Access Yolo County Divorce Decree Records

Yolo County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court in Woodland. The courthouse address is 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695. Call (530) 406-6704 for court information. All family law dissolution cases for Yolo County are filed here. The clerk's office handles requests for divorce records. Certified copies cost $15 for dissolution judgments. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Yolo County offers an online portal at portal-cayolo.tylertech.cloud where you can search case information. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the portal. County seat is Woodland.

Superior Court Location

Yolo County Superior Court is at 1000 Main Street in Woodland, CA 95695. This courthouse handles all case types for the county including family law matters. The clerk's office maintains divorce case files and processes record requests.

Visit the courthouse during business hours to request records in person. Bring photo identification. Provide the names of both parties or the case number. Staff will locate your case file and prepare the copies you need.

Court hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. The courthouse closes on holidays. Call (530) 406-6704 before visiting to confirm hours and any special procedures. Staff can answer basic questions about the records process.

For older cases, files may be in off-site storage. Retrieving archived files adds time to your request. Ask the clerk how long it will take to access your file. They can tell you if it is on-site or needs to be pulled from storage and give you an estimated timeline.

Online Portal Access

Yolo County provides an online portal for case information. The portal is at portal-cayolo.tylertech.cloud. You can search for case numbers, filing dates, and other basic information. This helps you find your case before requesting documents.

The portal shows case summaries and lists of filed documents. You can see what is in the case file. However, under California law, full divorce documents are not available for remote viewing. You must visit the courthouse to see the actual documents.

California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503 prohibits remote access to family law documents. Courts cannot provide online viewing of divorce petitions, decrees, or other family law filings. The portal shows case information but not the documents themselves. This rule protects privacy in sensitive family matters.

Use the portal to find your case number and see what documents were filed. This helps you know exactly what to request when you contact the court. Having the case number saves time and may help you avoid search fees.

Requesting Divorce Records

You can request divorce decree copies in person, by mail, or using information from the online portal. For in-person requests, go to the courthouse at 1000 Main Street in Woodland. Visit the clerk's office. Tell staff you need copies from a divorce case.

Provide details about the case. Full names of both spouses are needed. The case number helps if you have it. You can find the case number using the online portal before you visit. Without a case number, staff can search by name, but this may take extra time.

Decide if you need certified or plain copies. Certified copies have the court seal and serve as official proof. These are needed for legal purposes like remarriage or name changes. Plain copies work for personal reference but lack legal standing.

For mail requests, write to Yolo County Superior Court, 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695. Include in your letter:

• Full legal names of both parties
• Date of divorce or filing
• Case number (find this on the portal if possible)
• Which documents you need
• Type of copies (certified or plain)
• Your mailing address and phone number

Send payment with your request. Make checks or money orders payable to Yolo County Superior Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage. Processing time varies based on court workload and file location.

Note: Search fees may apply if staff must search by name and it takes over 10 minutes.

Fees and Costs

Yolo County follows California state fee schedules. Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This is lower than the fee for other documents.

Plain copy fees are 50 cents per page. Each side of a page counts separately. If you need a 10-page document copied, plain copies cost $5. Add the $15 certification fee if you need certified copies.

Certifying other documents from your case costs $40. This includes orders, agreements, or other filings besides the dissolution judgment. The $40 certification fee applies in addition to 50 cents per page for the copies.

Search fees may apply when the clerk must search for your case by name. If the search takes more than 10 minutes, the fee is $15 under state law. Using the online portal to find your case number before requesting records helps you avoid this fee. Call (530) 406-6704 to confirm current fees before sending payment.

Privacy and Record Access

California limits online access to family law records. Under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, courts may not provide remote access to divorce case documents. The public must visit the courthouse to view these files.

Yolo County's online portal shows case information like case numbers, party names, filing dates, and hearing schedules. But the actual documents are not viewable remotely. This protects privacy in family law cases while still allowing basic case lookups.

Access rules depend on your relationship to the case. If you were a party to the divorce, you can get copies of your case file. Third parties have more limited access. Some documents may be sealed or confidential. The clerk can explain what records you can access.

Certain information in divorce cases is always confidential. Financial disclosures, child custody evaluations, and some declarations are not available to the general public. Even parties may have restricted access to some documents depending on court orders.

Certified copies serve as legal proof of the divorce. Keep certified copies safe as you may need them for years. Plain copies are fine for reference but do not carry legal weight for official purposes.

State Records Information

The California Department of Public Health kept limited divorce information from 1962 through June 1984. They do not have actual divorce decrees. They have certificates of record. These certificates show a divorce filing occurred but do not include judgment details.

A certificate of record lists 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. The certificate only verifies that a petition was filed with the court.

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

For actual divorce decrees from any year, contact Yolo 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. Most legal purposes require the actual decree from the court.

Legal Help and Resources

Legal assistance is available for family law matters in California. The state courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov provides guides about getting court records. These guides explain the process and what information you need.

Legal aid organizations offer free or low-cost legal services to qualifying individuals. They handle family law cases including divorce. Contact legal aid offices serving Yolo County or nearby areas. They can tell you if you meet their income and case-type requirements.

The State Bar of California operates a lawyer referral service. They match people with attorneys in their area. Call the referral service to find a family law attorney near you. Many lawyers offer an initial consultation at a reduced rate. This lets you discuss your situation before hiring someone.

Some courts operate self-help centers where staff assist people representing themselves. Check if Yolo County Superior Court has such a center. Self-help centers provide forms, instructions, and procedural guidance. Staff cannot give legal advice but can explain court processes and requirements.

Nearby Counties

Yolo County is bordered by several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court system handling divorce records.