Contra Costa County Superior Court Case Search

Contra Costa County Superior Court records are retained documentation of court proceedings preserved by the Superior Court clerk either in paper or electronic format after the conclusion of an action. A typical Superior Court record contains a docket sheet and all documents filed in a case, such as motions, pleadings, discovery documents, court orders, judgments, and briefs.

A search for Superior Court cases is often necessary to aid legal and administrative endeavors. Researchers and employers typically seek these records to review case histories, verify legal outcomes, or conduct background checks. Furthermore, attorneys serving as a client’s representative in an ongoing proceeding may need to retrieve specific court records for reference, while the general public may need them to comply with legal obligations.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in Contra Costa Superior Court?

The Contra County Superior Court adjudicates a wide range of legal disputes, including civil and criminal actions. Civil cases presided over by the court are divided into limited and general categories.

A civil action qualifies as limited when the damages claimed are less than $25,000 and general when the claim is above $25,000. Other civil matters handled by the court include family law, probate, unlawful detainer, and small claims cases. The court also handles felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Juvenile cases and traffic law violations are also generally within the court’s jurisdiction.

The Superior Court is divided into several specialized departments, including civil, criminal, care court, appeals, family and children, restraining orders, small claims, probate, landlord/tenant, and traffic.

Contra Costa County Superior Court

The Contra County Superior Court is a trial court organized into multiple departments to handle different case types including civil and criminal cases. Unlike other jurisdictions, the Contra Costa County Superior Court does not handle appeals from other courts; instead, courts that handle municipal-level jurisdiction are part of the broader Superior Court system. The local rules of the Superior Court govern its operations, regulating the conduct of judges, jury, and other court personnel.

The Superior Court’s cases are handled at its various courthouses situated at these addresses:

Court Locations

Wakefield Taylor Courthouse
Civil, Criminal, and Probate
725 Court Street
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 608-1000

Spinetta Family Law Center
Family Law
751 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 608-1000

A. F. Bray Courthouse
Criminal and Jury
1020 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 608-1000

Richmond Superior Court, George D. Carroll Courthouse
Civil, Small Claims, Criminal, Traffic, and Jury
100 – 37th Street
Richmond, CA 94805
(925) 608-1000

Pittsburg Superior Court, Richard E. Arnason Justice Center
Civil, Small Claims, Criminal, Traffic, and Jury
1000 Center Drive
Pittsburg, CA 94565
(925) 608-1000

Walnut Creek Superior Court
Traffic and Juvenile
640 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 608-1000

Court Records
1111 Ward St.
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 608-1000

Contra Costa County Case Lookup

Interested parties can look up Contra Costa County Superior Court cases via these channels:

Online Portal
Superior Court records are searchable via the Court's Public Portal. Start a search by visiting the portal. Click on the smart search icon. Enter a party’s full name or record number in the search bar and click submit. Before submitting, filter search results with the advanced filtering option below the search bar — optional.

By Mail
Researchers can use this form to mail a Superior Court record request. Fill out the form by providing the name and indicating the case type — Family Law, Civil, Limited Civil, Probate, and Adoption cases. Enclose the completed form with a self-addressed stamped envelope (for return mailing) and mail it to:

Court Records
725 Court Street (P.O. Box 911)
Martinez, CA 94553

Or place it in the red drop box in the lobby

1111 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553

In Person
Those experiencing difficulties with the remote channels or who cannot retrieve a record online can visit:

Court Records
1111 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
(925) 608-1000

Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding court holidays)
Court phones are answered from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; after 3:00 p.m., a voice mail system responds to calls. Some digital court records in small claims and unlawful detainer matters may be obtained from the branch courthouses in Richmond and Pittsburgh. A valid ID is required to view any file.

Contra Costa Superior Court Case Search by Name

Whether the case search is being performed online, via mail, or in person, performing a Superior Court case search without unique identifiers is often tedious. Entering case-identifying details such as name or record number into the search bar or request form is crucial.

However, for online search, an advanced filtering option below the Smart Search field allows users to refine search results using various criteria. The criteria include party name, business name, nickname, attorney name, DOB, gender, ethnicity, FBI number, SO number, booking number, case type, case status, file date, and judicial officer name. Providing these details helps to streamline the process, saving time and effort.

Contra Costa Superior Court Docket Search

The Contra Costa County Superior Court hears and resolves multiple disputes daily. To manage its caseload, each dispute hearing is scheduled to commence after another concludes until the cases to be heard have been addressed. A court docket tracks these cases and outlines events set to occur in court on any given day and the order in which they will be heard. It is continually updated as events take place.

A Superior Court docket typically includes:

• Case numbers
• Party names
• Hearing dates
• Assigned judges
• Motions filed
• Upcoming proceedings, and
• Case outcomes.

It provides a live update on on-court activity. By viewing court records, attorneys, litigants, and other interested parties can monitor case progress, verify hearing dates, and stay informed about judicial proceedings.

Contra Costa County Superior Court dockets are accessible through the Superior Court's official website or in person at the Court Records office. Individuals can search by case number, party name, or hearing date to locate specific case information.

Lookup Contra Costa County Superior Court Online

The Superior Court Portal is the official resource for electronically accessing Contra Costa County Court records. It offers direct access to civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases and cases in other relevant categories.

Superior Court cases are also accessible via third-party sites such as Californiacourtrecords.us. While these sites have exercised due diligence in collecting the records they provide access to, they do not claim that the information provided is complete, accurate, current, or useful. Users are encouraged to verify that the information received is fit for their intended use. The platform will not be liable for general or specific damages arising out of the use of the information.

Supreme Court vs. Superior Court

In each of the 58 counties of California, there is a Superior Court. Officially known as the Superior Court of California, Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Superior Court’s jurisdiction is limited to Contra Costa County.

As a trial court, the court has jurisdiction to hear and resolve a wide range of criminal and civil disputes. Appeals from the decisions of this court go to the California Courts of Appeal. Conversely, appeals from the Courts of Appeal go to the Supreme Court of California, the state’s highest court and final court of appeal.

The Supreme Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction that allows it to render verdicts in capital offense cases, as well as a discretionary appellate jurisdiction over all cases reviewed by the Courts of Appeal. Through the latter, the court is properly positioned to determine important constitutional and legislative issues of the law. However, its jurisdiction is limited to matters of state law and the California State Constitution. It cannot preside over federal law matters or issues bordering on the interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. Those issues can only properly be presided over by the US Supreme Court.