Search Bexar County Bankruptcy Records
Bexar County bankruptcy records are filed and maintained through the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, San Antonio Division. If you need to look up a bankruptcy case in Bexar County, you can search online through PACER or visit the courthouse at 615 E. Houston Street in downtown San Antonio. The San Antonio Division is the headquarters of the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court and handles a large volume of consumer and business filings for the county's 2 million-plus residents. Records are public under federal law and cover Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases.
Bexar County Overview
Bexar County Federal Bankruptcy Court
Bexar County is served by the Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, San Antonio Division. This is the main office and headquarters of the Western District. The court is located at 615 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, TX 78205. Clerk of Court Yvette M. Taylor oversees operations for the Western District, and the main phone number is 210-472-6720. Chief Judge Ronald B. King and Judge Craig A. Gargotta preside over Bexar County cases.
The San Antonio Division handles bankruptcy cases for Bexar County along with Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Real, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson, and Zavala counties. Because San Antonio is the seat of both the county and the division, Bexar County filers have direct access to the main courthouse. Staff can help confirm case numbers, check filing status, and provide docket information, though they cannot give legal advice.
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas |
|---|---|
| Division | San Antonio Division (Headquarters) |
| Address | 615 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, TX 78205 |
| Phone | 210-472-6720 |
| Website | txwb.uscourts.gov |
The U.S. Trustee for Bexar County is part of Region 7. The San Antonio field office is at 615 E. Houston Street, Suite 533, San Antonio, TX 78205, phone (210) 472-4640. Assistant U.S. Trustee Nancy Ratchford oversees the San Antonio office. The U.S. Trustee appoints and supervises case trustees, monitors case administration, and ensures debtors meet the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code.
How to Find Bexar County Bankruptcy Filings
The main way to search Bexar County bankruptcy records is through PACER. You create a free account and pay a small per-page fee to access full case files. Basic case data including the debtor name, chapter type, case number, and filing date is often free. Once you have a case number, you can pull the full docket and see every document filed in the case, from the initial petition to the final order.
The Western District of Texas is fully electronic, so all recent cases are searchable through PACER. For older cases that were filed on paper, you may need to contact the San Antonio clerk's office directly or request records through the National Archives. The archives system handles older federal court records and processes requests by mail.
Bexar County bankruptcy records are public documents under 11 U.S.C. § 107. Most papers filed in a bankruptcy case are open to anyone. Courts can seal specific documents in very limited circumstances. Under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9037, all filers must redact Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and birth dates before submitting any document to the court.
The Bexar County Government website provides access to county property records, deed history, and other official records. The County Clerk maintains these files for San Antonio and the greater Bexar County area. Property records come up regularly in bankruptcy proceedings when the court needs to confirm real estate ownership or review transfer history. Bankruptcy filings themselves are federal records and are only available through the federal court system.
The Bexar County Government provides property records and county services that are often relevant when researching assets tied to a bankruptcy case filed in the San Antonio Division.
Property and deed records from Bexar County are frequently referenced in bankruptcy schedules and are a key resource for trustees verifying real estate assets in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.
Filing for Bankruptcy in Bexar County
To file for bankruptcy in Bexar County, you submit your petition and schedules to the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. All filings must comply with the court's local rules and use the correct forms, which are posted on the Western District forms page. Pro se filers must complete a Pro Se Questionnaire and submit a creditor matrix in alphabetical order. A Verification of Matrix form is required as the last page of the matrix.
Attorneys use CM/ECF to file electronically. Individual filers who don't have an attorney can also file electronically through the court's self-representation portal or submit paper forms at the San Antonio clerk's office. The San Antonio division accepts cash payments with exact change; other Western District offices (Austin, El Paso, Waco) do not accept cash. Cashier's checks and money orders made payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court" are accepted at all locations.
Filing fees follow the standard federal schedule. Chapter 7 costs $338. Chapter 13 is $313. Chapter 11 is $1,738. Installment payments are allowed. At least 50% of the fee must be paid within seven days of filing. Fee waivers are available for individuals whose income is below 150% of the federal poverty line. You apply for the waiver at the time of filing, and the court rules on it separately.
Before filing, individual debtors must complete a credit counseling course from a U.S. Trustee-approved provider within 180 days before the petition date. After the case, a debtor education course is required to receive a discharge. The U.S. Trustee website lists approved providers for both requirements.
Bexar County Bankruptcy Resources
Several agencies and offices support bankruptcy records access and filing in Bexar County. The courthouse at 615 E. Houston Street is the main filing point and where hearings take place. PACER handles all online case access. The U.S. Trustee office, also at 615 E. Houston Street, oversees case administration.
The Federal Judicial Center provides statistical data on bankruptcy filings across all federal districts, including the Western District of Texas. This data is publicly available and useful for understanding filing trends in the San Antonio Division over time.
Key resources for Bexar County bankruptcy matters:
- Western District Bankruptcy Court - San Antonio Division headquarters
- PACER - search all federal court records online
- U.S. Trustee Region 7, San Antonio Office - trustee oversight
- Bexar County Government - property records, county clerk
- Western District Local Rules and Forms
Note: The San Antonio clerk's office accepts cash with exact change. Other Western District offices do not accept cash, so plan accordingly if you are filing in person.
Nearby Counties in the San Antonio Division
Bexar County is the center of the San Antonio Division, which covers a large region of South and Central Texas. All nearby counties use the same Western District bankruptcy court and filing procedures.