Plumas County Divorce Decree

Plumas County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court at 520 Main Street, Room 104, Quincy, CA 95971. Phone number is (530) 283-6232. This small mountain county has one courthouse. All family law cases are filed and stored here. You can get copies of your divorce decree by visiting in person or sending a mail request. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $15 under California law. Other certified documents are $40. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Search fees of $15 apply if the court must look up your case without a case number. The court is open Monday through Friday during business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask about services. Plumas County is rural. Services may be limited compared to larger counties. Staff can help you find your case and explain how to get the records you need. Quincy is the county seat and the location of all court operations.

Court Information

Plumas County Superior Court is at 520 Main Street, Room 104, Quincy, CA 95971. Phone is (530) 283-6232. This is the only courthouse in Plumas County. All divorce cases are filed here. The records office is in Room 104. Court hours are Monday through Friday. Call ahead to confirm current hours and ask if appointments are needed.

Quincy is a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you are traveling from another area, plan ahead. Make sure the court will be open. Ask if the records office has specific hours that differ from general court hours. Small rural counties sometimes have limited staffing. Certain services may only be available on certain days or times.

When you contact the court, have your case number if possible. If not, provide the full names of both parties and the year of the divorce. The clerk can search for your case. Search fees of $15 per name apply when you do not have a case number. Providing the case number avoids this fee.

Plumas County may have limited online services due to its size and resources. In-person visits and mail requests are the main ways to get records. The staff can guide you through the process when you call or visit.

Getting Copies

You can request divorce decree copies in person or by mail. For in-person requests, go to 520 Main Street, Room 104, in Quincy during court hours. Bring photo ID. Tell the clerk what documents you need. Provide your case number or the information needed to look up your case. Pay the fees. If the file is available, you may get copies the same day.

For mail requests, write to Plumas County Superior Court, 520 Main Street, Room 104, Quincy, CA 95971. 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 Plumas County Superior Court. Do not send cash through the mail. You can call ahead to get a cost estimate. Or estimate based on the fees listed below. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if the court requires it.

Processing time varies. Small counties may process requests faster because they have fewer cases. But they also have fewer staff members. Ask the clerk for an estimate when you submit your request.

Fees and Payment

Plumas County follows California's statewide fee schedule for court records. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15. This is set by California Government Code Section 70674. The $15 covers certification of the dissolution record.

Copy fees are 50 cents per page. This applies to both certified and plain copies. A three-page divorce decree would cost $15 for certification plus $1.50 for copies, totaling $16.50. Certifying other documents from your case file, such as orders or agreements, costs $40 per document plus copy fees.

Search fees of $15 apply when the court must look up your case without a case number. This is allowed by California law for searches over 10 minutes. You can avoid this fee by providing your case number when you request records.

Payment methods are 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 Plumas 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 the final court order ending the marriage. It includes the names of both spouses. It states 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.

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

If you want the entire case file, ask for all documents. The clerk can tell you how many pages the full file contains. This helps you estimate the total cost before you order.

Privacy Rules

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 records 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. You cannot view full case files over the internet from home. This protects privacy. You can view records at the courthouse or request copies. This rule applies statewide including Plumas County.

Online Access

Plumas County likely has limited online services for court records. Small rural counties often lack the budget for extensive web-based systems. Basic case information might be searchable online through a state or county portal. But full documents usually require an in-person visit or mail request.

Check the California Courts website for a link to Plumas County Superior Court. The court may have a basic website with contact information and forms. Call the court to ask what online services are available for your case.

If online options are not available, traditional methods work well. Phone calls, in-person visits, and mail requests are reliable. Small county courts often provide personal service and may process simple requests quickly.

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.

Archived Records

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

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 Plumas County, resources are available. The Superior Court may offer self-help services. Call (530) 283-6232 to ask. Self-help centers provide free assistance with forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice but they can help you navigate the court system.

Legal aid organizations serve low-income Californians. Coverage in rural mountain counties like Plumas may be limited. Contact California Rural Legal Assistance or Legal Services of Northern California to see if they serve your area. They help with family law cases if you meet income requirements.

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 may practice in Plumas County or nearby counties. The State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service. You can get connected to an attorney who handles cases in your area. Initial consultations may have a fee. Ask about pricing when you call.

Note: Legal resources in very rural counties can be limited, so reach out early if you need help.

Nearby Counties

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