Search San Francisco Divorce Decree

San Francisco County divorce decree records are kept by the Superior Court at the Civic Center courthouse. The court's Civil Division handles all family law records including dissolution cases. You can request photocopies, certified copies of dissolution documents, and access to case files. The Records Department is in Room 103 at 400 McAllister Street. If your case is at least two years old, the file may be located off-site at a warehouse facility. A $6 retrieval fee applies to bring those files back to the courthouse. Certified divorce decrees cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or by email to the Records Department at CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org.

Civil Division Records

The Clerk's Office provides access to information related to Limited and Unlimited Civil, Probate, and Family Law case files. According to sf.courts.ca.gov, the Records Department handles requests for photocopies, certified copies of dissolution documents, and requests for off-site file retrieval. The office is at 400 McAllister St., Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can email requests to CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org or call 415-551-3802. Staff can answer questions about fees, processing times, and how to submit requests. Walk-in service is available during business hours.

If your case is at least two years old, it is possible that your file is located off-site. To view your file you must pay a $6 retrieval fee according to the court website. This fee covers the cost of bringing the file back from the warehouse to the courthouse. Once retrieved, you can view the file or order copies.

Requesting Divorce Decrees

To get a certified copy of your divorce decree, you can submit a request in person, by mail, or by email. For in-person requests, go to Room 103 at 400 McAllister Street during business hours. Bring photo ID and your case number if you know it. If you do not have the case number, provide both parties' names and the approximate date of divorce.

For mail requests, write a letter with the following details:

• Names of both parties to the divorce
• Case number or filing date
• Document needed (divorce decree)
• Certified or plain copy
• Your contact information

Include payment with your request. Make checks payable to Superior Court of California. The fee for a certified divorce decree is $15. Regular copies cost 50 cents per page. If your file is off-site, add a $6 retrieval fee. Mail your request to the Records Department at 400 McAllister St., Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514.

Email requests can be sent to CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org. Include all the information listed above. Staff will respond with instructions for payment and delivery. Some requests may require a follow-up phone call or in-person visit depending on the complexity.

Fee Schedule

San Francisco County follows California state fee laws. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This fee includes the certification seal and all pages of the decree. Plain copies without certification are 50 cents per page.

Other documents in your case file require different certification fees. Court orders, settlement agreements, and other filings cost $40 per document to certify plus 50 cents per page for copies. The $15 rate only applies to the final divorce decree itself. If you need several documents certified, each has its own certification fee.

Off-site file retrieval costs $6 if your case is stored at the warehouse. This fee is lower than many other counties. Record search fees apply if court staff must search for your case by name and the search takes more than 10 minutes. That fee is $15 under state law. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Confirm current payment methods when you make your request.

Off-Site Files

Cases that are at least two years old may be stored off-site. San Francisco County moves inactive files to a warehouse facility to save space at the courthouse. If you need to view or get copies from an off-site file, you must pay the $6 retrieval fee. The court will arrange to have the file brought back to the courthouse.

Retrieval typically takes a few days. Call ahead if your case is old. Staff can check whether the file is on-site or off-site. This helps you plan your visit or understand the timeline for mail requests. Once the file is retrieved, it stays at the courthouse for a period of time in case you need it again. After that, it goes back to the warehouse.

Very old divorce cases from many decades ago may have different storage arrangements. The court can tell you what records still exist and how to access them. Some documents may have been destroyed after the legal retention period expired, but divorce decrees are usually kept permanently.

Online Resources

San Francisco County has an online case search system. You can look up cases by party name or case number. The system shows case summaries and basic information. Full documents are not viewable online due to privacy rules under California Rules of Court. Family law cases like divorce cannot be accessed remotely. You must request copies from the court.

Search is free. No account is needed. Use the online system to find your case number and get basic information about your case status. Then contact the Records Department to order copies of the divorce decree or other documents you need.

County Clerk Office

The San Francisco County Clerk does not maintain divorce records. The County Clerk handles marriage licenses and some vital records but not court documents. All divorce decrees are kept by the Superior Court. Do not contact the County Clerk for divorce record requests. They will redirect you to the court.

This is a common mistake. Many people think the County Clerk has all public records. The Clerk and the Court are separate offices. Court records must be requested from the court, not the County Clerk.

Legal Assistance

San Francisco County Superior Court has a Family Law Self-Help Center. The center provides free help to people representing themselves in family law cases. Staff can assist with forms, explain procedures, and answer general questions. They cannot give legal advice or act as your attorney. The Self-Help Center is located at the courthouse. Call the court's main number for hours and location.

Legal Aid Society of San Francisco offers free legal services to low-income residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. Call (415) 982-1300 to see if you qualify. Services are based on income and case type. They have offices in downtown San Francisco.

The Bar Association of San Francisco runs a lawyer referral service. Call (415) 989-1616 to get connected with a family law attorney. Initial consultations are usually $35 for 30 minutes. The bar association can match you with an attorney who practices family law.

Cities in San Francisco County

San Francisco is both a city and a county. The City and County of San Francisco operates as a consolidated government.

Nearby Counties

San Francisco County is surrounded by San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin counties.