Search Monterey County Divorce Decree

Divorce decree records in Monterey County are kept by the Superior Court at 1200 Aguajito Road in Monterey. The court phone number is (831) 775-5400. This courthouse handles all family law cases for Monterey County. You can get certified copies of your divorce decree from the records division. The cost is $15 for a certified dissolution record plus copy fees of 50 cents per page. Plain copies are 50 cents per page without certification. Monterey County has an online case search portal at portal.monterey.courts.ca.gov. You can look up case information there. But full documents require a formal request to the court. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the court's online system if available. Staff can help you find your case and explain the process for getting the documents you need.

Superior Court Location

Monterey County Superior Court is at 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 93940. Phone is (831) 775-5400. This is the main courthouse for the county. All divorce cases filed in Monterey County are processed here. The records division maintains files for all family law cases.

Court hours are Monday through Friday, typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask if you need an appointment for certain services. The records office may have different hours than general court hours. Ask when you call.

When you contact the court, have your case number ready if you have it. If not, provide the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the divorce. The clerk can search for your case. They can tell you what documents are on file. They can explain fees and processing times.

The Monterey County Superior Court website has information about court records. You can find contact details and procedures there. The site explains services and how to request records.

Online Case Search

Monterey County offers an online case search portal at portal.monterey.courts.ca.gov. You can search for cases by name or case number. The portal shows basic case information like filing dates, hearing schedules, and parties. This helps you confirm your case exists and get the case number if you do not have it.

California law restricts online access to full family law documents for privacy reasons. The portal shows case summaries and indexes. But you cannot view or download the actual divorce decree or other documents online. Those require a formal request to the court.

Use the portal to find your case number. Then request copies using one of the methods described below. Having the case number speeds up the process and may help you avoid search fees.

Requesting Certified Copies

A certified copy of a divorce decree has an official court seal. It is accepted as proof of divorce by government agencies, employers, and other organizations. The fee for a certified dissolution record in Monterey County is $15. This is set by California Government Code Section 70674.

In addition to the $15 certification fee, you pay 50 cents per page for copies. A three-page divorce decree would cost $15 for certification plus $1.50 for copies, totaling $16.50. The clerk can tell you how many pages your decree is before you pay.

To request a certified copy, visit the courthouse in person, send a written mail request, or check if online ordering is available through the court portal. State clearly that you need a certified copy. Include payment with your request. Processing takes a few days to a few weeks depending on workload and whether the file is on-site or in storage.

Plain Copy Requests

If you do not need certification, plain copies are cheaper. They cost 50 cents per page with no certification fee. Plain copies work if you just need the information for personal reference or informal purposes. They are not official documents. They do not have a court seal. But they contain the same information as certified copies.

You can get plain copies the same ways as certified copies. Visit in person. Send a mail request. Or ask if phone or online orders are accepted. Payment must be included. Processing time is the same as for certified copies.

In-Person Requests

To request records in person, go to 1200 Aguajito Road in Monterey during court hours. Bring photo ID. Go to the records division or clerk's office. Tell the staff what documents you need from your case. Provide your case number if you have it. Or give them both parties' names and the divorce date so they can look it up.

Pay the fees. If your file is on-site and staff time allows, you may get copies the same day. If the file is in storage, you may need to come back later or have the copies mailed to you. Ask the clerk for an estimate of how long it will take.

Mail Requests

You can request divorce decree copies by mail. Write to Monterey County Superior Court, Records Division, 1200 Aguajito Road, Monterey, CA 93940. Your letter should include:

• Case number if you have it
• Full names of both parties to the divorce
• Date the divorce was filed or finalized
• What documents you need (divorce decree, orders, etc.)
• Whether you need certified or plain copies
• Your contact information and mailing address

Include payment by check or money order made payable to Monterey County Superior Court. Do not send cash. You can call ahead to get a cost estimate. Or estimate based on the fees listed on this page. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the copies mailed to you.

Processing time for mail requests is usually two to four weeks. It can be longer if the file is in storage or if the court has a backlog. The court will mail the copies to you once they are ready.

Fee Schedule

Monterey County follows California's statewide fee schedule for court records. Fees are:

Certified copy of dissolution record: $15. Copy fee: 50 cents per page. Certifying other documents (not dissolution records): $40 per document plus copy fees. Search fee: $15 if the search takes over 10 minutes and you do not have a case number.

Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. For mail requests, send a check or money order only. Ask the clerk if you need an exact total before paying. They can calculate the cost based on how many pages your documents are.

What Records Include

A divorce decree is the final court order ending a marriage. It states the names of both spouses and the date the divorce became final. It may include terms about property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support. The content depends on what was decided in your case. Some decrees are one page. Others are longer if the case was complex.

You can also request other documents from your case file. Settlement agreements show what both parties agreed to. Petitions and responses are the initial court filings. Court orders address specific issues like support or custody. Each document can be copied separately. Tell the clerk exactly what you need.

Privacy and Access

Divorce records are public in California but some information is protected. Social security numbers, addresses of protected parties, and details about minor children may be redacted. The court provides copies with appropriate privacy protections in place.

If you were a party to the divorce, you have access to your full case file. If you are not a party, certain information may be restricted. The clerk can explain what is available based on your relationship to the case.

California Rules of Court limit remote online access to family law records. Full case files are not viewable from home over the internet. You can see basic case information online but actual documents require a request to the court. This protects privacy while still allowing access.

Legal Help Resources

If you need help with a family law matter in Monterey County, resources are available. The Superior Court may have a self-help center. Call (831) 775-5400 to ask. Self-help centers provide free assistance with forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice but they can guide you through the court process.

Legal Services for Seniors serves Monterey County. They help older adults with legal issues including family law. California Rural Legal Assistance may also serve this area. Contact these organizations to see if you qualify for free or low-cost legal help.

The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has guides and forms. You can learn about divorce procedures. You can download forms for free. This resource helps people represent themselves in court.

Private family law attorneys practice in Monterey County. The State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service. You can get connected to an attorney who handles divorce cases. Initial consultations may cost a fee. Ask about pricing when you call.

Cities in Monterey County

Monterey County includes one city with population over 100,000. Residents file for divorce at Monterey County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

Monterey County borders several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court for family law cases.