Access Burbank Divorce Decrees

Divorce decree records for Burbank residents are maintained by Los Angeles County Superior Court. If your divorce was filed in Burbank, the case went through the county court system. Los Angeles County handles all family law cases for cities within the county, including Burbank. Your divorce file contains the petition, response, financial forms, any agreements, and the final judgment. The court stores these records permanently at courthouse locations or the central archives. You can request copies in person, by mail, or online for cases filed after January 2000. Certified copies of the divorce decree cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page.

Los Angeles County Court System

Burbank is part of Los Angeles County. All divorce cases go through LA County Superior Court. The county has multiple courthouse locations for family law. The main downtown courthouse is at 111 North Hill Street in Los Angeles. Burbank cases may have been filed at different locations depending on the year and specific circumstances.

After a few years, most family law files are transferred to the Archives and Records Center. The archives are at 222 North Hill Street in Los Angeles. If your divorce is several years old, your file is likely at the archives rather than the original courthouse.

The Family Law Call Center phone number is (213) 633-6363. The main court number is (213) 830-0803. The Archives and Records Center can be reached at (213) 830-0198. Staff can tell you where your specific case file is located and how to get copies.

Online Case Search

Los Angeles County offers online case search at lacourt.org. You can search for family law cases from 1983 to present. Search by name or case number. The system shows case information and lists of filed documents.

Document images are available for cases filed after May 1, 2000. You can order copies online if your case falls in this date range. Cases before 2000 require in-person or mail requests for copies.

Online name searches cost $4.75 per search. You pay this fee even if the search finds no match. The fee is for searching, not for results. If you find your case, you can then order documents. Document costs are $1 per page for the first five pages, then 40 cents per additional page, with a $40 maximum per document.

Requesting Certified Copies

Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15. This fee is set by California Government Code Section 70674. The $15 includes all pages of the judgment plus the certification.

Other certified documents cost $40 plus 50 cents per page. Plain copies without certification are 50 cents per page. Most people need certified copies for official use like remarriage or name changes.

For in-person requests, visit the courthouse where your case was filed or the Archives and Records Center if your case is older. Bring photo ID and your case number if you have it. If you do not know the case number, provide both parties' full names and approximate divorce date.

For mail requests, write to the appropriate courthouse or the archives. Include case number, both parties' names, what documents you need, and payment. Use a check or money order payable to Los Angeles Superior Court. Include return postage. Processing time varies but typically takes a few weeks.

Online Ordering

If your divorce was finalized after January 2000, you may be able to order online. According to lacourt.org, only imaged family law divorce judgments entered after January 2000 are available through the online system.

Create an account on the LA Court online services portal. Search for your case by name or case number. Once you locate it, you can order certified copies and pay by credit card. The court emails or mails the documents to you within a few business days.

For divorces before 2000, you must request copies in person or by mail. The online portal does not have older records digitized for ordering. Contact the archives or the courthouse directly for pre-2000 cases.

Legal Assistance in Burbank

The Los Angeles Superior Court Self-Help Center provides free assistance with family law forms and procedures. Call (213) 830-0845 for help. They can answer general questions about divorce processes and what forms you need. They cannot give legal advice but can explain court procedures.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves low-income residents. They provide free legal help for divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence cases. Eligibility is based on income. Contact their office to see if you qualify for services.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. You can find family law attorneys who practice in the county. Many offer reduced-fee initial consultations. This gives you a chance to discuss your case with a lawyer and get advice on your specific situation.

Record Privacy and Access

California law limits public access to family law records. You can view case summary information online. You can see lists of filed documents. But you cannot view or download the actual documents remotely.

California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 prohibits remote electronic access to family law documents. This protects privacy in divorce and custody cases. To view full documents, you must go to the courthouse and use public access terminals.

Some information in your divorce file may be sealed or confidential. Financial declarations, custody evaluations, and domestic violence information often have restricted access. Only parties to the case and their attorneys can view sealed portions of the file.

Using Your Divorce Decree

You need a certified divorce decree to remarry in California or any other state. County clerks require proof your previous marriage ended before they will issue a new marriage license. The decree provides that proof.

If you changed your name through the divorce, the decree is legal proof of the name change. Use it to update your driver license, Social Security card, and passport. The decree must specifically state the name change for this purpose.

Financial institutions may request a copy to update your marital status. Banks, insurance companies, and retirement accounts use it to verify your status and make changes to beneficiaries or account ownership.

Order several certified copies at once. Get three to five copies when you first request them. Each costs $15. Having multiple copies is convenient when you need to submit them to different agencies simultaneously.

Older Divorce Records

Los Angeles County maintains divorce records going back many decades. Older files are stored at the Archives and Records Center. The archives house cases from across the county. Contact them at (213) 830-0198 for records more than a few years old.

Very old cases may take longer to retrieve. Archive staff need to locate the physical file in storage. Allow extra time for requests involving divorces from before 1980.

The California Department of Public Health kept limited records from 1962 to June 1984. These certificates of record show only basic information. They are not full divorce decrees. The actual decree must come from the county court.

Nearby LA County Cities

Other Los Angeles County cities include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, and Pasadena. All use the same LA County Superior Court system. The process and fees are the same regardless of which LA County city you filed in.

If you are near the Ventura County line, be aware that cities like Simi Valley use Ventura County courts. Make sure you know which county handled your case. That determines where your records are kept.