Contra Costa Divorce Decree Records

Contra Costa County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court. The main court records office is at 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez, CA 94553. This location handles all non-criminal court records including family law cases. Divorce, legal separation, and nullity cases filed in Contra Costa County are kept here. You can request copies of your divorce decree in person, by mail, or through the court's online portal. The court charges $15 for certified dissolution judgments. Plain copies cost 50 cents per page. Contra Costa County has an online case search system where you can look up basic case information. Call (925) 608-1000 to reach court records staff and ask about your case.

Court Records Office

The Contra Costa County Superior Court Records Office is at 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez, CA 94553. This is where you go to request copies of divorce decrees and other family law documents. The phone number is (925) 608-1000. Call to ask about your case and what you need to do to get copies.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. These hours may change on court holidays. Call ahead to confirm the office is open before visiting. Martinez is the county seat of Contra Costa County. The courthouse is accessible from Interstate 680 and Highway 4. Parking is available near the courthouse, but it can be limited on busy days.

When you contact the records office, have your case information ready. Provide the full names of both parties to the divorce. Give the approximate date the divorce was finalized if you know it. If you have a case number, that makes the search much faster. Without a case number, staff must search by name and date, which takes more time.

For general information about court records in Contra Costa County, visit contracosta.courts.ca.gov. This page explains how to access records, what fees apply, and what documents you need to bring when requesting copies.

Online Case Search

Contra Costa County offers an online public portal for case information. You can search for cases by party name or case number. The portal is at odyportal.cc-courts.org. This system lets you look up basic information about your case from home or any computer with internet access.

The online portal shows case numbers, filing dates, and register of actions. The register of actions is a list of all filings and court events in your case. However, you cannot view the actual divorce decree or other sensitive documents online. California Rules of Court prohibit remote access to full family law documents.

Use the online portal to find your case number and see what documents are on file. Once you have that information, follow the regular process to order copies from the court records office. The portal is helpful for confirming details before you submit a records request. You do not need to create an account to search for cases.

Note: The online system is for viewing case information only. You cannot order documents or pay fees through the portal. For copies of your divorce decree, you must contact the records office directly.

How to Get Copies

To get a copy of your Contra Costa County divorce decree, start by gathering information about your case. Write down the full legal names of both parties. Include middle names and any name changes that occurred as part of the divorce. Note the date the divorce was finalized. If you have the case number, bring that. The case number speeds up the search and helps avoid search fees.

Decide whether you need a certified or plain copy. Certified copies have an official court seal and signature. They are required for legal purposes like changing your name on identification documents, applying for government benefits, or getting remarried. Plain copies do not have a seal. They cost less and work for personal records, but they may not be accepted for official transactions.

You can request copies in person by visiting the records office in Martinez. Bring photo identification and payment. Staff will locate your case file and make copies. Depending on workload, you may get your copies the same day or need to return later. Ask when your copies will be ready.

For mail requests, write a letter to the court records office. State what documents you need and provide all case details. Include your name, address, and phone number. Enclose a check or money order for payment. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage for the court to mail your copies back. Processing time for mail requests varies. Most are completed within a few weeks, but it can take longer if the court is busy.

Fees for Divorce Records

Contra Costa County follows California state law for court record fees. Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15. This fee includes the certification and copies. According to California Government Code Section 70674, the $15 fee applies specifically to divorce judgments.

There is a 50 cent per page fee for copies. This applies to both certified and plain copies. If your divorce decree is several pages long, the total cost increases. For example, a 5-page certified decree costs $15 plus $2.50 for the extra 4 pages, totaling $17.50.

Other documents in your case file, such as custody orders or property settlements, cost $40 to certify plus 50 cents per page. This higher fee applies to all court documents except the final dissolution judgment. If you need multiple documents certified, the costs add up quickly. Ask the records office for a cost estimate before submitting your request.

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. Use the online portal to find your case number before contacting the records office if you do not already have it.

Payment should be by check or money order made payable to Contra Costa Superior Court. Cash may be accepted for in-person requests, but call ahead to verify. Do not mail cash. Write your case number on your payment to help staff process it correctly. Keep a copy of your check and request for your records.

Privacy and Access Rules

Divorce records in California contain sensitive personal and financial information. Not all parts of a divorce file are available to the public. Financial declarations, 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 someone who is not involved in the case.

When you request records, the court reviews what can be released based on California law and local court rules. Some information may be redacted or withheld to protect privacy. If you believe certain documents in your file should not be made public, you can file an objection with the court. Consult with a family law attorney if you have concerns about confidential information.

California Rules of Court prohibit remote electronic access to family law records. This means you cannot view the full divorce decree online. You can see basic case information through the online portal, but you must visit the courthouse or submit a records request to get copies of the actual documents. This rule applies throughout California and is designed to protect privacy in sensitive family law cases.

For more information about public access to court records, see California Rules of Court Rule 2.503. This rule explains which court records can be accessed remotely and which must be viewed in person.

Legal Help Resources

Several organizations in Contra Costa County offer help with family law matters. The Superior Court Self-Help Center provides free assistance to people representing themselves. Staff can help you understand court forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice, but they can explain what documents you need for your situation.

Bay Area Legal Aid serves Contra Costa County residents with family law issues. They provide free legal services to low-income individuals. Call to see if you qualify for their help. They handle divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence cases.

The Contra Costa County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a private family law attorney in your area. Initial consultations may be free or low-cost. Ask about fees and payment plans when you contact an attorney.

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

Older Records

Contra Costa County has court records dating back to the 1800s. Very old divorce records may be stored at a separate archive facility or in special storage. If you need records from many decades ago, contact the records 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. 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 off-site. Processing requests for very old files takes longer than requests for recent cases.

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 Contra Costa 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.

Cities in Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County includes several cities with population over 100,000. Residents of these cities file for divorce at Contra Costa County Superior Court. Select a city below for local information.

Nearby Counties

Contra Costa County borders several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court for divorce records. If your divorce was filed in a different county, contact that county's court.