Bexar County Small Claims Court (Texas): How to File in Justice Court

Bexar County small claims: the $20,000 limit, 4 justice court precincts, 2026 fees, free mediation and venue rules. Checked 2026-10-27.

Navy cover with a drawn generic courthouse and the words Bexar County Small Claims, 4 justice precincts, plus free mediation
Where and how to file small claims in Bexar County, Texas.

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Quick answer: In Bexar County, small claims are heard by the Justice of the Peace Courts (4 precincts), for claims of no more than $20,000. The county's 2026 fee schedule lists $54 to file plus $92 for constable service on each person served, or $146 with one defendant. The county also offers free mediation. To confirm your precinct, call a JP court, for example Precinct 1 at 210-335-4500.

Drawn generic courthouse beside a pinned info board for the Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts: precincts 1 to 4, hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and e-filing set to check your court's rules, ask your JP court.
Bexar County, Texas small claims at a glance, checked 2026-10-27.

This independent guide covers small claims cases in Bexar County, Texas, including San Antonio and Converse. Small Claims Coach is not the court; we link to the court's official pages throughout.

Checked on 2026-10-27 against the Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts website and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Sources are listed below. Jump to court addresses and phones ↓ For the statewide rules, see our Texas small claims guide.

Filing in Bexar County? See a filled-in sample first.

Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of a Small Claims Petition from the Texas Justice Court Training Center (a model form, not an official court form; Texas has no required statewide form, so ask your court whether it accepts it), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

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Which court hears small claims in Bexar County?

  • Court: the Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts, Precincts 1 to 4, under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 500 to 507.
  • Limit: no more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any.
  • Free mediation: the Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center provides free mediation services to the citizens of Bexar County.
  • Appeal: within 21 days. The plaintiff's appeal bond is $500.00; the defendant's is twice the amount of the judgment.

Which justice court precinct do I file in?

  • Under Rule 502.4, you can file in the county and justice precinct where the defendant resides, where the incident that gave rise to the claim occurred, where the contract (if any) was to be performed, or, in a suit to recover personal property, where the property is located.
  • We couldn't find a precinct map or address lookup on the county pages we checked. Call a JP court, for example Precinct 1 at 210-335-4500, to confirm which precinct to file in.

Addresses, phone numbers and hours

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Addresses and phones are from each precinct's page on the Bexar County site. We couldn't find a phone number for Precinct 3 on its page.

Justice of the Peace Precinct 1

Address: 3505 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio, TX 78221

Phone: 210-335-4500

Court:

  • Precinct 1

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

Address: 7723 Guilbeau Rd, Suite 105, San Antonio, TX 78250

Phone: 210-335-4800

Court:

  • Precinct 2

Justice of the Peace Precinct 3

Address: 320 Interpark Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78216

Court:

  • Precinct 3

Justice of the Peace Precinct 4

Address: 8794 East Loop 1604 North #2, Converse, TX 78109

Phone: 210-335-4900

Court:

  • Precinct 4

How much does small claims cost in Bexar County?

From the county's 2026 Document Fee Schedule (Filing Fees page):

  • Small claim petition (filing): $54.00
  • Constable service: $92.00 for each person served
  • Total with one defendant: $146
  • Counterclaim: $54 filing plus $92 service
  • Appeal (including transcript): $64.00
  • Jury trial demand: $22.00
  • Motion for new trial: $54.00
  • Abstract of judgment: $5.00

The service fees are for service by Bexar County Constables. Fees can change, and new service fees start January 1, 2027; confirm with your JP court.

Can I e-file in Bexar County?

We haven't confirmed e-filing options for Bexar County small claims. Texas courts use efiletexas.gov; ask your JP court (for example Precinct 1 at 210-335-4500) whether it accepts small claims that way.

Bexar County small claim petition and forms

Texas has no required statewide small claims form. The county's Civil Cases page explains justice court civil cases; ask your JP court which petition form it accepts.

How to file in Bexar County, step by step

Illustrated winding road with six numbered stations for Bexar County, Texas small claims: check your claim fits the limit, pick your precinct, prepare your petition, file with the court, the defendant answers and you can try free mediation, and go to trial with evidence.
The steps to file a small claims case in Bexar County, Texas.
  1. Make sure your claim is no more than $20,000.
  2. Pick the precinct (where the defendant lives, where the incident happened, or where the contract was to be performed), and confirm it with the court.
  3. Prepare your small claims petition, and ask the clerk which form your court accepts.
  4. File and pay $54 plus $92 for each person served by constable (confirm the current fees).
  5. The defendant's answer is due by the end of the 14th day after service (with extensions for weekends, holidays and early closings). Consider free mediation.
  6. Go to trial with your evidence. A jury demand is due no later than 14 days before trial. Statewide rules are in our Texas guide.

Ready to fill in your own form?

The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one: a filled-in sample of a Small Claims Petition from the Texas Justice Court Training Center (a model form, not an official court form; Texas has no required statewide form, so ask your court whether it accepts it) with every box explained, plus your Texas Playbook section with a made-up sample filing, a checklist, a timeline, a hearing outline, Texas printables and a Texas day-of plan.

You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See what's inside →

How to look up a Bexar County small claims case

  • We couldn't find an online case search on the JP court pages we checked. Call your JP court (for example Precinct 1 at 210-335-4500) to check on your case.

What does it cost to collect a judgment?

Winning doesn't mean you get paid automatically. The county lists an abstract of judgment at $5.00; ask your JP court about other collection steps, and see our Texas guide for the statewide steps.

Fee waivers and venue changes

  • Can't afford the fees? Ask your JP court what options it offers.
  • Default or new trial: a motion to set aside a default or for a new trial is due no later than 14 days after the judgment was signed. The county lists the motion for new trial fee at $54.00.
  • Appeal: within 21 days.

Coach's Tips for Bexar County

  • Try free mediation. Try the county's free mediation before your hearing. It can settle the case without a trial.
  • Budget for 2027 fee changes. The county says new civil process fees apply starting January 1, 2027, so confirm the service fee if you file near then.
  • Know the 14-day clocks. The answer is due by the end of the 14th day after service, and a jury demand is due 14 days before trial.

Bexar County small claims checklist

  • My claim is no more than $20,000.
  • I know which precinct to file in, or I called the court to confirm.
  • I have my petition and asked which form the court accepts.
  • I confirmed the filing and constable fees.
  • I thought about free mediation.
  • I know the 14-day answer and jury-demand deadlines.
  • My evidence is organized and copied for court.

Bexar County small claims FAQ

What is the small claims limit in Bexar County?

No more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any.

How much does it cost to file small claims in Bexar County?

The county's 2026 fee schedule lists $54 to file plus $92 for constable service on each person served, or $146 with one defendant. New service fees start January 1, 2027.

Which Bexar County justice court precinct do I file in?

Where the defendant resides, where the incident occurred, or where the contract was to be performed (or where the property is, in a suit for personal property). Call a JP court to confirm the precinct.

Where is small claims court in San Antonio?

Precincts 1, 2 and 3 have San Antonio addresses, and Precinct 4 is in Converse. The precinct depends on the facts of your case, not the city name.

Where do I get Bexar County small claims forms?

Texas has no required statewide form. Ask your JP court which petition form it accepts.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Bexar County?

Many people handle justice court small claims cases on their own, and the county offers free mediation through its Dispute Resolution Center.

Is Bexar County small claims court the justice of the peace (JP) court?

Yes. Small claims cases are filed in the Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts, which use a "Small Claim Petition."

Which Bexar County JP court precinct do I file my small claim petition in?

You can file in the justice court precinct where the defendant lives, where the incident that gave rise to the claim happened, where the contract (if any) was to be performed, or, in a suit to recover personal property, where the property is located. The county's court pages don't show which addresses each precinct covers, so call the justice court to confirm before you file.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-27.

Nearby counties

More for Texas: Texas small claims guide · Ready to sue · Just got sued · How to serve small claims papers · What to say on hearing day

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.

This page covers where and how to file in Bexar County. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of a Small Claims Petition from the Texas Justice Court Training Center (a model form, not an official court form; Texas has no required statewide form, so ask your court whether it accepts it), your Texas Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

See the Playbook →

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer. But if your situation is complicated, doesn't fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.