Sierra Divorce Decree Records

Sierra County divorce decree records are kept by the Superior Court in Downieville. The courthouse is at 100 Courthouse Square, Downieville, CA 95936. Phone is (530) 289-3698. This is one of California's smallest counties by population. The court handles all case types including family law. You can request certified copies of divorce decrees in person or by mail. Certified decrees cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Search fees apply if you do not provide a case number. The fee is $15 per name according to court records. Small counties like Sierra often process requests faster than large urban courts due to lower case volume.

Courthouse Location

Sierra County has one courthouse located in Downieville. The address is 100 Courthouse Square, Downieville, CA 95936. All court business is conducted at this location. The clerk's office handles records requests for all case types including family law. Hours are typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Call (530) 289-3698 to confirm hours before you visit.

Downieville is in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The town is small and historic. If you are driving from out of town, Highway 49 provides access to the area. The nearest large cities are Reno, Nevada and Sacramento, California. Both are about two hours away. Plan your trip accordingly if you need to visit the courthouse in person.

Parking is available near the courthouse. The building is in the center of town on the main square. Staff at the clerk's office can help you with records requests. Bring photo ID when you visit. Small counties often provide more personalized service due to lower case volume and smaller staff size.

Requesting Divorce Decrees

To get a certified copy of your divorce decree, submit a request to the clerk's office. You can make the request in person or by mail. For in-person requests, go to the courthouse during business hours. Tell the clerk you need a certified copy of your divorce decree. They will help you fill out the request form.

Your request should include this information:

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

For mail requests, write a letter with all required information. Include payment with your request. Make checks payable to Sierra County Superior Court. The fee for a certified divorce decree is $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. If you do not have the case number, there is a $15 search fee per name. Mail your request to 100 Courthouse Square, Downieville, CA 95936.

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage for return mail. Processing time for mail requests varies. Small counties can often process requests quickly because they have fewer cases to manage. Allow one to two weeks for mail requests.

Fee Schedule

Sierra County follows California state fee laws. A certified divorce decree costs $15 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.

Search fees cost $15 per name if you do not provide a case number. This fee applies when court staff must search for your case by name. The search may take a few minutes in a small county like Sierra. Other court documents require a $40 certification fee. That applies to orders, agreements, or filings other than the final divorce decree.

Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. Small courthouses may have limited payment options. Checks and money orders are always accepted. Confirm if credit cards are accepted when you make your request. All fees are set by state law and apply uniformly across California.

Case File Access

You can view your divorce case file in person at the courthouse. Go to the clerk's office and ask to see the file. Provide your case number or enough information for staff to locate it. Bring photo ID. Viewing files is free. You can read through all documents filed in your case.

If you want copies of specific documents, point them out to the clerk. Staff will make copies for you at 50 cents per page. You cannot remove documents from the file or take the file with you. It stays at the courthouse. In small counties, you may get more direct help from staff because they have fewer people to assist each day.

Third parties can also request divorce records in most cases. Divorce decrees are public records under California law. Some documents in a case file may be sealed or confidential, but the final decree is usually public. The clerk will tell you if any parts of the file are restricted.

Historical Records

Sierra County has been keeping court records since the Gold Rush era. The county was formed in 1852. Divorce records from that time period may still exist in the courthouse archives. Very old records may be stored differently than recent files. Some may be handwritten in ledger books.

If you need a divorce decree from many decades ago, call the courthouse first. Staff can tell you what records still exist and how to access them. Some very old documents may be fragile and require special handling. The court will make copies carefully to preserve the originals.

Most divorce decrees are kept permanently. Other case documents may have been destroyed after the legal retention period expired. The courthouse can tell you what is available for your specific case.

State Vital Records

The California Department of Public Health has limited divorce information. According to cdph.ca.gov, CDPH only has records from 1962 through June 1984. They provide a Certificate of Record, not the actual decree. The certificate shows names, date, county, and case number.

For divorces in Sierra County during that time frame, CDPH can issue a Certificate of Record for $16. Processing time may exceed six months. For the actual divorce decree, you must contact Sierra County Superior Court. The court has complete records.

Legal Assistance

Sierra County has limited local legal resources due to its small population. Legal Services of Northern California may serve the area. They provide free legal help to low-income residents in family law cases. Call to see if they cover Sierra County and whether you qualify based on income.

The Superior Court may have a Family Law Facilitator available on certain days. Call the courthouse at (530) 289-3698 to ask about the facilitator's schedule. The facilitator can help with forms and procedures but cannot give legal advice or represent you.

For private attorneys, you may need to look in nearby counties. Nevada County and Plumas County have lawyers who may serve Sierra County clients. The State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service at 1-866-442-2529.

Nearby Counties

Sierra County borders Nevada, Plumas, Yuba, and Placer counties.