Napa County Divorce Decree

Napa County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court at 825 Brown Street in Napa. The court phone number is (707) 299-1140. This courthouse handles all family law cases for Napa County residents. You can get copies of your divorce decree from the records division at this location. Certification of documents costs $40 per document according to state law. Copy fees are 50 cents per page. Plain copies without certification are also 50 cents per page. The court accepts requests in person and by mail. You may also be able to search case information online through the court's website or portal. Staff can help you locate your case and explain the process for ordering records. Court hours are typically Monday through Friday during business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask if appointments are needed for certain services.

Court Contact Information

Napa County Superior Court is at 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94559. Phone is (707) 299-1140. This is the main courthouse for the county. All divorce cases are filed and maintained here. The records division handles requests for copies of court documents including divorce decrees.

Court hours are Monday through Friday. Call ahead to confirm current hours and ask if you need an appointment to view files or request copies. Some services may be available only at certain times or on certain days. The clerk can tell you when to come if you plan to visit in person.

When you contact the court, have your case number ready. If you do not have it, 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 and what the costs will be to get copies.

The Napa County Superior Court website has information about research and records. You can find contact details and procedures there. The site may also have links to online case search tools.

How to Get Copies

You can request divorce decree copies in person or by mail. For in-person requests, visit 825 Brown Street during court hours. Bring photo ID. Go to the records office or clerk's window. Tell the staff what documents you need. Provide your case number or the information needed to look up your case. Pay the fees. If your file is available, you may get copies the same day.

For mail requests, write to Napa County Superior Court, Records Division, 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94559. Your letter should include the case number or both parties' names, the date of divorce, what documents you need, whether you need certified or plain copies, and your contact information and mailing address. Enclose payment by check or money order made payable to Napa County Superior Court. Do not send cash by mail.

Processing time for mail requests varies. It usually takes two to four weeks. If the file is in storage or the court has a backlog, it may take longer. The court will mail the copies to you when they are ready. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if the court requires it.

Fees and Payment

Napa County charges $40 to certify court documents. This fee is based on California Government Code Section 70626. The $40 certification fee applies to each document. If you need three different orders certified, you pay $40 for each one, totaling $120.

Note that divorce decrees may qualify for a lower certification fee of $15 under California Government Code Section 70674 in some counties. Check with Napa County to confirm which fee applies to your dissolution record. Copy fees are 50 cents per page regardless of whether the copy is certified or plain.

If the court must search for your case without a case number, they may charge a search fee of $15 for searches over 10 minutes. This is allowed by state law. You can avoid search fees by providing your case number when you request records.

Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. For in-person requests, cash is usually accepted. For mail requests, send a check or money order only. Make it payable to Napa County Superior Court. You can call ahead to get an exact cost estimate if you want to know the total before paying.

What Documents Are Available

The main document most people need is the divorce decree. This is also called a judgment of dissolution. It is the final court order ending the marriage. It includes the names of both spouses and the date the divorce became final. It may contain terms about property division, child custody, and support. The length and content depend on your case. Some decrees are one page. Others are longer.

You can also request other documents from your case file:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
• Response to Petition
• Marital settlement agreements
• Child custody and visitation orders
• Child support orders
• Spousal support orders

Each document can be copied separately. Tell the clerk what you need. They can pull specific documents from your file. Or you can request the entire file if you want all documents. The clerk can tell you how many pages are in the file so you know the cost.

Online Access and Search

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

Check the Napa County court website to see what online services are available. Some counties offer online case indexes or calendars. Others have limited web services. The court can tell you what information is accessible online for your case.

If online access is limited, use traditional methods. Call the court. Visit in person. Send a mail request. These methods are reliable and the staff can guide you through the process.

According to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov, you can request court records in person, by mail, and sometimes online. Each county decides what online services to offer based on technology and resources.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Divorce records are public in California but some information is protected by law. Social security numbers, addresses of protected parties, and details about minor children may be redacted or sealed. The court provides copies with these 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, some records may be restricted. The clerk can explain what is available based on your relationship to the case. California law balances public access with privacy protections, especially in family law cases.

Archived and Older Records

Older divorce cases may be stored off-site in archives. If your divorce was finalized many years ago, the file might not be at the courthouse. The court will retrieve it for you. This takes extra time. Some counties charge a retrieval fee for archived files. Ask the clerk if this applies in Napa County and how long retrieval takes.

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

Legal Help Resources

If you need help with a family law matter in Napa County, resources are available. The Superior Court may have a self-help center. Call (707) 299-1140 to ask. Self-help services are usually free. Staff can help you fill out forms and understand court procedures. They cannot give legal advice but they can guide you through the process.

Legal aid organizations serve low-income people in California. Legal Services of Northern California may cover Napa County. They handle family law cases including divorce. There are income limits. Contact them 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 downloadable forms. You can learn about divorce procedures. You can get the forms you need for free. This resource helps people who represent themselves without a lawyer.

Private family law attorneys practice in Napa 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 have a fee. Ask about costs when you contact them.

Nearby Counties

Napa County is near several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court for family law cases.