Access Merced County Divorce Decree

Divorce decree records in Merced County are maintained by the Superior Court at 2260 N Street in Merced. The court handles all family law cases for the county. You can get copies of your divorce decree from this location. Certified copies of documents cost $40 per certification according to state law. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. If your file is stored off-site, there is a $15 retrieval fee. The court phone number is (209) 725-4117. Staff can answer questions about how to get records and what fees apply. You can request copies in person, by mail, or possibly online depending on what services the court offers. Processing times vary based on whether the file is on-site or in storage and how busy the court is at the time of your request.

Superior Court Information

Merced County Superior Court is at 2260 N Street, Merced, CA 95340. Phone is (209) 725-4117. This courthouse handles all divorce filings for Merced County residents. The court keeps files for active cases and archives older cases in storage.

When you need records, contact the court first. Ask if your case is on-site or in storage. Files that are a few years old may be stored off-site. The court charges a $15 fee to retrieve files from storage. This is in addition to copy and certification fees.

Court hours are typically Monday through Friday during business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask if you need an appointment. Some services may require you to come at specific times or days.

Have your case number ready when you call. If you do not have it, provide the full names of both parties and the year the divorce was filed or finalized. The clerk can look up your case with this information. They can tell you what documents are available and estimate costs.

The California Courts website explains how to access court records. It covers fees, procedures, and what types of documents are available. Merced County follows these statewide guidelines.

Requesting Copies

You can get copies of divorce decrees in Merced County by visiting the courthouse in person or sending a mail request. In-person requests are often faster. Go to 2260 N Street during court hours. Bring ID. Tell the clerk what documents you need. Pay the fees. If your file is on-site, you may get copies the same day.

If your file is in off-site storage, you pay the $15 retrieval fee first. The court orders the file brought from storage. This takes a few days. Once the file arrives, the court makes your copies. You can pick them up or have them mailed to you.

For mail requests, write to Merced County Superior Court at the address above. Include case number or both parties' names, approximate date of divorce, type of copy needed, and your contact information. Enclose payment. The court processes mail requests and sends copies to you. Processing takes longer than in-person visits, usually two to four weeks or more.

Fee Schedule

Merced County charges $40 per document for certification according to research. This fee is based on California Government Code Section 70626. The certification fee applies to each document you certify. If you need three different orders certified, you pay $40 for each one.

Copies cost 50 cents per page. This applies to both certified and plain copies. A 10-page divorce decree would cost $40 for certification plus $5 for the pages, totaling $45.

Off-site retrieval is $15. This fee is charged when the court must bring your file from storage. Older cases are usually in storage. Ask the clerk if your case is archived before you pay. If it is on-site, you do not pay the retrieval fee.

Payment can be cash, check, or money order. For mail requests, send a check or money order made payable to Merced County Superior Court. Do not send cash by mail. You can call ahead to get an exact cost estimate if you want to know the total before paying.

What Documents You Can Get

The main document most people need is the divorce decree. This is the final judgment ending the marriage. It includes names, date of finalization, and any terms about property, custody, or support. The decree is usually a few pages long. Some are just one page. Others can be longer if the case was complex.

You can also request other documents from your case file. These include:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
• Response to Petition
• Settlement agreements
• Child custody orders
• Spousal or child support orders
• Property division orders

Each document can be copied separately. Tell the clerk exactly what you need. They can pull the specific documents from your file. If you want the entire file, ask for all documents. The clerk can tell you how many pages the full file contains so you know the cost.

Online Services

California law restricts online access to family law records for privacy reasons. You cannot view full divorce case files remotely over the internet. Merced County may have a case search tool on its website. You might be able to confirm a case exists and get basic information like the case number. But actual documents require a request to the court.

Check the Merced County Superior Court website to see what online services are available. Some counties offer electronic filing or online payment. Others have limited web services. The court can tell you what options exist for your case.

If you need documents quickly and online access is limited, visit the courthouse in person. Public access terminals may let you view files on-site. You can then request copies of what you need. This is faster than waiting for mail requests to be processed.

The California Courts self-help site explains how to get copies of court records. It covers in-person, mail, and online options. Each county implements these options differently based on resources and technology.

Storage and Archives

Merced County stores older case files off-site to save space at the courthouse. If your divorce was finalized several years ago, your file is probably in storage. The court charges $15 to retrieve archived files. This covers the cost of locating and transporting the file back to the courthouse.

Retrieval from storage takes a few days. You cannot get copies the same day if the file is archived. Call the court before you visit. Ask if your case is on-site or in storage. If it is in storage, you can pay the retrieval fee and wait for the file to arrive. The court will call you when it is ready. Or they can make copies and mail them to you.

Very old cases from many decades ago may be harder to access. Some records may be on microfilm or stored in special formats. The court can tell you what is available for your specific case. Processing very old records may take longer than recent files.

Legal Assistance

If you need help with a family law matter in Merced County, resources are available. The Superior Court may have a self-help center. Call (209) 725-4117 to ask. Self-help services are usually free. Staff can help you fill out forms. They can explain court procedures. They cannot give legal advice but they can guide you through the process.

Legal aid organizations help low-income people. Central California Legal Services may serve Merced County. They handle family law cases including divorce. There are income limits. Contact them to see if you qualify. Free or low-cost legal help is available to those who meet the requirements.

The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has forms and guides. You can learn about divorce procedures. You can download forms. This site is helpful if you are representing yourself without a lawyer.

Private family law attorneys practice in Merced County. The State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service. You can get connected to an attorney who handles divorce cases. Consultations may have a fee. Ask about costs when you contact them.

Nearby Counties

Merced County is surrounded by several California counties. Each has its own Superior Court for family law cases.