Rialto Divorce Decree Access

Rialto divorce decree records are kept by San Bernardino County Superior Court. This city has over 104,000 residents. All divorce cases go through the county court system. The San Bernardino District courthouse handles many Rialto area divorce filings. The court maintains all divorce files even after cases close. You can get certified copies from the courthouse. Fees are $15 for private parties and $10 for public agencies for certified decrees. Plain copies cost 50 cents per page. Request methods include in-person visits, mail, and online search through the court portal. Processing times vary based on file location and court workload.

Where Rialto Cases Are Filed

Rialto is in San Bernardino County. The Superior Court handles all divorce cases. Rialto residents typically file at the San Bernardino District courthouse. This courthouse is at 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415.

San Bernardino County is large. The court operates several courthouse locations. The San Bernardino courthouse serves the central and western areas including Rialto. You file new divorce petitions at the family law clerk's office. You attend hearings at the courthouse. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree.

Call (909) 708-8747 for San Bernardino courthouse information. Visit sb-court.org for forms, instructions, and services. The website has resources for people representing themselves in divorce cases.

The court offers online case search through the Court Access Portal at cap.sb-court.org. Search by name or case number. View registers of actions and case summaries. Some documents may be available online depending on case type.

San Bernardino County Clerk-Recorder does not handle divorce records per county records information. All divorce decrees come from the Superior Court only.

Getting Divorce Decree Copies

To get your Rialto divorce decree copy, request it from San Bernardino County Superior Court. Visit the courthouse where your case was filed. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and divorce date.

Certified dissolution records cost $15 for private parties and $10 for public agencies. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. These fees follow California law. If your decree has many pages, expect additional page fees.

For in-person requests, pay by cash, check, or credit card. Same-day service may be available if your file is on-site. Off-site files take longer. The clerk tells you when copies will be ready or can mail them.

For mail requests, write to the family law division at the courthouse. Include full names of both parties, case number if known, approximate divorce date, type of copy needed, and your address. Enclose payment to San Bernardino Superior Court. Add a stamped envelope. Processing takes one to several weeks.

Older cases may be in storage. The court charges retrieval fees for archived files. Ask about current fees and processing times. Archived cases take longer to process than recent cases.

Note: Certification fees may be $25 for some documents per court fee schedules.

Online Record Search

San Bernardino County has online case access at cap.sb-court.org. Search for family law cases by party name or case number. The portal shows case details including parties, dates, and status.

View registers of actions showing all filed documents and court dates. Track your case progress online. Some documents may be viewable or downloadable depending on court rules and case type.

California law restricts remote access to family law files. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, courts cannot provide full public remote access to dissolution records. You see case information online, but many documents require courthouse visits.

If you cannot find your case, call the courthouse for help. Staff can search using different spellings or dates. Search fees may apply if the search takes over 10 minutes.

Resources for Rialto Residents

San Bernardino County Superior Court provides self-help services. The court website has forms, instructions, and guides for divorce cases. Self-help centers at courthouses offer in-person assistance.

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino helps low-income residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. Call to see if you qualify for free services. They may provide advice, forms help, and representation.

San Bernardino County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Get connected with family law attorneys who practice near Rialto. Contact the bar association for referral fees and consultation information.

Rialto City Hall at 150 South Palm Avenue does not handle court records. City offices cannot provide divorce decrees. All divorce records are with the Superior Court. Contact the court, not city government, for divorce records.

Local family law attorneys practice in Rialto and San Bernardino. They know the local court system. Consider consulting an attorney if you need legal advice about your divorce.

California Divorce Requirements

California is a no-fault state. You do not prove wrongdoing. The grounds are irreconcilable differences or permanent legal incapacity. Most cite irreconcilable differences. This applies to all California divorces.

California has a six-month waiting period. Under California Family Code Section 2339, no divorce is final until six months after service of petition. Even if you agree, you wait six months. The court cannot finalize it earlier.

Residency requirements must be met. One spouse must live in California for six months and in San Bernardino County for three months before filing. New Rialto residents may need to wait to establish residency. The court checks residency at filing.

The court clerk keeps all divorce records per California Family Code Section 2338. The clerk notifies parties when judgment is entered. The clerk maintains files for future copy requests. This ensures proper record keeping.

Clerks report divorce judgments monthly to the State Registrar under California Health and Safety Code Section 103200. The state tracks divorces. However, actual decrees come only from the Superior Court, not state offices.

Nearby Cities

Rialto is near other large cities. San Bernardino is east with 222,000 residents. Fontana is west with 214,000 residents. All use San Bernardino County Superior Court for divorce cases.

Rancho Cucamonga is southwest with 180,000 residents. Ontario is south with 180,000 residents. All San Bernardino County cities share the same court system.

For more on San Bernardino County divorce records, visit the San Bernardino County page. That page has complete details about all courthouses, online services, fees, and procedures for the county including Rialto.