San Bernardino Divorce Decrees

San Bernardino divorce decree records are handled by San Bernardino County Superior Court. As the county seat with 222,000 residents, San Bernardino processes substantial divorce case volume. The courthouse is at 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415. All divorce files remain with the Superior Court. You can obtain certified copies from the family law division. Certified dissolution records cost $15 for private parties and $10 for public agencies. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Certification for other documents is $25. You can request records in person, by mail, or search cases online through the Court Access Portal.

San Bernardino County Courthouse

San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County. The Superior Court courthouse is at 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Phone is (909) 708-8747. This courthouse handles family law cases for San Bernardino city and surrounding areas.

San Bernardino County is California's largest county by area. The court operates multiple locations throughout this vast region. The San Bernardino courthouse serves the central area. You file new divorce petitions at the family law division. You attend hearings in the courtrooms. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree from this location.

The court website at sb-court.org provides information about family law services. The site has forms, fee schedules, and instructions for divorce cases. Self-help resources are available online and at courthouse locations.

San Bernardino County offers online case search through the Court Access Portal at cap.sb-court.org. You can search for cases by name or case number. View registers of actions and case summaries. The portal helps you track your case and see filed documents.

According to San Bernardino County Archives, the Recorder-County Clerk's office does not maintain court records. If you need a divorce decree, contact the court where the divorce was filed. All divorce decrees come from the Superior Court, not the Clerk-Recorder.

Requesting Divorce Decree Copies

To get a copy of your San Bernardino divorce decree, contact San Bernardino County Superior Court. Visit the courthouse at 247 West Third Street. Go to the family law records office. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and approximate divorce date.

Fees follow state law. Certified copies of dissolution records cost $15 for private parties. Public agencies pay $10. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Certification for documents other than dissolution records is $25. These are standard fees for San Bernardino County.

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

For mail requests, write to Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, Family Law Division, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Include full names of both parties, case number if known, approximate divorce date, specific documents needed, and your return address. Enclose payment made to San Bernardino Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Processing time for mail requests 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 confirm current fees before sending payment.

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

Note: Fees are subject to change. Always verify current fees with the court before submitting payment.

Online Portal Access

San Bernardino County provides online case access at cap.sb-court.org. Search for family law cases by party name or case number. The system shows case information including parties, filing dates, and current status.

The portal displays registers of actions listing all filed documents and court dates. You can view case summaries and track case progress. This helps you see what documents are in your file and what you may need to request.

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

If you cannot find your case online, contact the courthouse for assistance. Staff can help search using different name variations or filing dates. There may be search fees if staff must conduct extensive searches.

Legal Help in San Bernardino

San Bernardino County offers resources for people handling divorce cases. The Superior Court provides self-help services. The court website has forms, instructions, and information about court procedures. Self-help resources are available online and at courthouses.

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino provides free legal assistance to qualified low-income residents. They handle family law matters including divorce. Call to see if you meet income eligibility requirements. Services may include advice, document preparation, and representation.

San Bernardino County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. This service connects you with family law attorneys who practice in the area. Contact the bar association for referral information and consultation fees.

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 services.

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

Many family law attorneys practice in San Bernardino. Local attorneys know the courthouse, judges, and local procedures. Consider consulting with an attorney if you need legal advice about your divorce.

California Divorce Law

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

California has a mandatory six-month waiting period. Under California Family Code Section 2339, no divorce is final until six months after the respondent is served. Even if you agree on everything, you must wait six months. The court cannot finalize the divorce earlier.

Residency requirements must be met. One spouse must have lived in California for six months and in San Bernardino County for three months before filing. If you recently moved to San Bernardino, you may need to wait to establish residency. The court verifies residency at filing.

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

Court clerks report divorce judgments to the State Registrar monthly 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

Fontana is west in San Bernardino County with 214,000 residents. Rancho Cucamonga is southwest with 180,000 residents. Ontario is south with 180,000 residents. All use San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Rialto is west with 104,000 residents. Riverside is south in Riverside County with 330,000 residents. Cities in different counties use their own county court systems.

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