San Joaquin Divorce Decree Lookup

San Joaquin County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court Records Management Division. The division is responsible for all archived public records dating back to 1850. You can request certified copies of divorce decrees by mail or email. All requests are processed within 20 business days according to the court website. The Records Management office is located at 180 E Weber Ave, Suite 204, Stockton, CA 95202. Phone number is (209) 992-5697. Certified divorce decrees cost $15. Public agencies pay $10. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. The court has an online case search portal where you can look up case numbers before submitting a records request.

Records Management Division

Records Management is responsible for all of the court's archived public records dating back to 1850 according to sjcourts.org. This includes family law cases and divorce decrees from throughout the county's history. The office is located at 180 E Weber Ave, Suite 204, Stockton, CA 95202. Call (209) 992-5697 for information.

All requests for copies submitted by email or mail are processed within 20 business days. That is about four weeks. Processing time is consistent because the Records Management Division focuses on handling requests efficiently. In-person requests may be processed faster, but call ahead to confirm walk-in availability.

The division maintains files for all case types including family law, civil, criminal, probate, and others. Divorce records are a significant part of their holdings. Staff can locate files from any decade. Very old files may require extra handling but are still accessible.

Online Case Search

San Joaquin County provides an online case search system at cms.sjcourts.org. You can search for cases by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system covers multiple case types including family law. Search results show case numbers, filing dates, and case status.

Full documents are not available online due to privacy rules. You can see that a divorce decree was filed, but you cannot view or download it remotely. Use the search tool to find your case number, then contact Records Management to order copies. Having the case number speeds up your request.

The portal is free. No registration is needed. Just enter your search information and review the results. If you cannot find your case, try different name variations or date ranges. Court staff can help if the online search does not work.

Requesting Certified Copies

To get a certified divorce decree, submit a written request to Records Management. You can mail or email your request. Include the following information in your request:

• Full names of both parties
• Case number if known
• Date of divorce or filing date
• Document type (divorce decree)
• Certified or plain copy
• Your contact information

For mail requests, send to Records Management Division, 180 E Weber Ave, Suite 204, Stockton, CA 95202. Include payment with your request. Make checks or money orders payable to San Joaquin County Superior Court. The fee for certified divorce decrees is $15. Public agencies pay $10. Copies are 50 cents per page per side.

For email requests, send to the Records Management email address listed on the court website. Staff will respond with payment instructions. Some requests may require mailing a check before processing begins. Processing time is 20 business days for all requests whether submitted by mail or email.

Fee Schedule

San Joaquin County uses California's standard fee structure. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $15 for private parties and $10 for public agencies under California Government Code Section 70674. This includes the certification seal and all pages of the decree.

Plain copies without certification cost 50 cents per page per side. A two-sided page counts as $1.00 total. Other court documents require a $40 certification fee. That applies to orders, agreements, or filings other than the final divorce decree. Search fees may apply if you do not provide a case number and staff must search by name.

Payment can be made by check or money order for mail requests. In-person payments may be made by cash, check, or credit card. Confirm payment methods when you submit your request. All fees are set by state law and are consistent across California counties.

Archives Access

San Joaquin County has one of the oldest record collections in California. Files date back to 1850. The Records Management Division maintains these historical records along with recent cases. If you need a divorce decree from many decades ago, the court can likely find it. Very old files may be stored in different formats or require special handling.

Some early records may be handwritten or on fragile paper. Staff will make copies carefully to preserve the originals. If a record is too delicate to copy, the court may provide a certified transcript instead. This is rare but can happen with documents over 100 years old.

Most divorce decrees from the past 50 years are in standard formats and easy to copy. Files from the 1900s to present are typically well-preserved and accessible. The 20-business-day processing time applies to requests for records from any era.

Court Locations

San Joaquin County Superior Court has multiple courthouse locations. The main courthouse is in downtown Stockton. Branch courts serve other communities in the county. For records requests, contact the Records Management Division regardless of which courthouse originally filed your case. Records Management handles all archived cases from every location.

If you need to file new court documents or attend a hearing, you must go to the appropriate courthouse. For records requests only, the Records Management Division is your single point of contact. They can retrieve files from any courthouse location.

Legal Resources

San Joaquin County Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator who provides free assistance to people representing themselves. The facilitator can help with forms, explain procedures, and answer general questions. Call the court for the facilitator's hours and office location.

Legal Services of Northern California serves San Joaquin County. They provide free legal help to low-income residents in family law cases. Call (209) 464-0808 to see if you qualify. Services are based on income and case type. Offices are located in Stockton and other areas.

The San Joaquin County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. You can get connected with a family law attorney in your area. Initial consultations are typically $35 for 30 minutes. Call the bar association for referral information.

Cities in San Joaquin County

San Joaquin County includes Stockton, which has population over 100,000. All residents file divorce cases through the county Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

San Joaquin County borders Sacramento, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Amador, and Contra Costa counties.