San Antonio Express-News
June 13, 2006

Bexar County Records Online

copyright 2006, Paul Premack

The County Clerk’s office is responsible, among other things, for keeping records of real property transactions. In the past, the only way to view those records was to travel to the courthouse, sort through huge index books to cross-reference your search, and then turn to the thousands of volumes of documents that have been placed on record. Years ago, the clerk’s office started to computerize the indexes and make them available on the courthouse computers. The project has now reached the point that research can be handled on the Internet.

Online access is free to the general public, funded by a records management fee paid when a new document is recorded into the system. Although some other counties impose a fee to access their records, Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickhoff says he intends to keep online search free. User must complete a simple registration and log-in to use the system, and can then access deed records dating back to 1837.

As part of the effort to digitize county records and to save resources, the Clerk has also implemented an eFiling service for title companies. Over one-third of the real estate closing papers filed with the clerk’s office are now handled electronically, which saves time and money for the county, and may even help with the waiting line for individuals who file records at the courthouse.

The public records accessed through the Clerk’s website relate to ownership of and encumbrances on real property, powers of attorney and various agreements. Users can search the indexes, can view images of the actual documents, and can print the documents at home. If a certified copy is desired, user must still visit the courthouse and pay a fee.

Though some other counties have done so, the Bexar Clerk has not yet made probate records available online due to privacy concerns. Those records, which include Wills that have been admitted to probate and may include inventories of estates with detailed financial data, may be viewed by visiting the Clerk’s probate department at the courthouse.

Bexar Appraisal District also maintains online records, but they relate to assessment and collection of taxes on real estate and certain personal property. The mapping system has recently been improved, so you can view a rendering of the streets and lots for searched property. You can overlay owner identification, property value and exemptions. The Appraiser’s records are extremely useful to confirm that proper exemptions have been recognized for your property.

Do you have the 65+ exemption and the homestead exemption on your house? How has the school tax freeze been applied to your home? Answers are available on the website with records dating back to 2001. You can track how the appraised value of your property or those with similar homes has been increased, which may help if you need to contest a proposed valuation increase.

The internet address for the Bexar County Clerk is www.countyclerk.bexar.landata.com and for the Bexar Appraisal district is www.bcad.org.