Santa Clara County Divorce Records

Santa Clara County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court in San Jose. The court operates an online portal where you can search for case information. Full documents must be requested from the Family Records Copy Request office. The main courthouse is at 201 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can request certified copies in person or by mail. Certified dissolution judgments cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Research fees apply if you do not provide a case number. The court portal at portal.scscourt.org lets you search cases online before submitting a records request.

Family Records Office

The Family Records Copy Request office handles all requests for divorce records. The office is located at 201 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Mail address is 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Staff process requests received in person or by mail.

When you visit in person, go to the Family Records office and tell staff you need a copy of your divorce decree. They will give you a copy request form to fill out. Include all required information such as both parties' names, case number, and date of divorce. If you do not have the case number, staff can search by name for a $15 research fee.

Processing times vary. Simple requests may be completed within a few days. More complex requests or requests for older files may take two to three weeks. Mail requests typically take longer than in-person requests. Call ahead if you need documents by a specific date.

Online Portal Search

Santa Clara County provides an online case search portal at portal.scscourt.org. You can search for cases by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal shows case summaries, hearing dates, and register of actions. Family law cases are included in the system.

According to santaclara.courts.ca.gov, the court provides online services for case information. However, full documents are not viewable online due to privacy rules. You can see that a divorce decree was filed, but you cannot download it remotely. You must request copies from the Family Records office.

Use the portal to find your case number before submitting a records request. Having the case number avoids the $15 research fee. The portal is free to use. No account is needed. Just enter your search information and review the results.

Requesting Certified Copies

To get a certified copy of your divorce decree, fill out the Family Records Copy Request Form. You can get the form at the courthouse or download it from the court website. The form is FM-1183 according to court documents. Include all required information on the form.

Your request should have these details:

• Full names of both parties
• Case number or date of divorce
• Document type (divorce decree or dissolution judgment)
• Certified or plain copy
• Your contact information

Include payment with your request. Make checks payable to Santa Clara County Superior Court. Fees are $15 research fee if no case number provided, $15 certification fee for dissolution judgments only, $40 certification fee for all other documents, and 50 cents copy fee per page according to the court's fee schedule.

For mail requests, send the completed form with payment to 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time for mail requests is typically two to three weeks.

Fee Schedule

Santa Clara County uses California's standard fee structure with some specific details. Research fees cost $15 if no case number is provided. Certification fees for dissolution judgments only are $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. Certification for all other documents costs $40. Copy fees are 50 cents per page, with two-sided pages counting as $1.00 total.

If you have the case number from the online portal, you avoid the $15 research fee. The $15 certification fee for dissolution judgments includes all pages of the decree. Other documents in your case file require the $40 certification fee plus copy charges. Plain copies without certification are just 50 cents per page.

Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order for in-person requests. Mail requests require a check or money order. Credit cards may be accepted with a processing fee. Confirm payment methods when you submit your request.

County Clerk Office

The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder does not maintain divorce records. According to clerkrecorder.santaclaracounty.gov, the Clerk-Recorder's Office does not have divorce records. All divorce decrees must be obtained from the Superior Court.

This is a common source of confusion. 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. The Clerk-Recorder handles property records and some vital records but not court documents.

Court Locations

Santa Clara County Superior Court has multiple courthouse locations throughout the county. The main courthouse for family law is in San Jose at 201 N. First Street. This is where the Family Records office is located. Other courthouse locations serve different areas of the county.

For records requests, contact the Family Records office at the San Jose location regardless of which courthouse originally filed your case. The Family Records office can retrieve files from any courthouse location. If you are filing new court documents or attending a hearing, you must go to the appropriate courthouse for your case.

Legal Assistance

Santa Clara County Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator who provides free help to people representing themselves. The facilitator can assist with forms, explain procedures, and answer general questions. They cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. Call the courthouse for the facilitator's hours and office location.

Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County offers free legal services to low-income residents. They handle family law matters including divorce. Services are based on income and case type. They have offices in San Jose and other locations throughout the county.

The Santa Clara 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. The bar association can match you with an attorney who practices family law.

Cities in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County includes several cities over 100,000 population. All residents file for divorce through the county Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

Santa Clara County borders Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Stanislaus, and Merced counties.