San Francisco Divorce Records

San Francisco divorce decree records are maintained by San Francisco County Superior Court. The city and county are one unified jurisdiction serving about 875,000 residents. All divorce cases are filed at the courthouse at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102. The Superior Court keeps all divorce files. You can obtain certified copies or plain copies from the Civil Records Department. Certified divorce decrees cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. If your case is at least two years old, the file may be off-site requiring a $6 retrieval fee. You can request records in person, by mail, or by email to the records department.

Where San Francisco Cases Are Filed

San Francisco is both a city and county. San Francisco County Superior Court handles all divorce cases. The courthouse is at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102. This is the only courthouse location for the city and county.

The Civil Records Department on the first floor handles family law records including divorce decrees. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You file new divorce petitions here. You request copies of decrees here. All divorce records for San Francisco are kept at this one location.

Call (415) 551-3802 for civil records information. Email CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org for questions about records requests. The court website at sf.courts.ca.gov has forms, fee schedules, and instructions for requesting divorce records.

San Francisco Superior Court provides information about requesting photocopies, certified copies of dissolution records, and off-site file retrieval on their website. If your case is at least two years old, it may be stored off-site at a warehouse. You must pay a $6 retrieval fee to have the file brought to the courthouse for viewing or copying.

The clerk's office provides access to information related to family law case files. You can search for your case, request documents, and get information about your divorce records. Staff can help you locate your file and explain the request process.

Getting Copies of Divorce Decrees

To get a copy of your San Francisco divorce decree, contact the Civil Records Department at San Francisco Superior Court. Visit in person at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and approximate divorce date.

Fees follow California state law. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. If your file is stored off-site, add a $6 retrieval fee. These fees are standard for San Francisco County.

For in-person requests, go to Room 103 during business hours. Pay with cash, check, or credit card. If your file is on-site, processing may be completed same day or within a few days. If your case is over two years old, the file is likely off-site. Staff will tell you when to return after the file is retrieved, or they can mail copies to you.

For mail requests, write to Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, Civil Records Department, 400 McAllister St., Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102. Include full names of both parties, case number if known, approximate divorce date, specific documents needed, and your return address. Enclose payment made to Superior Court of San Francisco. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage.

For email requests, send your request to CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org. Include the same information. Staff will respond with instructions for payment and delivery. Email requests may be faster than mail for initial communication, but payment and delivery still require postal mail in most cases.

Processing time varies. On-site files may be ready in days. Off-site files take longer because staff must retrieve them from the warehouse. Plan for one to several weeks for mail requests depending on file location and court workload.

Note: The $6 retrieval fee applies to cases at least two years old stored at the off-site warehouse facility.

Online Case Information

San Francisco Superior Court provides online case search capabilities. You can search for family law cases by party name or case number. The system shows case information including parties, filing dates, and case status.

The online portal displays registers of actions showing all filed documents and court dates. You can track case progress and see what documents are in your file. This helps you identify which documents you need to request from the records department.

California law restricts remote access to family law documents. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, courts may not provide full public remote access to family law case files including dissolution records. You can view case summaries online, but actual divorce documents require in-person courthouse access or formal written requests.

If you cannot locate your case online, call the Civil Records Department at (415) 551-3802. Staff can help search using different name spellings, filing dates, or other information. There may be search fees if staff must conduct extensive searches.

San Francisco Superior Court also provides information about court procedures, forms, and self-help resources on their website. These resources help people who are representing themselves in divorce cases understand the process and requirements.

Legal Resources in San Francisco

San Francisco offers several resources for people handling divorce matters. The Superior Court Self-Help Center provides free assistance to self-represented litigants. Staff help you understand court procedures and fill out forms. They do not give legal advice but provide general information.

Legal Aid Society of San Francisco serves low-income residents with free legal help. They handle family law cases including divorce. Call to see if you meet income eligibility requirements. Services include advice, document preparation, and representation in some cases.

Bar Association of San Francisco operates a lawyer referral service. Call (415) 989-1616 to connect with family law attorneys practicing in San Francisco. The service matches you with attorneys experienced in divorce cases. Consultation fees vary by attorney.

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

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

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

California Divorce Law

California is a no-fault divorce state. You do not need to prove wrongdoing or fault by either spouse. The only legal grounds are irreconcilable differences or permanent legal incapacity. Most divorces are filed based on irreconcilable differences. This applies to all California divorces including those in San Francisco.

California requires a mandatory six-month waiting period. Under California Family Code Section 2339, no divorce judgment is final until six months after the respondent is served with the petition. Even if both parties agree on all terms, the six-month waiting period applies. The court cannot finalize the divorce earlier.

Residency requirements must be met before filing. One spouse must have lived in California for six months and in San Francisco County for three months before filing the divorce petition. If you recently moved to San Francisco, you may need to wait to establish the required residency. The court verifies residency when you file.

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

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

Nearby Cities

Oakland is across the bay in Alameda County with about 433,000 residents. San Jose is south in Santa Clara County with over 1 million residents. Cities in different counties use their own county Superior Courts for divorce cases.

Daly City is just south of San Francisco in San Mateo County with about 105,000 residents. Berkeley is across the bay in Alameda County with 124,000 residents. Each county has its own Superior Court system with different procedures and fee structures.

For complete information about San Francisco County divorce records, visit the San Francisco County page. That page has comprehensive details about courthouse services, online resources, fees, and procedures for San Francisco County divorce decree records.