as security for a debt in default. A tax foreclosure is a forced sale conducted by a governmental agency because of unpaid taxes.

Locating Foreclosure Notices

Mortgage foreclosure notices may be obtained through the Official Public Records Search. The County Clerk also operates a Bexar County Foreclosure Map showing current-month mortgage and tax foreclosure notices.

The foreclosure map includes basic property information in clickable records. Where available, it may also provide links to relevant foreclosure documents. The map contains geographic reference layers, and a data table can display attributes of foreclosure properties.

The County Clerk states that the foreclosure map is updated twice each month: on the first Friday after the auction and approximately 18 days before the next sale. Because the county also provides a disclaimer regarding the accuracy and timeliness of the map’s geographic and appraisal information, users researching a particular foreclosure should rely on the underlying official notices and records rather than assuming the map alone represents the complete legal record.

Foreclosure Sale Schedule

Foreclosure sales are conducted on the first Tuesday of each month between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If the first Tuesday falls on January 1 or July 4, the sale is held on the first Wednesday of the month during the same hours.

The sale takes place on the west side of the Bexar County Courthouse, between the courthouse and the Paul Elizondo Tower, or at another location designated by the Commissioners Court.

Registration is not required to bid at a mortgage foreclosure. Registration is required to bid at a tax foreclosure. Both mortgage and tax foreclosure sales are cash auctions. Only cash or certified funds may be tendered at the time of sale, and personal checks are not accepted.

Liens and Redemption Periods

Foreclosure-related liens may be researched through the Deed Records Department or the Official Records Search in the same manner as other recorded lien information. The County Clerk does not guarantee clear title and does not accept responsibility for encumbrances on a property.

For foreclosure properties identified as agricultural use or homestead property, the stated redemption period is two years. For all other properties, the redemption period is six months. The redemption period begins on the date the deed is recorded.

Questions involving the sale of tax certificates are handled by the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector rather than the County Clerk. The Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector also handles property tax collections. That office is separate from the County Clerk’s land-recording function and does not replace the County Clerk as the custodian of recorded real property documents.

County Clerk Service Boundaries

Several county offices deal with property, but their functions should not be confused. The County Clerk records and maintains deeds, liens, foreclosure notices, and other real property instruments. The Deed Records Department provides access to recorded deed and lien information and handles requests for deed copies. The Recordings Division accepts documents for recording.

The County Clerk’s County Clerk Services directory identifies these functions separately from civil court filing, criminal filing, probate, marriage licenses, vital statistics, and other clerk services.

The Tax Assessor-Collector, by contrast, collects property taxes and provides information associated with property tax administration. The Tax Assessor-Collector expressly states that the office does not set or raise property values or tax rates. Those functions should not be confused with searching the County Clerk’s land records or recording a deed.

Common Land Record Mistakes

Many problems with real property record requests come from using the wrong process rather than from the record itself. The following distinctions can help prevent delays or incorrect expectations:

Do not submit a copy for recording. The County Clerk requires the original document with original signatures for in-person and mail recording.

Do not expect the County Clerk to prepare a deed. The office records documents but does not draft deeds or other property instruments.

Select Land Records when searching for deeds. The Official Records Search contains several record categories, so searching the correct department helps narrow results.

Do not treat an online printout as a certified copy. Online records can provide uncertified copies, while certified copies require a County Clerk request and certification fee.

Do not assume an online database is the official repository. The county states that the public search may contain redactions and may not reflect the complete or unaltered official record.

Do not treat a County Clerk search as guaranteed clear title. The office maintains recorded instruments but does not guarantee that a property is free of encumbrances.

Use the correct office for tax matters. Property tax collection and tax-certificate matters belong to the Tax Assessor-Collector, while recorded land documents are maintained by the County Clerk.

Real Property Offices

Bexar County Clerk’s Office — Recordings
101 W. Nueva, Suite 103
San Antonio, TX 78205
Mailing: 100 Dolorosa, Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2581

Bexar County Clerk’s Office — Deed Records
101 W. Nueva, Suite B109
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2273

Bexar County Clerk — Southside Annex
3505 Pleasanton Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78221
210-335-3522

Real Property/ Land Records FAQs

Can I get alerts about activity involving my property?

Yes. The Bexar County Clerk lists a Property Alert service among its featured real property services. The alert is intended to notify enrolled users when potentially fraudulent claims or transactions involving real property are recorded. Property owners who want an additional way to watch for unexpected filings can review the Property Alert information through the Bexar County Clerk’s featured services. An alert does not determine whether a filing is valid or fraudulent; it gives the property owner an opportunity to review newly recorded activity.

What if the land record I need is not available online?

If a record cannot be found through the County Clerk’s available searches, it may be appropriate to use Bexar County’s Public Information Act Request Center, provided the requested material is an open record. The county explains that requestors can submit requests online and track their status through the portal. Before filing a request, check the County Clerk Public Record Search guidance, because previously submitted requests or an existing County Clerk database may already contain the information needed.

Does the County Clerk offer help learning the record search system?

Yes. The County Clerk periodically provides public search training for people who need help using the online records system. The Official Records Search also includes an interactive tour designed to explain how the search interface works. These options can be especially useful for users who regularly research deeds, recorded instruments, subdivisions, or document histories and want to become more efficient with the system.

Are electronic copies priced differently from standard deed copies?

Yes. The official recording fee schedule lists a separate charge for an electronic copy of an electronic document. A document up to 10 pages is listed at $1. For a document longer than 10 pages, each page or part of a page beyond the first 10 is charged at $0.10. This fee category is separate from the County Clerk’s published charges for plain deed copies, certified copies, plats, and recording new real property documents.