Find Amador County Divorce Records

Amador County divorce decree records are held at the Superior Court in Jackson. The courthouse is at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA 95642. All family law cases filed in Amador County are processed at this location. The court clerk's office maintains files for divorce, legal separation, and nullity cases. You can request copies of your divorce decree by visiting the courthouse in person or submitting a written request by mail. The court follows California state fee rules. Certified divorce decrees cost $15 plus copy fees. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Court staff can help you locate your case file and explain what documents are available. Call (209) 257-2600 for records information and office hours.

Court Contact Details

The Amador County Superior Court is located in Jackson, the county seat. The physical address is 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA 95642. This is the only courthouse in Amador County. All divorce cases are filed and maintained here. The main phone number is (209) 257-2600. Call this number to speak with clerk's office staff about divorce records.

Court hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. These hours can change, so verify before visiting. The courthouse may close on county holidays. Staff can tell you what documents you need to bring when requesting records in person. Bring photo identification and your case number if you have it.

Jackson is in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The town is accessible from Highway 49 and Highway 88. If you are traveling from out of the area, plan for mountain driving conditions. Winter weather can affect travel to the courthouse. Check road conditions before making the trip during winter months.

You can find Amador County Superior Court contact information on the statewide court directory at courts.ca.gov. This page lists all 58 California county courts with addresses and phone numbers.

How to Get Copies

To get a copy of your divorce decree, start by contacting the clerk's office. You will need to provide certain information to locate your case. Give the full legal names of both parties as they appear on the divorce papers. Provide the date the divorce was filed or finalized if you know it. A case number makes the search much faster.

If you do not have a case number, court staff will search for your case by name and date. This takes more time. If the search exceeds 10 minutes, California law allows the court to charge a $15 search fee. In smaller counties like Amador, most searches are completed quickly. But if you have a common name or the divorce was many years ago, the search may take longer.

Tell the clerk whether you need a certified or plain copy. Certified copies have an official seal from the court. They are required for legal matters like name changes, remarriage, or government applications. Plain copies do not have a seal. They work fine for personal records but may not be accepted for official purposes.

The court can provide copies in person if you visit the courthouse. Bring payment and identification. Staff will retrieve your file and make copies while you wait, depending on their workload. For mail requests, send a written letter stating what you need. Include your contact information and a check or money order for payment. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so the court can mail your copies back to you.

Fees for Records

Amador County uses the standard California fee schedule. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15. This fee is set by California Government Code Section 70674. The $15 includes certification and one page. Each extra page costs 50 cents.

For plain copies without certification, the fee is 50 cents per page. There is no base charge, only the per-page cost. If you need multiple documents from your case file, the fees add up based on how many pages you request. Ask the clerk for an estimate if you are not sure how many pages your decree has.

Other court documents like orders, agreements, or petitions cost $40 to certify, plus copy fees. This higher fee applies to all documents except the final judgment of dissolution. Make sure you specify which documents you need so you get an accurate cost estimate.

Payment should be by check or money order made payable to Amador Superior Court. Cash may be accepted for in-person requests, but call ahead to confirm. Do not mail cash. Write your case number on the check if you know it. This helps staff process your payment correctly. Keep a copy of your payment and request for your own records.

Record Access Rules

California law protects privacy in family law cases. Not all parts of a divorce file are available to the public. Financial documents, child custody reports, and sealed records may be restricted. If you are a party to the divorce, you have more access rights than someone who is not involved in the case.

When you request records, the court reviews what can be released. Court staff follow state law and local rules to determine what documents you can receive. Confidential information is redacted or withheld from public copies. If you believe certain documents should not be released, you can file an objection with the court.

California Rules of Court do not allow remote electronic access to family law records. This means you cannot view divorce decrees online from home. You must visit the courthouse to see the actual documents, or you must submit a records request to get copies by mail. This rule applies to all California counties and is designed to protect privacy in sensitive cases.

For general information about California court record access, visit courts.ca.gov. This page explains what types of records are public and how to request copies from any Superior Court in the state.

Legal Help

Amador County is a small, rural county with limited local legal services. For family law help, you may need to contact organizations in nearby counties. Calaveras County and El Dorado County have legal aid offices that sometimes assist Amador County residents. Call to ask if they serve your area.

The California Courts website offers free self-help resources at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov. You can find forms, instructions, and videos about divorce and other family law topics. This is helpful if you are representing yourself in court and need to understand the process.

For private attorney referrals, contact the State Bar of California or a local bar association. Some attorneys in Sacramento or Stockton may serve clients in Amador County. Ask about fees and whether the attorney is willing to travel to the Jackson courthouse for hearings.

The California Department of Public Health at cdph.ca.gov has limited divorce information for cases from 1962 through June 1984. CDPH does not have the actual divorce decree. For the full decree, you must contact the Superior Court where the divorce was granted.

Older Records

Amador County has historical court records dating back to the Gold Rush era. Very old divorce records may be stored at a separate archive facility or kept in special storage at the courthouse. If you need records from decades ago, contact the clerk's office to ask about availability and retrieval procedures.

Some older files may be incomplete due to changes in record-keeping over time. Documents can be lost or damaged over the years, especially in older courthouses. If you are researching family history or genealogy, the court can tell you what records still exist for your case. There may be a retrieval fee if the file is in long-term storage.

For divorces finalized between 1962 and June 1984, California maintained a statewide index through the Department of Public Health. CDPH can provide a certificate of record showing basic information like the names of the parties, the county, and the case number. This certificate does not include the full divorce decree or any details about property or custody. To get the actual decree, you must request it from Amador County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

Amador County is surrounded by other California counties. Each county has its own Superior Court for divorce records. If your divorce was filed in a different county, you must contact that county's court.