Find Mendocino County Divorce Records

Mendocino County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court in Ukiah. The court keeps all divorce case files for this county. You can get copies of your divorce decree from the courthouse. Certified copies cost $15 per decree plus 50 cents per page. Plain copies without certification cost just 50 cents per page. The court accepts requests in person, by mail, or sometimes by phone. Most staff can help you find records if you have the case number or names of both parties in the divorce. Processing time for mail requests varies but usually takes two to four weeks depending on workload.

Superior Court Location

The Mendocino County Superior Court is at 100 North State Street, Room 108, Ukiah, CA 95482. This is the only courthouse in Mendocino County that handles divorce cases. All family law matters go through this location. The court serves the entire county from this single facility.

Court staff can help you find divorce records. You need to know either the case number or the full names of both parties. If your divorce was filed many years ago, the file may be in storage. The court will retrieve it for you. There is usually no separate retrieval fee for older files in Mendocino County, but it may take a few extra days to get the file from storage.

The courthouse is open Monday through Friday. Hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but you should call ahead to confirm current hours. The main phone number is on the court website. Staff can tell you what documents you need to bring and how much your request will cost based on what you need.

According to information from mendocino.courts.ca.gov, the court provides copies and certified copies of divorce judgments. You can request these documents in person at the clerk's office or by mailing a written request with payment.

How to Request Copies

You can request divorce decree copies three ways in Mendocino County. In person is often fastest. Go to the courthouse clerk's office during business hours. Tell the clerk you need a divorce decree. Provide the case number if you have it. If not, give the full names of both parties and an approximate date. The clerk will search for the case and let you know what copies are available.

For mail requests, write a letter to the Superior Court clerk. Include the following:

• Full legal names of both parties
• Date of divorce or approximate filing date
• Case number if known
• Type of copy needed (certified or plain)
• Your contact information

Send your letter with payment to Mendocino County Superior Court, 100 North State Street, Room 108, Ukiah, CA 95482. Include a check or money order made out to Mendocino County Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage for the court to mail back your copies. Processing time for mail requests typically takes two to four weeks.

Some courts accept phone requests for simple matters. You can call the clerk's office to ask if they accept phone requests for divorce records. If they do, they will tell you what information to provide and how to pay. Most require payment by credit card over the phone if they accept this method.

Fees and Costs

Mendocino County follows the state fee schedule. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This fee includes the certification and the first copy. If your decree has multiple pages, you pay 50 cents for each additional page.

Plain copies without certification cost 50 cents per page. If you need multiple copies of the same document, the price adds up quickly. For a 10-page decree, a plain copy costs $5. A certified copy costs $15 plus $4.50 for the extra nine pages, totaling $19.50.

If you do not have the case number and the clerk needs to search, there may be a search fee. The law allows courts to charge $15 for searches that take longer than 10 minutes. Mendocino County may or may not charge this fee depending on how busy they are and how long the search takes. Ask the clerk when you make your request.

Other documents from your case file may cost more to certify. Orders, agreements, and other papers cost $40 per document to certify plus 50 cents per page. If you only need plain copies, it is just 50 cents per page regardless of the document type.

Why You Need a Divorce Decree

Many people need a copy of their divorce decree for official purposes. You may need it to remarry. Most counties require proof your previous marriage ended before they issue a new marriage license. A certified divorce decree provides that proof.

Banks and lenders often ask for divorce decrees when you apply for loans. They want to verify your marital status and make sure there are no outstanding obligations from the divorce. Property division shown in the decree can affect your creditworthiness.

Government agencies may request your divorce decree. The Social Security Administration needs it if you change your name back after divorce. The DMV may ask for it when you update your driver's license. Immigration offices require it for certain visa applications.

Court proceedings sometimes require divorce decrees. Child custody cases, name changes, and other family law matters may need proof of a prior divorce. Your attorney will tell you if you need a certified copy or if a plain copy works.

Legal Resources

Legal aid organizations serve Mendocino County residents who cannot afford an attorney. Legal Services of Northern California provides free legal help to low-income people. They handle family law cases including divorce matters. Call their office to see if you qualify for their services.

The California Courts Self-Help Center offers guides and forms for people representing themselves in divorce cases. Visit selfhelp.courts.ca.gov to find information about getting copies of court records. The site has step-by-step instructions for common court procedures.

The Mendocino County Bar Association may offer a lawyer referral service. Call them to ask about family law attorneys in your area. Many attorneys offer a reduced-price first consultation. This lets you meet with a lawyer to discuss your case before deciding whether to hire them.

Privacy and Access

California law treats divorce records as public documents. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, family law records are available at the courthouse but not through remote online access. This means you can view divorce records at the courthouse, but you cannot see the actual documents from home over the internet.

Some information in divorce records may be sealed or redacted. Financial account numbers and details about minor children are often removed from public copies. Social Security numbers are always redacted. If your case involves sensitive information, the court may have sealed certain documents or the entire file.

Only parties to the divorce, their attorneys, and people with a court order can access sealed records. If you need records from a sealed case, you must petition the court to unseal them. The judge will decide if unsealing is appropriate based on your reasons for needing access.

Note: Most Mendocino County divorce records are public, but access rules protect private information.

Nearby Counties

Mendocino County borders several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court system for handling divorce records.