Santa Clara Divorce Records

Santa Clara divorce decree records are handled by Santa Clara County Superior Court. This city of 130,000 residents files divorce cases at the main courthouse in San Jose. All divorce files remain with the Superior Court even after cases close. You can get certified copies or plain copies from the family records office. Research fee is $15 if no case number is provided. Certification fee for dissolution judgments is $15. Certification for other documents is $40. Copy fee is 50 cents per page. Two-sided pages cost $1. You can request records in person or by mail. The court offers online case search for cases from 1990 forward.

Where Santa Clara Cases Are Filed

Santa Clara is in Santa Clara County. All divorce cases are handled by Santa Clara County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. This location serves Santa Clara city and all of Santa Clara County.

Santa Clara residents file divorce cases at the San Jose courthouse. The family records office is on the first floor. Hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. You file new petitions here. You attend hearings here. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree from this courthouse.

The court website at santaclara.courts.ca.gov provides information about online services and case information. The site has forms, fee schedules, and instructions for family law cases. Self-help resources are available online and at the courthouse.

Santa Clara County offers online case search through the portal at portal.scscourt.org. Search by name or case number. View case information for cases from 1990 forward. The portal displays registers of actions and case summaries.

According to Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder, the Clerk-Recorder's office does not maintain divorce records. All divorce decrees must be obtained from the Superior Court.

Requesting Divorce Decree Copies

To get a copy of your Santa Clara divorce decree, contact Santa Clara County Superior Court family records. Visit the courthouse at 191 North First Street, San Jose. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and approximate divorce date.

Fees follow state law and local schedules. Research fee is $15 if no case number is provided. Certification fee for dissolution judgments is $15. Certification for all other documents is $40. Copy fee is $0.50 per page. Two-sided pages cost $1. These are standard fees for Santa Clara County.

For in-person requests, go to the family records window during business 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 Santa Clara, Family Records, 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Include full names of both parties, case number if you have it, approximate divorce date, specific documents needed, and your return address. Enclose payment made to Superior Court of California. 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. 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.

Note: Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.

Online Case Search

Santa Clara County provides online case search at portal.scscourt.org. You can search for family law cases by party name or case number. The system shows case information for cases opened from 1990 to present.

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 family records office. Staff can help search using different name spellings or filing dates. There is a $15 research fee if you do not have a case number and staff must search.

Legal Resources for Santa Clara Residents

Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County serves low-income residents with free legal help. They handle family law matters including divorce. Call (408) 998-5200 to see if you qualify. Services include advice, document preparation, and representation in some cases.

Santa Clara County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Call (408) 971-6822 to connect with family law attorneys in Santa Clara. The service matches you with experienced attorneys. Consultation fees vary by attorney.

Family Law Facilitator services are 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.

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

Many family law attorneys practice in Santa Clara and San Jose. Local attorneys know the courthouse 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 Santa Clara County for three months before filing. New Santa Clara 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

San Jose is southeast with over 1 million residents. Sunnyvale is north with 155,000 residents. All Santa Clara County cities use the same Superior Court system for divorce cases.

Milpitas is northeast with about 81,000 residents. Mountain View is northwest with 82,000 residents. All file divorce cases at the San Jose courthouse.

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