Sutter County Divorce Decree

Sutter County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court in Yuba City. The courthouse is at 1175 Civic Center Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993. Phone is 530-822-3300. The court handles all family law cases for the county. You can request certified copies of divorce decrees in person or by mail. Certified decrees cost $15 under state law. 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. The court serves all communities in Sutter County. Processing times vary based on court workload and whether your file is on-site or in storage.

Courthouse Location

Sutter County Superior Court is located at 1175 Civic Center Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993. This is the main courthouse for the county. 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 530-822-3300 to confirm hours before you visit.

Yuba City is in California's Central Valley. Highway 99 runs through the area and provides access from north and south. The nearest large cities are Sacramento to the south and Chico to the north. Parking is available near the courthouse. The building is part of the Civic Center complex.

Staff at the clerk's office can help you with records requests. Bring photo ID when you visit. If you know your case number, the process is faster. If not, staff can search by name for a $15 fee if the search takes more than 10 minutes.

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 Sutter 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 1175 Civic Center Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993.

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage for return mail. Processing time for mail requests varies. Allow two to three weeks for processing. In-person requests may be completed faster if your file is readily available.

Fee Schedule

Sutter 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 and the search takes more than 10 minutes. 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. Some courthouses accept credit cards but may charge a processing fee. Checks and money orders are always accepted. Confirm current payment methods 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. Third parties can also request divorce records in most cases because divorce decrees are public records under California law.

Some documents in a case file may be sealed or confidential. Financial records and child custody evaluations are sometimes protected. The clerk will tell you if any parts of the file are restricted from public access.

Online Resources

Sutter County may offer online case search. Check the court website for current online services. Many California counties provide case search portals where you can look up cases by name or case number. Search results typically show basic information like filing dates and case status.

Full documents are not viewable online due to California privacy rules for family law cases. You must request copies from the court even if you can see the case information online. Use any available online search to find your case number before submitting a records request. Having the case number speeds up processing and avoids search fees.

Archived Records

Sutter County has divorce records going back many decades. Older case files may be stored off-site at an archive facility. If your divorce is from many years ago, the court may need extra time to retrieve the file. Call ahead if your case is very old. Staff can check whether the file is on-site or in storage.

Some very old records may be stored in different formats. Files from the early 1900s or before may be handwritten or on fragile paper. Staff will handle these records carefully and make copies as needed. Most divorce decrees are kept permanently, but other case documents may have been destroyed after the legal retention period expired.

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 Sutter 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 Sutter County Superior Court. The court has complete records.

Legal Assistance

Sutter County Superior Court may have 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 at 530-822-3300 to ask about the facilitator's schedule and services.

Legal Services of Northern California serves Sutter County. They provide free legal help to low-income residents in family law cases. Call to see if you qualify based on income. Services include advice, document preparation, and representation in some cases.

For private attorneys, check with the State Bar of California lawyer referral service at 1-866-442-2529. They can connect you with attorneys who serve the area. Initial consultations are typically $35 for 30 minutes.

Nearby Counties

Sutter County borders Butte, Yuba, Placer, Sacramento, Colusa, and Glenn counties.