With about 1,526,656 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 estimate), San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas and the seat of Bexar County. Debt lawsuits against San Antonio residents are Bexar County cases, and the county's court system is large: four justice courts, fifteen numbered county courts and fourteen civil district courts. Knowing which one has your case, and what kind of court it is, tells you your deadline and what to expect.

Texas Debt Law defends San Antonio residents against credit card issuers, debt buyers, collection agencies and lenders for flat fees. We work mostly by phone, email and electronic filing.

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Bexar County's Four Justice Courts

Most consumer debt suits ask for $20,000 or less, the justice court limit (Gov't Code § 27.031). Bexar County's Justice of the Peace Courts page lists four precincts, each with one judge (Place 1):

Precinct 1, on Pleasanton Road in San Antonio
Precinct 2, on Guilbeau Road in San Antonio
Precinct 3, on Interpark Boulevard in San Antonio
Precinct 4, on East Loop 1604 North in Converse

So a San Antonio resident can be sued in Converse if the case is in Precinct 4. The county's civil cases page explains that a debt claim case is one brought by an assignee, a debt collector or collection agency, a financial institution, or a lender, and that these cases follow Rules 500 through 507 and 508 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

County Courts and Civil District Courts

Bigger claims go to the county courts or the civil district courts. Bexar County lists fifteen numbered county courts and fourteen civil district courts: the 37th, 45th, 57th, 73rd, 131st, 150th, 166th, 224th, 225th, 285th, 288th, 407th, 408th and 438th. The Bexar County Courthouse is at 100 Dolorosa in downtown San Antonio.

How Long You Have to Answer

The court type, not the city, sets your deadline:

Justice court: by the end of the 14th day after you were served (Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.5).
County or district court: by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since service (Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b)).

Later in a county or district court case, a response to a summary judgment motion filed on or after March 1, 2026 is due 21 days after the motion is filed (Rule 166a). Our answer deadline calculator handles the first deadline for you.

Free Resources in Bexar County

Bexar County Law Library. At 100 Dolorosa, Room 1.15, with legal research materials, legal forms, copying and scanning, and computers for Zoom hearings. Law library page.
Justice court self-help packets. Bexar County posts self-help packets and links to the Texas courts' self-help resources.
Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center. The county says the center provides free mediation services to Bexar County residents. Dispute Resolution Center.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. TRLA lists Bexar County among the counties it serves and has a San Antonio office. Eligibility rules apply. TRLA offices.

These are independent public services. We don't control them.

How We Approach a Bexar County Debt Case

Step 1: Stop the default. We file your answer before the deadline so the plaintiff can't win automatically.

Step 2: Test the plaintiff's proof. Many plaintiffs are debt buyers that need assignment records tying them to your account and records proving the balance. Debt changes hands, and the paperwork often doesn't keep up. We check for missing links, unsupported fees and interest, and a suit filed after the 4-year limitations period (Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004). A debt buyer can't sue on time-barred consumer debt at all (Fin. Code § 392.307).

Step 3: Look at the collector's conduct. False statements, threats or other unfair collection practices can violate the FDCPA or the Texas Debt Collection Act. See our San Antonio FDCPA page and Texas FDCPA overview.

Step 4: Resolve it on terms you approve. Some cases go to trial; some settle. If you decide to settle, we put the terms in writing, including how the case will be dismissed.

Flat Fees

Your fee depends on the amount of the lawsuit, not on hours. Flat fees start at $400, and payment plans are available.

Amount of the Lawsuit	Our Flat Legal Fee	Payment Plan
Less than $1,000	$400	Up to 2 months
$1,001 – $3,000	$500	Up to 2 months
$3,001 – $5,000	$750	Up to 3 months
$5,001 – $7,500	$1,000	Up to 4 months
$7,501 – $10,000	$1,250	Up to 6 months
$10,001 – $12,500	$1,500	Up to 6 months
$12,501 – $15,000	$1,750	Up to 6 months
$15,001 – $20,000	$2,000	Up to 6 months
Over $20,000	Call for Pricing

San Antonio FAQs

I live in San Antonio, but my case is in Converse. Is that right?

It can be. Bexar County's Precinct 4 justice court is in Converse, and justice court venue usually follows where the defendant lives, with some exceptions. If the precinct doesn't fit your address, tell us.

Should I use the county's free mediation?

Mediation can be a good way to settle, but it's still a negotiation with the other side's lawyer. Talk to an attorney before you agree to terms, especially on a debt you might have defenses to.

Can I use a self-help packet instead of hiring a lawyer?

You can represent yourself, and filing any timely answer protects you from a default judgment. A lawyer adds what a form can't: spotting defenses, handling discovery and motions, and dealing with the plaintiff's attorney.

If I lose, can they take my wages or my house?

Current wages can't be garnished for consumer debt in Texas (Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 28). Your homestead and up to $50,000 in personal property ($100,000 for a family) are generally exempt (Property Code chs. 41 and 42). Bank accounts can be at risk. If you already have a judgment, see post-judgment debt settlement.

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Request a free case evaluation or read our debt lawsuit questions. We also defend clients nearby in New Braunfels and Schertz.

Helpful guides

General information, not legal advice for your case.