Find Pasadena Divorce Decrees

Pasadena divorce decree records are maintained by Los Angeles County Superior Court. This city of 142,000 residents files all divorce cases through the county court system. The Pasadena Courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street handles many local divorce filings. All records stay with the Superior Court even after your case ends. You can get certified copies of your divorce decree from the courthouse where it was filed or from the county archives for older cases. Standard fees apply. Certified decrees cost $15. Copies are 50 cents per page. The court offers in-person, mail, and limited online access for divorce records.

Pasadena Courthouse Information

Pasadena is part of Los Angeles County. The Superior Court handles all divorce cases filed by Pasadena residents. The Pasadena Courthouse is at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. This location serves Pasadena and nearby communities in the northeast section of Los Angeles County.

Many Pasadena area divorce cases are filed at this courthouse. The building has family law services, courtrooms, and clerk offices. You file new divorce petitions here. You attend hearings here. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree from this location.

The Pasadena Courthouse phone is (626) 396-3215. For family law questions that apply to all Los Angeles County, call the Family Law Call Center at (213) 633-6363. The Self-Help Center at (213) 830-0845 helps people representing themselves. These services answer questions about forms, procedures, and requirements.

After your case ends, the court keeps your file for a few years. Then it moves to the Archives and Records Center at 222 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. Once archived, you request copies from that location. The archives phone is (213) 830-0198. There is a $10 retrieval fee for archived files.

Los Angeles County offers online case search at lacourt.org. You can search for family law cases from 1983 forward. Name searches cost $4.75. The system shows case summaries and registers of action. Some documents from cases filed after 2000 can be ordered online.

How to Get Divorce Decree Copies

To get copies of your Pasadena divorce decree, contact Los Angeles County Superior Court. If your case is recent, go to the Pasadena Courthouse where it was filed. Bring photo ID. Give the clerk your case number or both party names. Tell them you need a certified copy or plain copy.

Fees are set by state law. Certified divorce decrees cost $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This covers certification and the decree itself. If your decree has multiple pages, add 50 cents per page. Plain copies without certification are 50 cents per page.

For in-person requests, pay with cash, check, or credit card. If the file is on-site, you may get copies same day. If the file is in storage, it takes longer. The clerk tells you when to return or offers to mail copies once ready.

For mail requests, write to the Pasadena Courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101. Include full names of both parties, your case number if known, approximate date of divorce, type of copy needed, and your contact info. Enclose payment made to Los Angeles Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage for return mail. Processing takes one to several weeks depending on workload and file location.

If your case is old, it may be at the archives. Write to Archives and Records Center, 222 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Include the same information. There is a $10 retrieval fee for archived files plus copy fees. Old cases take longer to process because staff must retrieve files from storage.

Note: Online document ordering is available for some cases filed after January 2000 through the court portal.

Online Case Search

Los Angeles County provides online search for divorce records. Go to lacourt.org to access the portal. You search by name or case number. The system includes family law cases from 1983 to present.

Each name search costs $4.75. This fee applies even if the search finds no match. Payment is for the search itself. Once you find your case, you view the register of actions for free. This shows all filed documents, court dates, and case status.

For cases filed after May 2000, some documents may be available online. Create an account to order documents. The system charges $1 per page for the first five pages of each document. Additional pages are 40 cents. Maximum is $40 per document. Documents are delivered by email or mail within days.

California law limits what you can see online. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, courts cannot give full remote access to family law files. You see case summaries online, but many documents require an in-person courthouse visit or a formal written request.

If you cannot find your case online, it may be too old or filed under different names. Call the courthouse to ask for help searching. If the search takes more than 10 minutes, there may be a $15 search fee.

Help for Pasadena Residents

Several resources help Pasadena residents with family law matters. The Superior Court Self-Help Center offers free assistance. Staff help you fill out forms and understand court procedures. They do not give legal advice but provide general information. Call (213) 830-0845 for services and hours.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves low-income residents. They handle divorce and family law cases. Services include advice, forms help, and representation in some situations. Call (800) 399-4529 to check if you qualify. They have offices throughout Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Call (213) 243-1525 to connect with a family law attorney in Pasadena. First consultation is $35 for 30 minutes. The service matches you with attorneys who practice near you.

Pasadena Bar Association also provides referrals for local attorneys. They can connect you with lawyers who practice in Pasadena and nearby cities. Local attorneys know the Pasadena Courthouse and its procedures.

Pasadena City Hall does not handle court records. City offices cannot help with divorce matters. All divorce records are kept by the county court system. For any court record, contact Los Angeles County Superior Court, not city government.

Divorce Laws in California

California uses no-fault divorce. You do not prove wrongdoing. The only grounds are irreconcilable differences or permanent legal incapacity. Most people file based on irreconcilable differences. This applies to all divorces filed in Pasadena.

California requires a six-month waiting period. Under California Family Code Section 2339, no divorce is final until six months after the respondent is served with the petition. Even if you and your spouse agree on everything, you wait six months. The court cannot finalize your divorce sooner.

Residency requirements apply. One spouse must live in California for six months and in Los Angeles County for three months before filing. If you just moved to Pasadena, you may need to wait to meet this requirement. The court checks residency when you file.

The court clerk keeps all divorce records per California Family Code Section 2338. When your judgment is entered, the clerk sends notice to both parties or their attorneys. This ensures everyone knows when the divorce is final. The clerk also maintains the file for future copy requests.

All divorce judgments are reported to the State Registrar under California Health and Safety Code Section 103200. The court sends copies monthly. The state tracks divorces for vital statistics. However, the actual decree is only available from the Superior Court, not from state offices.

Other Large Cities Nearby

Pasadena is near several other cities over 100,000 population. Glendale is west of Pasadena with about 200,000 residents. Both use Los Angeles County Superior Court for divorce cases. Burbank is northwest with about 107,000 residents.

Pomona is east of Pasadena with 154,000 residents. Torrance is south near the coast with 148,000 residents. All Los Angeles County cities file divorce cases with the same Superior Court system. Each courthouse serves its local area, but records are available countywide.

For complete information about Los Angeles County divorce records, see the Los Angeles County page. That page covers all courthouse locations, online services, fees, and procedures for the entire county including Pasadena.