Ventura County Divorce Decree

Ventura County divorce decree records are held by the Superior Court at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. Court phone is (805) 289-8668. All dissolution cases filed in Ventura County are maintained at this courthouse. The Records Division processes requests for divorce documents. Certified divorce decrees cost $15 with no additional per-page fee according to court information. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. You can request records in person during business hours or send a written request by mail. County seat is Ventura. The county includes several cities with population over 100,000 including Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley.

Superior Court Records Division

Ventura County Superior Court is at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. The Records Division handles all requests for court documents including divorce decrees. Call (805) 289-8668 for information about records.

The Records Division maintains files for all family law cases in the county. Staff can search for cases by name or case number. If you visit in person, bring photo identification. Tell staff which documents you need from your case.

Court hours are typically Monday through Friday during business hours. The courthouse closes on holidays. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting. You can ask basic questions about the records process over the phone.

According to ventura.courts.ca.gov, the Records Division processes requests for copies of court documents. They handle both in-person and mail requests. Response time depends on the court's workload and whether your file is readily available or in storage.

How to Request Copies

You can get divorce decree copies in person or by mail. For in-person requests, visit the courthouse at 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Go to the Records Division. Bring identification.

Provide the names of both parties to the divorce. If you have the case number, give it to the clerk. This speeds up the search. Without a case number, staff can search by name. Name searches may take extra time and could incur a search fee if they take over 10 minutes.

Tell the clerk if you need certified or plain copies. Certified copies have the court seal and serve as official proof. Plain copies are for personal use and do not have legal standing. Most legal purposes require certified copies.

For mail requests, send a letter to Ventura County Superior Court, Records Division, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. Your letter should include:

• Full legal names of both spouses
• Approximate date of divorce or filing
• Case number if available
• Specific documents you need
• Type of copies (certified or plain)
• Your return address and phone number

Include payment with your request. Make checks or money orders payable to Ventura County Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage to return the documents. Processing time for mail requests varies. Allow several weeks depending on court workload.

Fee Information

Ventura County follows state fee schedules with one notable difference. Certified divorce decrees cost $15 according to research. This fee covers the entire decree with no additional per-page charges. This is different from some counties that charge the certification fee plus per-page copy fees.

The $15 certified divorce decree fee is set by California Government Code Section 70674. This statute provides a lower fee for dissolution judgments compared to other documents.

Plain copies without certification cost 50 cents per page. If you just need a copy for reference and do not need the court seal, plain copies are cheaper. Count each side of a page separately when calculating costs.

Other documents from your case cost $40 to certify. This includes orders, agreements, or other filings besides the dissolution judgment. The $40 certification fee applies plus 50 cents per page for copies.

Search fees may apply if staff must look up your case by name. If a name search takes more than 10 minutes, the fee is $15 under state law. Provide the case number with your request to avoid search fees. Call (805) 289-8668 to confirm current fees before submitting payment.

Online Access Restrictions

California law limits online access to family law records. Courts cannot provide remote access to divorce case documents according to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503. You must visit the courthouse to view the actual documents in your case file.

Some basic case information may be available online. The court website or portal might show case numbers, filing dates, party names, or hearing schedules. But the documents themselves are not accessible remotely. This rule protects privacy in family law cases.

At the courthouse, public access computers may let you search case information. You can look up basic details about your case. Even with these computers, full documents may not be viewable electronically. Many files remain in paper form only.

If you need to review documents before ordering copies, visit the courthouse in person. The Records Division can pull your file for you to examine. You can then decide which documents to copy. This saves money compared to ordering everything without seeing what is in the file first.

Access rules depend on your relationship to the case. Parties to the divorce have broader access than the general public. Some documents are confidential regardless of who requests them. The Records Division can explain what documents you can access based on your situation.

State Records Alternative

The California Department of Public Health kept some divorce information from 1962 through June 1984. They do not have actual divorce decrees. They have certificates of record. These certificates verify that a divorce was filed but do not include the judgment details.

A certificate of record shows the names of both parties, the county where filed, the filing date, and the case number. It does not prove the divorce was finalized or show the terms of the divorce. Most people need the actual decree from the court, not this limited certificate.

Information about state certificates is at cdph.ca.gov. Processing time for these certificates can exceed six months. This is much slower than getting records from the Superior Court.

For actual divorce decrees from any year, contact Ventura County Superior Court. The court is the official source for all divorce records. Even if your case falls within the state's date range, the court has the complete file while the state has only a summary. Legal purposes almost always require the decree from the court.

Legal Help Resources

Legal assistance is available if you need help with family law matters. The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov provides guides about getting court records. These guides explain the process step by step.

Legal aid organizations offer free legal services to qualifying low-income residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. Contact legal aid offices serving Ventura County to see if you meet their eligibility requirements. They can provide representation or advice depending on your case and their capacity.

The State Bar of California runs a referral service to connect people with lawyers. Call them to find a family law attorney in Ventura County. Many attorneys offer a first consultation at a reduced rate. This initial meeting lets you discuss your situation and get advice before hiring them.

Some courts have self-help centers where staff assist people who are representing themselves. Check if Ventura County Superior Court has a self-help center. These centers provide forms, instructions, and procedural guidance. Staff cannot give legal advice but can explain court processes and what forms you need.

Cities in Ventura County

Ventura County includes several cities with population over 100,000. Residents of these cities file for divorce at Ventura County Superior Court. Select a city below for local information.

Nearby Counties

Ventura County borders several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court system handling divorce records.