Richmond Divorce Decree Records

Richmond divorce decree records are maintained by Contra Costa County Superior Court. This city of 116,000 residents files all divorce cases through the county court system. The courthouse is at 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez, CA 94553. All divorce files remain with the Superior Court. You can obtain certified copies or plain copies from the Court Records office. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certifications are $40 plus 50 cents per page. Certifications for divorce judgments are $15 which includes copies. You can request records in person or by mail. Court hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Where Richmond Cases Are Filed

Richmond is in Contra Costa County. All divorce cases are handled by Contra Costa County Superior Court. The Court Records office is at 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez, CA 94553. Phone is (925) 608-1000. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Martinez is the county seat. Richmond residents file divorce cases at the Martinez courthouse. The building has courtrooms, clerk offices, and the Court Records division. You file new petitions at the filing window. You attend hearings in assigned courtrooms. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree from this courthouse.

The court website at contracosta.courts.ca.gov provides information about court records for non-criminal cases. The site has forms, fee information, and instructions for requesting records. Self-help resources are available online and at the courthouse.

Contra Costa County offers online case search through the Public Portal at odyportal.cc-courts.org. Research court records using the court's online portal. Search by name or case number. View case information and registers of actions.

Fees are standard for Contra Costa County. There is a 50 cent per page fee for copies. Certifications are $40 plus 50 cents per page. Certifications for divorce judgments are $15 which includes copies. These fees follow state law and local schedules.

Getting Divorce Decree Copies

To get a copy of your Richmond divorce decree, contact Contra Costa County Superior Court. Visit the Court Records office at 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez during business hours. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and approximate divorce date.

Fees follow state law. Copy fees are 50 cents per page. Certification of divorce judgments is $15 which includes copies. Certification of other documents is $40 plus 50 cents per page. These are standard fees for Contra Costa County.

For in-person requests, go to Room 103 during courthouse hours. Pay with cash, check, or credit card. If your file is readily available, processing may be completed same day or within days. If files are in storage, it takes longer. Staff will tell you when copies are ready or can mail them.

For mail requests, write to Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa, Court Records, 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez, CA 94553. Include full names of both parties, case number if known, approximate divorce date, specific documents needed, and your return address. Enclose payment made to Contra Costa Superior Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with adequate postage.

Processing time varies based on file location and court workload. Recent cases with on-site files process faster. Older cases with off-site files take longer. Plan for one to several weeks for mail requests. Always verify current fees before sending payment.

For older cases in storage, there may be additional retrieval time. Contact the court to ask about your case. Staff can tell you if your file is on-site or in storage. This helps you estimate processing time for your request.

Note: Court hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Online Portal Access

Contra Costa County provides online case access through the Public Portal at odyportal.cc-courts.org. You can search for court records by party name or case number. The system shows case information for various case types including family law.

The portal displays case summaries, party information, filing dates, and case status. You can view registers of actions listing all filed documents and court dates. This helps you track case progress and see what documents are in your file.

California law restricts remote access to family law documents. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, courts cannot provide full public remote access to family law case files. You see case information online, but actual divorce documents require courthouse visits or written requests.

If you cannot find your case online, call the Court Records office at (925) 608-1000. Staff can help search for your case using different name spellings or filing dates. There may be search fees if staff must conduct extensive searches.

Legal Resources for Richmond Residents

Contra Costa County offers resources for people handling divorce cases. The Superior Court Self-Help Center provides free assistance. Staff help you understand procedures and fill out forms. They do not give legal advice but provide general information about the divorce process.

Bay Area Legal Aid serves low-income residents in Contra Costa County with free legal help. They handle family law matters including divorce. Call to see if you meet income eligibility requirements. Services may include advice, document preparation, and representation in some cases.

Contra Costa County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Call to connect with family law attorneys practicing in the county. The service matches you with experienced attorneys. Consultation fees vary by attorney.

Family Law Facilitator services may be available at the courthouse. Facilitators help with child support and provide information about family law procedures. Ask at the courthouse about facilitator hours and available services.

Richmond City Hall does not handle court records. Municipal offices cannot provide divorce decrees or court documents. All divorce records are maintained by Contra Costa County Superior Court. Contact the court, not city government, for divorce records.

Several family law attorneys practice in Richmond and throughout Contra Costa County. Local attorneys know the courthouse and local procedures. Consider consulting an attorney if you need legal advice about your divorce case.

California Divorce Law Basics

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 including those in Richmond.

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

Residency requirements must be met. One spouse must have lived in California for six months and in Contra Costa County for three months before filing. New Richmond 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 for all cases.

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

Nearby Cities

Concord is east in Contra Costa County with about 130,000 residents. Antioch is northeast with 115,000 residents. All Contra Costa County cities use the same Superior Court system for divorce cases.

Berkeley is south in Alameda County with 124,000 residents. Oakland is south in Alameda County with 433,000 residents. Cities in different counties use their own county court systems.

For complete information about Contra Costa County divorce records, visit the Contra Costa County page. That page has details about courthouse locations, online services, fees, and procedures for the entire county including Richmond.