San Mateo Divorce Records

San Mateo divorce decree records are handled by San Mateo County Superior Court. As the county seat with 105,000 residents, San Mateo serves as the main location for county court operations. The courthouse is at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063. All divorce files remain with the Superior Court. You can get certified copies from the Records Management office. Certified dissolution records cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Off-site retrieval costs $10 if your file is in storage. You can request records in person or by mail. The court offers online case index access for searching case information.

San Mateo County Courthouse

San Mateo is the county seat of San Mateo County. However, the main Superior Court facility is in Redwood City at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063. Phone is (650) 261-5100. This courthouse handles family law cases for San Mateo and the entire county.

San Mateo residents file divorce petitions at the Redwood City courthouse. You attend hearings there. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree from this location. San Mateo County Superior Court serves all areas of the county from this central facility.

The court website at sanmateo.courts.ca.gov provides information about Records Management services. The site has forms, fee information, and instructions for requesting divorce records. Self-help resources are available online and at the courthouse.

San Mateo County offers online case index at web.sanmateocourt.org/midx. Search by name or case number. View case information and indexes. The system helps you locate your case and see basic case details.

Fees follow state law. Certified dissolution records cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Off-site retrieval fee is $10 if your file is in storage. These are standard fees for San Mateo County.

Requesting Divorce Decree Copies

To get a copy of your San Mateo divorce decree, contact San Mateo County Superior Court Records Management. Visit the courthouse at 400 County Center, Redwood City during business hours. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and approximate divorce date.

Fees follow state law. Certified dissolution records cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Off-site retrieval fee is $10 if your file is in storage. These are standard fees for San Mateo County.

For in-person requests, go to Records Management during courthouse hours. Pay with cash, check, or credit card. If your file is readily available, processing may be completed within days. If files are off-site, the $10 retrieval fee applies and processing 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 San Mateo, Records Management, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063. 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 Mateo County Superior Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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 and incur the $10 retrieval fee. Plan for one to several weeks for mail requests. Always verify current fees before sending payment.

For older cases in storage, you must pay the $10 retrieval fee. Contact the court to ask about your case. Staff can tell you if your file is on-site or in storage. This helps you calculate total fees and estimate processing time.

Note: The courthouse is in Redwood City, not San Mateo, although San Mateo is the county seat.

Online Case Index

San Mateo County provides online case index at web.sanmateocourt.org/midx. Search for cases by party name or case number. The system shows basic case information for various case types including family law.

The case index displays case numbers, party names, filing information, and case status. You can use this to locate your case and verify case details. This helps you provide accurate information when requesting copies.

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 index information online, but actual divorce documents require courthouse visits or written requests.

If you cannot find your case online, call the Records Management office at (650) 261-5100. 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 San Mateo Residents

San Mateo 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.

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

San Mateo County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Contact the bar association to connect with family law attorneys practicing in San Mateo and the county. 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 services.

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

Several family law attorneys practice in San Mateo. Local attorneys know the courthouse in Redwood City and local procedures. Consider consulting an attorney if you need legal advice about your divorce.

California Divorce Law

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 mandatory 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 San Mateo County for three months before filing. New San Mateo 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 for statistics. However, actual decrees come only from the Superior Court, not state offices.

Nearby Cities

Daly City is north in San Mateo County with 105,000 residents. Redwood City is south with about 85,000 residents. All San Mateo County cities use the same Superior Court system for divorce cases.

San Francisco is north in San Francisco County with 875,000 residents. Fremont is east in Alameda County with 235,000 residents. Cities in different counties use their own county court systems.

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