Simi Valley Divorce Records

Simi Valley divorce decree records are handled by Ventura County Superior Court. This city of 126,000 residents files all divorce cases through the county court system. The main courthouse is at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. All divorce files remain with the Superior Court. You can obtain certified copies from the records division. Certified divorce decrees cost $15 with no additional per-page fee. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. You can request records in person or by mail. The court provides online case information access through their public portal.

Ventura County Courthouse

Simi Valley is in Ventura County. All divorce cases are handled by Ventura County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. Phone is (805) 289-8668. This location serves Simi Valley and the entire county.

Simi Valley residents file divorce petitions at the Ventura courthouse. You attend hearings there. When your divorce is final, the court issues your decree from this location. Ventura County Superior Court serves all areas of the county from its courthouse facilities.

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

Fees follow state law. Certified divorce decree costs $15 with no additional per-page fee according to court information. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Certification of other documents may cost $40. These are standard fees for Ventura County.

Ventura County provides online case access through the court's public portal. You can search for cases and view case information. The system helps you locate your case and see basic details before requesting copies.

Requesting Divorce Decree Copies

To get a copy of your Simi Valley divorce decree, contact Ventura County Superior Court Records Division. Visit the courthouse at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura during business hours. Bring photo ID. Provide your case number or both party names and approximate divorce date.

Fees follow state law. Certified divorce decree costs $15 with no additional per-page fee. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Certification of other documents costs $40. These are standard fees for Ventura County.

For in-person requests, go to the Records Division 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 in storage, it takes longer. Staff will tell you when copies are ready or can mail them to you.

For mail requests, write to Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, Records Division, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. Include full names of both parties, case number if known, approximate divorce date, specific documents needed, and your return address. Enclose payment made to Ventura County 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 and procedures 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: The $15 fee for certified divorce decrees includes the entire decree with no additional per-page charges.

Online Case Access

Ventura County provides online case access through the court's public portal. Search for cases by party name or case number. The system shows case information for various case types including family law matters.

The online portal displays case summaries, party information, filing dates, and case status. You can view basic case information to help you locate your case and verify details. This information 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 information online, but actual divorce documents require courthouse visits or written requests.

If you cannot find your case online, call the Records Division at (805) 289-8668. 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 Simi Valley Residents

Ventura 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.

Legal Aid of Ventura County serves low-income residents 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.

Ventura County Bar Association may operate a lawyer referral service. Contact the bar association to connect with family law attorneys practicing in Simi Valley and Ventura 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 available services.

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

Several family law attorneys practice in Simi Valley. Local attorneys know the courthouse in Ventura and local procedures. Consider consulting 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 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 Ventura County for three months before filing. New Simi Valley 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

Thousand Oaks is south in Ventura County with 127,000 residents. Oxnard is southwest with 210,000 residents. All Ventura County cities use the same Superior Court system for divorce cases.

Santa Clarita is east in Los Angeles County with 230,000 residents. Burbank is southeast in Los Angeles County with 107,000 residents. Cities in different counties use their own county court systems.

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