Moreno Valley Divorce Decree Search

Moreno Valley divorce decree records are maintained by the Riverside County Superior Court. Moreno Valley has about 208,000 residents and sits in western Riverside County just east of the city of Riverside. All dissolution cases for Moreno Valley go through the county court system. The Family Law Courthouse in Riverside handles cases for this area. You can request copies of your divorce decree there. Certified copies cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Off-site file retrieval costs $30 if your case is in archives.

Riverside County Handles Moreno Valley Divorces

Moreno Valley residents file for divorce at Riverside County Superior Court. The Family Law Courthouse at 4175 Main Street in Riverside handles dissolution cases for the western part of the county including Moreno Valley. The courthouse is about 10 miles west of Moreno Valley in downtown Riverside.

The Family Law Courthouse is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (951) 777-3147 for general info. The court has public terminals where you can search for case information. Staff at the records window can help you request copies of documents. Parking is available near the courthouse. Bring photo ID when you visit.

You can search for case info online at the Riverside County public portal. The system lets you search by name or case number. You see basic case info like filing dates and party names. To view actual documents or get copies, you must visit the courthouse or submit a written request. California law prohibits remote viewing of family law documents.

Requesting Divorce Records

There are two main ways to get divorce records for Moreno Valley cases. Visit the courthouse in person or send a mail request. Online viewing is not available for family law documents due to California privacy rules. But you can check case status online before you visit or order copies.

For in-person requests, visit the Family Law Courthouse at 4175 Main Street in Riverside. Bring photo ID. Tell the clerk which documents you need and if you want them certified. If the file is on-site, staff can pull it and make copies the same day. If the file is stored off-site, you must pay a $30 retrieval fee. The court will call you when the file is ready, usually within a few days.

For mail requests, fill out form RI-MC002 (Request for Records Search). You can download it from riverside.courts.ca.gov. Include both parties' full names, the case number if you know it, and which documents you want. Say whether you need certified or plain copies. Send the form with payment to Riverside Superior Court, Family Law, 4175 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing takes two to four weeks.

Fees for Riverside County divorce records are set by California law. Copy fees are 50 cents per page. A certified divorce decree is $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. Certifying other documents costs $40. Off-site file retrieval is $30. Exemplification is $50 if you need the document for use in another state.

Note: Always call ahead to confirm current fees and processing times before you send payment.

Filing for Divorce in Moreno Valley

Moreno Valley residents must meet state residency rules. One spouse must live in California for six months before filing. That same spouse must also live in Riverside County for three months before filing. If you just moved to Moreno Valley from another state or county, you may need to wait before you file.

California law allows no-fault divorce. The most common ground is irreconcilable differences. This is stated in California Family Code Section 2310. It means the marriage has broken down and cannot be repaired. You do not need to prove your spouse did anything wrong.

You file a petition for dissolution at the Riverside County Superior Court. The filing fee is about $435. After you file, you must serve your spouse with a copy of the papers. You cannot serve them yourself. Use a process server, the sheriff, or any adult over 18 who is not involved in the case. The server fills out a proof of service form that gets filed with the court.

There is a mandatory six-month waiting period before the divorce can be final. This rule is in California Family Code Section 2339. The wait starts on the date your spouse is served, not the date you file. During these six months, you and your spouse work out issues like property, support, and custody. If you agree on everything, you file a marital settlement agreement. If you cannot agree, the court may order mediation or hold a trial.

Legal Help for Moreno Valley Residents

Several groups offer help with family law cases in Riverside County. The Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator office that provides free assistance with child support and custody forms. Call (951) 777-3147 to ask about their services. They do not give full legal advice, but they can help you understand forms and court procedures.

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino offers services in Riverside County for people with low income. Call (909) 889-7328 to see if you qualify. They handle divorce cases that involve domestic violence or other serious issues. Their Riverside office is at 4129 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501.

The Riverside County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at (951) 682-7520. The first consultation costs $35 for 30 minutes. They can match you with a family law attorney who practices in the Riverside area. The State Bar of California also has a referral service at 1-866-442-2529.

Inland Counties Legal Services may assist low-income residents with divorce cases. Call (888) 245-4257 or visit icls-law.org. They serve Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Alternatives to Domestic Violence at (951) 320-1900 provides services for people dealing with domestic violence in Moreno Valley and Riverside County.

Nearby Cities in Riverside County

Other cities near Moreno Valley also use Riverside County Superior Court for divorce records. Riverside is the county seat and home to the Family Law Courthouse. Corona is west of Moreno Valley. Jurupa Valley is to the northwest.

Perris is south of Moreno Valley. Hemet is in the San Jacinto Valley to the east. Murrieta and Menifee are in the southwestern part of the county. All these cities file dissolution cases at Riverside County Superior Court.