Costa Mesa Divorce Records

Divorce decree records for Costa Mesa are held by Orange County Superior Court. All family law cases filed in Costa Mesa go through the county court system. The Lamoreaux Justice Center at 341 The City Drive South in Orange handles most record requests. Your divorce file includes the petition, response, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and the final judgment of dissolution. The court maintains these records permanently. You can request copies in person, by mail, or online for cases from 1997 forward. Certified divorce decrees cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page.

Orange County Court System

Orange County Superior Court handles all divorce cases for the county. The Family Law Records office is at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, 341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868. The phone number is (657) 622-8457. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The court website at occourts.org provides detailed information about family law records. You can learn about fees, procedures, and how to request copies.

Orange County offers online case search and document ordering for some cases. The family law portal is at fampub.occourts.org. You can search for cases from 1990 forward. Dissolution cases from 1997 to present can be ordered online.

Getting Your Divorce Decree

You can view a summary of proceedings, list of documents filed, party and hearing information online for cases opened from 1990 to date. California Rules of Court prohibit viewing the actual family law document itself online, except at a courthouse computer.

To request copies, you can visit the courthouse in person, submit a mail request, or use the online ordering system for cases from 1997 forward. The court website explains all three methods at occourts.org.

For in-person requests, go to the Lamoreaux Justice Center. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both parties' names. Staff will locate your case. If the file is on site, you can usually get copies the same day.

For mail requests, write to Family Law Records, Lamoreaux Justice Center, 341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868. Include the case number, both parties' full names, what documents you need, and payment. Send a check or money order. Include return postage.

Fees and Costs

Fee for copies is $0.50 per page. Certification of dissolution judgment costs $15. Certification of any other document is $40.00. Exemplification fee is $50.00. Records search fee is $15.00 per name searched.

The $15 fee for certified divorce decrees is set by Government Code Section 70674. The $40 fee for other certified documents comes from Government Code Section 70626.

The search fee applies when you do not provide a case number and staff must search by name. Most searches take longer than ten minutes, so the fee usually applies.

Exemplification is a higher level of certification sometimes needed for international use. Most people only need standard certification, which is included in the $15 fee for divorce decrees.

Online Ordering

Dissolution and legal separation cases from 1997 to date can be ordered online through the Orange County family law portal. Create an account to access the system. Search for your case by name or case number.

Once you locate your case, you can order certified copies. The system accepts credit card payment. Documents are mailed to you within a few business days. Online ordering is often faster than mail requests.

For cases before 1997, you must request copies in person or by mail. The online ordering system does not have those older records available for digital ordering.

Legal Resources

Orange County Superior Court offers free self-help services for family law matters. The Family Law Facilitator office can answer questions about divorce procedures. They help people fill out forms. They cannot give legal advice but can provide general information about court processes.

Legal Aid Society of Orange County provides free legal help to low-income residents. They assist with divorce cases, custody issues, and other family law matters. Eligibility requirements are based on income. Apply through their website or call their office.

The Orange County Bar Association maintains a lawyer referral service. You can find family law attorneys who practice in the county. Many offer free or low-cost initial consultations through the referral program.

Case Access and Privacy

California law restricts public access to family law records. You can view case summaries and registers of action online. You cannot view or download actual divorce documents remotely. California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 prohibits remote electronic access to family law documents.

To see the full divorce decree, you must go to the courthouse. Free public access terminals are available. Bring photo ID. Court staff will help you locate your case file in the system. You can view all documents at the courthouse.

Some information in divorce cases is sealed or confidential. Financial records and child custody evaluations may have restricted access. Only parties to the case and their attorneys can view sealed documents.

If your divorce involved domestic violence, your address may be confidential. The court can keep addresses sealed for safety reasons. You can request address confidentiality when filing or later if circumstances change.

Why You Need a Certified Decree

A certified divorce decree proves your marriage ended. You need it to remarry. Most counties require it for a marriage license. Government agencies like Social Security may need it to change your name back. Banks and other institutions may ask for it to update your marital status.

Keep several certified copies. You may need to submit copies to multiple agencies. It is easier to order several at once than to request them separately later. Each certified copy costs $15 from Orange County. Order three or four when you first request them.

If you change your name as part of the divorce, the decree serves as legal proof of the name change. You can use it to update your driver license, passport, and Social Security card. The decree must specifically state the name change for this purpose.

Historical Records

Orange County maintains divorce records going back many decades. Very old cases may be stored in archives. The court can still retrieve them. It just takes longer than for recent cases. If you need a divorce decree from before 1990, contact the records office directly.

The California Department of Public Health kept certificates of record for divorces from 1962 through June 1984. These are not full divorce decrees. They only show names, date, county, and case number. The actual decree must come from the county court. CDPH certificates are rarely needed since the full court record is available.

For divorces before 1962, only the county court has records. Contact Orange County Superior Court Records Division. Provide as much information as you can. Include both spouses' full names, approximate date of divorce, and any other details you know.

Nearby Orange County Cities

Other Orange County cities include Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. All divorce cases from these cities go through the same Orange County Superior Court system. The process and fees are the same regardless of which Orange County city you live in.

If you live near the Los Angeles County line, cities like Long Beach and Lakewood use a different court system. Make sure you filed in the correct county based on where you lived when the divorce was filed.