Bexar County Small Claims Court: How to File in San Antonio JP Courts

Small Claims in Bexar County

Bexar County handles small claims cases through its Justice of the Peace Courts across the San Antonio metro area. There is no separate small claims courthouse — JP courts hear small claims, debt claims, and eviction cases.

Bexar County has multiple precincts, each with its own JP office. Venue generally lies in the precinct where the defendant resides, where a tort occurred or contract was breached, or as otherwise allowed under CPRC Chapter 15 and TRCP 502.4. The county's website has a precinct finder that maps addresses to the correct court.

Filing Costs

Bexar County follows the standard Texas fee structure:

• Base filing fee: $54
• Constable service fee: check the precinct's current fee schedule
• Total for one defendant: $54 base filing fee plus the precinct's constable service fee
• Jury demand: $22
• eFileTexas fee: ~$5 plus credit card processing

If you qualify financially, file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs to waive the filing fee and service fee.

How to File Your Claim

Before filing: Send a demand letter to the other side. It isn't required for every type of claim, but it demonstrates good faith and gives the defendant a last chance to settle. For a security deposit claim, the landlord's 30-day return period begins after surrender and written forwarding-address notice; a 10-day demand citing Texas Property Code Section 92.109 is standard practice, not a statutory prerequisite. Consumer suits seeking DTPA damages generally require 60 days' written notice under Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 17.505(a), except when notice is impracticable because suit must be filed to prevent the limitations period from expiring or the claim is asserted as a counterclaim.

Identify the defendant. Use the Texas Secretary of State SOSDirect portal to verify business names. A sole proprietor gets sued as "John Doe d/b/a Trade Name." An LLC or corporation gets sued under its registered legal name, and you serve its registered agent.

File the petition. Use the Small Claims Petition form. Include the correct precinct number, both parties' information, the facts of your claim, the dollar amount (up to $20,000), and a military status statement. Redact SSNs, driver's license numbers, and financial account numbers.

Submit online or walk in. eFileTexas works for all Bexar County JP courts. In-person filers need the original petition plus two copies per defendant.

Pay at filing. The filing fee and constable service fee are both due when you submit. The clerk issues a citation, and a Bexar County constable delivers it to the defendant.

After You File

The defendant has 14 calendar days from the date of service to file a written answer. If they don't answer, you can request a default judgment once the return of service has been on file for at least 6 calendar days, excluding the day it is filed and the day judgment is signed.

At the hearing, expect an informal proceeding. The formal Texas Rules of Evidence don't apply, but the judge controls the process. Bring printed copies of all evidence — the original plus two copies. Many JP judges in Texas refuse to look at evidence on phone screens.

Either party can request a jury trial at least 14 days before the trial date by paying the $22 jury fee.

Next Steps

The Texas Small Claims Filing Guide has the full process from demand letter through the hearing, including a service tracking log and evidence organizer that work for every Bexar County precinct.

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