Bexar County TX Recorder of Deeds: Search Deed Records, Copies, Recording Fees & Office
In Bexar County, Texas, the office many people call the “Recorder of Deeds” is the Bexar County Clerk. Deeds, releases of lien, notices of trustee sale, public notices, personal property records and many real-property land records are filed through the County Clerk’s Recordings Division and Deed Records Department.
This guide explains how to search the official Bexar County public records system, where to go for deed copies, how to record a real-property document, what fees to expect, which office handles property taxes or homestead exemptions, and what to do after opening each official county link.
Who Is the Bexar County Recorder of Deeds?
The practical answer is the Bexar County Clerk’s Office. If you need to search or record a deed in San Antonio or elsewhere in Bexar County, start with the County Clerk’s Official Public Records Search, the Real Property/Land Records page, or the Deed Records Department at the Paul Elizondo Tower.
Use the County Clerk For
- Recorded deeds and deed copies.
- Releases of lien and lien research.
- Real Property/Land Records.
- Notice of Trustee Sales.
- Plain or certified copies of recorded documents.
- Vanguard Property Alert signup.
Main Deed Records Location
For deed copies and lien research, the county directs users to the Deed Records Department in the Paul Elizondo Tower:
101 W. Nueva, Suite B109
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: 210-335-2273
Do Not Use It For
- Property-tax payments.
- Appraised-value disputes.
- Homestead exemption approval.
- Drafting deeds for you.
- Guaranteed title searches.
- Boundary or ownership legal opinions.
Bexar County Clerk vs BCAD vs Tax Assessor-Collector
Deed records, appraisals and tax bills are connected, but they are not handled by one office. Use this table before you call or visit.
| Question or Task | Correct Office | Phone | Why This Office Handles It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search a deed, order a certified copy, record a release of lien, research recorded liens | Bexar County Clerk — Deed Records / Recordings | 210-335-2273 or 210-335-2581 | The County Clerk records and maintains land records, public notices, releases, trustee-sale notices and official public records. |
| Homestead exemption, appraised value, ownership update in appraisal records, protest, property ID | Bexar Appraisal District | 210-224-8511 | BCAD sets values and handles exemptions. Bexar County’s tax office states BCAD is separate from the Tax Assessor-Collector. |
| Pay property taxes, duplicate tax bill, tax receipts, payment plan, delinquent taxes | Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector | 210-335-2251 | The Tax Assessor-Collector collects and disburses taxes for Bexar County and many separate taxing jurisdictions. |
| Tax foreclosure bidding, tax-sale certificate questions | Tax Assessor-Collector / listed tax-sale attorney route | 210-335-6628 | The County Clerk publishes or indexes foreclosure notices, but tax-certificate and tax-sale details may be routed to tax-collection resources. |
| Title opinion, deed drafting, legal ownership dispute, clear-title guarantee | Attorney or title company | Not a county service | The County Clerk’s office states it does not prepare deeds and does not guarantee clear title or identify every encumbrance for you. |
How to Search Bexar County Deed Records Online
Bexar County’s Official Public Records Search lets users search land records by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type or document number. The search page includes date-range filters and separate options for index-only searching or full-text OCR searching.
Search by Grantor or Grantee
Use this when you know the buyer, seller, lender, trustee, business entity or person connected to the recorded instrument. Try a last name or company name first, then narrow with a date range.
Search by Document Number
Use this when you already have an instrument number from a closing file, title commitment, release of lien, deed reference or prior public-record search result.
Search by Subdivision or Document Type
Use subdivision terms for plat or neighborhood-related research. Use document type when you are trying to isolate deeds, releases, notices of trustee sale, liens or other recorded instruments.
Best Workflow for Finding a Bexar County Deed
Open the Official Public Records Search
Use the official Bexar County Clerk public-search portal, not a paid people-search site. The search screen should show Bexar County, Texas County Clerk and a Land Records search department.
Choose the Best Search Term
If you have a document number, use it first. If you do not, search by grantor/grantee name, subdivision, document type, or a phrase likely to appear in the record.
Use Date Range Filters
For recent closings, start with a shorter recorded-date window. For older ownership history, expand the range slowly so you do not get thousands of unrelated results.
Open the Correct Result and Review the Image
Check the grantor, grantee, recording date, document type, legal description and instrument number. Do not rely only on the search-result title if several people or entities share similar names.
Print an Uncertified Copy or Request Certification
The county states uncertified copies may be printed directly from the online search. If a lender, court, agency or title company requires a certified copy, request it from the County Clerk’s Deed Records Department.
How to Read a Bexar County Deed Record Result
A recorded-document search result is not the same thing as a legal title opinion. Use these fields to understand what you are viewing and what still needs verification.
| Field or Clue | What It Usually Means | How to Use It Safely |
|---|---|---|
| Grantor | Person or entity giving, releasing, conveying or signing the interest shown in the document. | Check spelling, entity suffixes, trustees, estates and prior owner names before assuming it is your exact record. |
| Grantee | Person or entity receiving the interest, lien release, deed, notice or other recorded benefit. | Compare with BCAD ownership and your closing documents if the purpose is property ownership research. |
| Document type | May show deed, deed of trust, release, notice of trustee sale, lien, plat or other instrument type. | Document type affects meaning. A deed of trust is not the same as a warranty deed. |
| Instrument / document number | The recording reference assigned after the document is filed, cashiered, indexed and scanned. | Save it. It is the fastest way to order a copy or discuss the exact record with the Clerk. |
| Recorded date | The date the County Clerk recorded the instrument into the public record. | Do not assume this is the closing date or signing date; those may be different. |
| Legal description | Formal property description such as lot/block, subdivision, survey or metes-and-bounds language. | Use the recorded deed or title work for legal-description purposes; a street address alone is not enough. |
How to Record a Deed, Release of Lien or Real-Property Document in Bexar County
Bexar County says real-property documents may be filed and recorded with the County Clerk in person or by mail. The original document with original signatures is required; the County Clerk will not record a copy.
Bring or Mail the Original
- Original document with original signatures.
- Proper acknowledgement or notary where required.
- Correct property identification and legal description.
- Correct recording fee payment.
- Return address or instructions if mailing.
- Checks payable to Bexar County Clerk.
Do Not Expect the Clerk to Draft It
The County Clerk’s office does not prepare deeds or other legal documents. If the document affects ownership, lien rights, estate property, trust property, divorce property, foreclosure rights or title defects, get legal or title-company help before recording.
Recording makes an eligible document part of the public record; it does not guarantee that the document is legally sufficient or that title is clear.
Bexar County Real Property Recording and Deed Copy Fees
The official Bexar County fee page lists real-property document fees effective January 1, 2024. Verify the fee schedule before mailing a document because the Clerk requires payment when the document is presented.
| Record or Service | Listed Fee | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Real property document, first page | $25.00 | Listed as $5 recording fee, $10 records management and preservation fee, and $10 records archive fee for the first page. |
| Each additional page | $4.00 | Additional-page fee for real-property documents after the first page. |
| Plain deed record copy | $1.00 per page | Use when you need an ordinary copy for personal review, reference or informal research. |
| Certification fee | $5.00 per document | Use when a lender, court, agency or formal process requires a certified copy. |
| Plat copy, bond paper, full size 18" × 24" | $6.00 per page | Useful for subdivision or property research where the recorded plat image is needed. |
| Plat copy, vellum paper, full size 18" × 24" | $7.00 per page | Separate listed plat-copy format on the county fee page. |
| Plat recording per Mylar | $81.00 total | County fee table shows $61 recording fee plus $10 records management/preservation and $10 record archives fees. |
| Electronic copy of electronic document | $1.00 up to 10 pages; $0.10 per page over 10 pages | Applies to electronic copies of electronic documents under the county’s listed fee schedule. |
How to Get Bexar County Deed Copies or Check Recorded Liens
Plain Deed Copy
Bexar County says plain copies can be found by using the Official Public Records Search and selecting Land Records. Use this when you only need a reference copy.
Certified Deed Copy
Certified copies may be requested in person at the Deed Records Department or by mail to the County Clerk’s Office. The listed fee is $1 per page plus $5 per certification.
Vanguard Property Alert
Bexar County promotes Vanguard Property Alert as a free alert service to notify property owners about potentially fraudulent claims or transactions involving real property.
Can You E-Record Bexar County Deeds?
Bexar County states that electronic recording is available through approved e-filing providers. The county lists providers such as CSC eRecording, Simplifile, Erxchange, eRecording Partners Network, Indecomm Global Services and Hopdox.
Who Commonly Uses E-Recording
Texas Property Code electronic-recording rules and the county’s page are mainly relevant to attorneys, banks, savings institutions, credit unions, federally chartered lenders, title companies, title agents, state agencies and municipal clerks.
If you are an individual homeowner with a one-time deed or release, call the Recordings Department before assuming you can e-record directly.
In Person or Mail Still Matters
For many residents, the practical choices remain in-person recording at the Paul Elizondo Tower or Southside Annex, or mailing the original document to the County Clerk’s Office with the correct fee.
Do not mail photocopies for recording; the county says original documents with original signatures are required.
Bexar County Foreclosure Notices and Map Search
The County Clerk’s real-property page explains that mortgage foreclosure notices may be obtained through the Official Public Records Search, the GIS Foreclosure Map, or by visiting the Deed Records Department. The foreclosure map is designed for current-month foreclosure notices.
GIS Foreclosure Map
The map displays mortgage and tax foreclosure notices and may include clickable property information, foreclosure documents and street-view links when available.
It is best used as a lead-generation and verification tool, not as a legal opinion about ownership, redemption or title.
Foreclosure Legal Caution
Bexar County describes foreclosure as complex and suggests contacting a legal advisor for concerns about a property. Registration is not needed for mortgage foreclosure bidding, but tax foreclosure bidding has separate registration rules.
The county also states that redemption periods differ: properties identified as agricultural use or homestead properties have a two-year redemption period, while other properties have a six-month period.
Bexar County Recording Fee Estimator
This tool estimates common County Clerk fees based on the published real-property fee schedule. It is not an official fee quote. Verify the current county fee page before mailing or presenting a document.
Recording estimate uses $25 for the first page and $4 for each additional page. Plain copy estimate uses $1 per page. Certified copy estimate uses $1 per page plus $5 per certification.
Bexar County Deed Records Office Address, Phone and Hours
For most deed-record copy and lien-research questions, use the Deed Records Department at Suite B109. For recording original real-property documents, use the Recordings Department at Suite 103 or the Southside Annex when available.
Paul Elizondo Tower — Deed Records and Recordings
Deed Records:
101 W. Nueva, Suite B109
San Antonio, TX 78205
Recordings:
101 W. Nueva, Suite 103
San Antonio, TX 78205
Deed Records phone: 210-335-2273
Recordings phone: 210-335-2581
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday extended hours to 5:45 p.m.; excluding county holidays.
Open Paul Elizondo Tower Map ↗Southside Annex
Location:
Bexar County Precinct 1
3505 Pleasanton Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78221
Phone: 210-335-3522
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; excluding county holidays.
Records on the Run
Bexar County also promotes its “Records on the Run” mobile unit for residents who want to avoid a trip to the courthouse or downtown parking. Check the county calendar because the mobile unit uses alternating dates and locations.
Official Bexar County Recorder of Deeds Links and What to Do After Opening Them
Use these official links for live searches, current fees, deed copies, recording instructions, foreclosure notices and property-alert setup. Each link includes a short action guide.
Bexar County Clerk — Official Department Page
Main county page for County Clerk services, public records search, Property Alert, foreclosure map, Real Property/Land Records, office hours and department contacts.
- Open the County Clerk page.
- Use Official Public Records Search for online deed and land-record searches.
- Use Real Property/Land Records for recording and deed-copy instructions.
- Scroll to Contact Our Departments if you need Deed Records, Recordings or Southside Annex phone numbers.
Official Public Records Search
Official Bexar County Clerk search portal for Land Records, including grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number and date-range searching.
- Confirm the page says Bexar County, Texas County Clerk.
- Select or confirm Land Records as the department.
- Enter a grantor/grantee name, subdivision, document type or document number.
- Use a recorded-date range if results are too broad.
- Choose index-only search for indexed fields or OCR full-text search for document text.
- Open the result and save the document number before ordering a copy.
Bexar County Real Property/Land Records
Official instructions for filing and recording real-property documents in person, by mail or through electronic recording providers.
- Read the Recording Information section first.
- Confirm whether you will file in person, by mail or through an e-recording provider.
- Check that you have the original document with original signatures.
- Use the Deed Copies and Lien Information sections if you are researching an existing record.
Bexar County Real Property Recording Fees
Official fee schedule for real-property documents, deed copies, certifications, plats, federal tax liens and electronic copies.
- Find the real-property document page-count table.
- Use $25 for the first page and $4 per additional page for common real-property recording estimates.
- Use the deed-copy table if you need plain or certified copies.
- Confirm special fees separately for plats, federal tax liens and electronic copies.
Contact the Bexar County Clerk
Official contact page listing Deed Records, Recordings, Southside Annex, administration and other County Clerk departments.
- Scroll to Contact Our Offices.
- Use Deed Records for deed copies and land-record research.
- Use Recordings for recording original real-property documents.
- Check current hours and holiday notices before visiting.
Vanguard Property Alert
Free county-promoted alert signup intended to notify property owners about potentially fraudulent claims or transactions involving real property.
- Open the Property Alert page from the official public-search system.
- Create or sign into an account if the system requires it.
- Add the owner name, property reference or document-related alert terms carefully.
- Monitor alerts, but still verify any suspicious document directly with the County Clerk and qualified legal help.
Bexar County Foreclosure Map
County GIS map for current-month mortgage and tax foreclosure notices, with map layers and document links where available.
- Open the map on a desktop browser when possible because the county notes the application is desktop-oriented.
- Zoom into the property area and use the layer list if parcels are not visible.
- Click a foreclosure point or row to view available property information.
- Use linked foreclosure documents and the Official Public Records Search for verification.
- Get legal advice before bidding or relying on a foreclosure result.
Bexar Appraisal District
Correct office for Bexar County homestead exemptions, property values, appraisal records and appraisal-district ownership updates.
- Use BCAD if your question is about appraised value, homestead exemption or property characteristics.
- Search by name, address or property ID if you need the appraisal record.
- If ownership is not updated, ask BCAD whether a recorded deed copy is needed.
- Do not send property-tax payments to BCAD; BCAD states it does not accept property-tax payments.
Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector
Official tax office for property-tax bills, payments, receipts, tax-account lookups and tax-collection questions.
- Use this office if your question is about a tax bill or payment.
- Use the tax office search when you have owner name, business name, address, account number, CAD property ID or fiduciary number.
- For appraised value or exemption corrections, contact BCAD first because corrections flow from the appraisal district.
Common Bexar County Deed Record Mistakes
Mistakes That Cause Problems
- Searching for a “Bexar County Recorder of Deeds” office instead of the County Clerk.
- Trying to record a photocopy instead of the original document with original signatures.
- Assuming the County Clerk prepares deeds or fixes legal-description problems.
- Using deed records as a guaranteed clear-title search.
- Calling the Clerk for homestead exemptions instead of BCAD.
- Calling BCAD to pay property taxes instead of the Tax Assessor-Collector.
- Ignoring the difference between a deed, deed of trust, release of lien and notice of trustee sale.
Better Workflow
- Start with the Official Public Records Search for existing documents.
- Save the document number before requesting copies.
- Use Suite B109 for Deed Records copy and lien-research questions.
- Use Suite 103 or mail instructions for recording original documents.
- Verify fees before mailing documents.
- Use Property Alert to monitor future recordings involving your real property.
- Use an attorney or title company for deed drafting, ownership disputes and title opinions.
What Should You Do Next?
| Your Situation | Best Next Step | Correct Office / Tool |
|---|---|---|
| You need to find a recorded deed. | Search the Official Public Records Search by grantor/grantee, document number, subdivision or document type. | County Clerk Official Public Records Search |
| You lost your original deed. | Print a plain copy online or request a certified copy from the Deed Records Department. | Deed Records Department, Suite B109 |
| You paid off a mortgage and received a release of lien. | Record the original release in person or by mail with the required fee. | Recordings Department, Suite 103 or mail to County Clerk |
| You think there is a lien on your property. | Search Official Public Records and consider a title company or attorney for a full title search. | County Clerk Deed Records + title professional |
| You need homestead, over-65 or disabled exemption help. | Contact Bexar Appraisal District, not the County Clerk. | BCAD |
| You need to pay or verify property taxes. | Use the Tax Assessor-Collector’s tax-account tools or contact the Tax Office. | Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector |
Bexar County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Does Bexar County have a Recorder of Deeds?
No separate office is commonly used under that name. In Bexar County, deeds and real-property land records are handled by the Bexar County Clerk’s Office, especially the Recordings Division and Deed Records Department.
Where is the Bexar County Deed Records Department?
The Deed Records Department is located in the Paul Elizondo Tower at 101 W. Nueva, Suite B109, San Antonio, TX 78205. The listed Deed Records phone number is 210-335-2273.
How do I search Bexar County deed records online?
Use the official Bexar County Clerk Official Public Records Search. Select Land Records, then search by grantor/grantee, subdivision, document type, document number or recorded-date range. Use index-only search for indexed fields and OCR search when you need document text.
Can I print a deed copy online?
Bexar County says the County Clerk’s Official Records Search is a free online database where documents can be searched and viewed online, and uncertified copies may be printed directly. Certified copies must be requested from the County Clerk.
How much does it cost to record a real-property document in Bexar County?
The official county fee page lists $25 for the first page and $4 for each additional page for real-property documents. Verify the current fee page before mailing or presenting a document because special record types can have different fees.
What is the fee for a certified Bexar County deed copy?
Bexar County lists deed record copies at $1 per page and a certification fee of $5 per document. Certification is usually needed only when a lender, court, agency or formal process requires a certified record.
Can the Bexar County Clerk prepare a deed for me?
No. The County Clerk’s office states that it does not prepare deeds or other documents. If you need a deed drafted or reviewed, contact an attorney, title company or qualified real-estate professional.
Can I record a copy of my deed or release of lien?
No. Bexar County says original documents with original signatures are required for recording, and the County Clerk’s Office will not record a copy.
Who handles Bexar County homestead exemptions?
Homestead, over-65 and disabled-property-tax exemptions are handled by the Bexar Appraisal District, not the County Clerk. The County Clerk records deeds, while BCAD handles appraisal records and exemption qualification.
Who handles Bexar County property tax payments?
Bexar County property-tax payment questions go to the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector. Use the County Clerk for recorded documents, BCAD for appraisals and exemptions, and the Tax Assessor-Collector for tax bills and payments.
Independent Educational Guide
County-Appraisal-District.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Bexar County Clerk’s Office, Bexar County Government, Bexar Appraisal District, the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, a title company, a law firm or a consumer reporting agency.
This guide explains how to use official public-record tools and county offices. It is not legal advice and does not replace official recorded documents, title insurance, a boundary survey, a court order, a tax-office statement, appraisal-district records or professional legal review.
Do not use property-owner data, deed records or public-record search results for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting purposes.