Search Colusa County Divorce Records

Colusa County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court in the city of Colusa. The courthouse is at 547 Market Street, Colusa, CA 95932. This is one of California's smallest counties by population. All family law cases for Colusa County are filed and kept at this location. The court handles divorce, legal separation, and nullity cases for county residents. You can request copies of your divorce decree by contacting the clerk's office. Call (530) 458-5149 to reach court staff. Certified divorce decrees cost $15 plus 50 cents per page. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Processing times are usually quick in smaller counties like Colusa because there are fewer cases to manage.

Courthouse Contact Information

Colusa County Superior Court is located at 547 Market Street in the city of Colusa, CA 95932. The phone number is (530) 458-5149. Call this number to reach the clerk's office and ask about divorce records. Court hours are typically Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Hours may vary on court holidays, so call ahead if you plan to visit.

The city of Colusa is in Northern California's Sacramento Valley. It is a small agricultural community. If you are traveling from out of the area, plan your route carefully. There are limited services in the town. The courthouse serves all of Colusa County, so this is the only location where you can access local divorce records in person.

When you contact the court, be ready to provide information about your case. Have the full names of both parties to the divorce. Know the approximate date the divorce was filed or finalized. If you have a case number, that helps staff find your file much faster. Without a case number, the court must search by name and date, which takes more time.

You can find Colusa County Superior Court listed on the statewide court directory at courts.ca.gov. This page has contact information for all 58 California county courts.

How to Request Divorce Decrees

To get a copy of your Colusa County divorce decree, start by gathering the information you need. Write down the full legal names of both parties. Include middle names and any name changes. Note the date the divorce was finalized if you remember it. Having your case number speeds up the process significantly.

Tell the clerk whether you need a certified or plain copy. Certified copies have an official court seal and are required for legal purposes. You need a certified copy if you are changing your name on a driver's license, passport, or Social Security card. Certified copies are also required for remarriage. Plain copies do not have a seal and cost less. They work for personal records but are not accepted for official legal transactions.

You can request records in person by visiting the courthouse during business hours. Bring photo identification and payment. The clerk's office will look up your case and make copies. In a small county like Colusa, you may be able to get your copies the same day, depending on the court's workload. Ask staff when your copies will be ready.

For mail requests, write a letter to the court. State what documents you need and provide all case details. Include your full name, mailing address, and phone number. Enclose a check or money order for payment. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so the court can mail your copies back. Processing time for mail requests depends on court workload. Most requests are completed within a few weeks.

Fees and Payment

Colusa County uses the standard California fee schedule for court records. Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This fee includes the certification and one page. Each additional page costs 50 cents.

Plain copies without certification are 50 cents per page with no base fee. If you need other documents from your case file, such as custody orders or property settlements, certification costs $40 plus 50 cents per page for copies. Make sure you know which documents you need before requesting copies so you can estimate the total cost.

If court staff must search for your case by name and the search takes over 10 minutes, there is a $15 search fee. This is separate from copy and certification fees. Providing your case number eliminates the search fee. In smaller counties, searches are often quick because there are fewer cases. But if your divorce was many years ago, it may take longer to locate the file.

Payment should be by check or money order made payable to Colusa County Superior Court. Cash may be accepted for in-person requests, but call ahead to confirm. Do not mail cash. Write your case number on your payment if you have it. Keep a receipt or copy of your check for your records.

Privacy and Record Access

Divorce records contain personal and financial information. California law protects some of this information from public disclosure. Financial records, child custody evaluations, and sealed documents are restricted. If you are a party to the divorce, you have more access to your own case file than the general public does.

When someone requests records, the court reviews what can be released. Confidential information may be redacted or withheld based on California law and court rules. If you believe certain documents in your file should remain private, you can file an objection with the court. Talk to a family law attorney if you have concerns about what information is accessible.

California Rules of Court prohibit 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 submit a records request to get copies by mail. This rule applies throughout California to protect privacy in sensitive family law cases.

For more details about public access to court records, see courts.ca.gov. This page explains what types of court records are public and how to request copies in California.

Legal Resources

Colusa County is a small, rural county with limited local legal services. For help with family law matters, you may need to contact organizations in nearby counties. Legal Services of Northern California serves several counties in the region. Call to see if they can help residents of Colusa County. They provide free legal aid to low-income individuals.

The California Courts Self-Help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov offers free information about divorce and family law. You can find forms, instructions, and answers to common questions. This resource is helpful if you are representing yourself in court and need to understand procedures.

For private attorney referrals, contact the State Bar of California. They can help you find a family law attorney who practices in rural counties. Some attorneys from Yuba City, Chico, or Sacramento may serve clients in Colusa County. Ask about fees and travel costs during your initial consultation.

The California Courts Self-Help page at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov explains how to get copies of court records. This guide applies to all California Superior Courts, including Colusa County.

Historical Records

Colusa County has court records dating back to the 1800s. Very old divorce records may be stored at a separate archive or in special storage at the courthouse. If you need records from many decades ago, contact the clerk's office to ask about availability. Some older files may be incomplete due to changes in record-keeping practices over time.

Documents can be lost or damaged over the years. Fire, flood, and other disasters have affected some California 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 from 1962 through June 1984, the California Department of Public Health kept limited records. CDPH does not have the actual divorce decree. They only have a certificate of record with basic information like names, county, and case number. To get the full divorce decree from this time period, you must contact Colusa County Superior Court.

More information about CDPH divorce records is available at cdph.ca.gov. Note that CDPH only has records for a limited time period and does not provide actual divorce decrees.

Nearby Counties

Colusa County is located in Northern California. It borders several other counties, each with its own Superior Court for divorce records. If your divorce was filed in a different county, you need to contact that county's court.