El Dorado County Court Records

El Dorado County court records are official documentation of events in legal proceedings for criminal, civil, or traffic cases. Court records in El Dorado County may contain case information like hearing dates, court locations, dockets, pleadings, motions, appeals, affidavits, charges, complaints, transcripts, witness testimony, writs, injunctions, judgments, appeals, and orders.

California court records are pivotal to Carlifonia’s legal history. They can be used to trace the history of legal disputes, previous judgments, and appellate court decisions. Court records also help identify liens and encumbrances standing against property, as they constitute notice to subsequent purchasers. The El Dorado Superior Court Clerk is the custodian of court records in El Dorado County.

Are Court Records Public in El Dorado County?

Yes. The California Public Records Act (CPRA) guarantees that the public has the right to access government records in California. Section 6252(e) explains public records as writings containing information relating to the conduct of public business that is owned, used, filed, and maintained by any state or local government agency. Thus, El Dorado County court records are available to members of the public regardless of the form in which they are stored.

Furthermore, Rule 10.500 of the California Rules of Court advocates for the provision of public access to non-deliberative and non-adjudicative court records. These records are judicial administrative records like the Superior Court's budget and management information. This rule purports to expand public accessibility to judicial records.

Note, however, that custodians can exercise discretionary power over records where disclosure may result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or jeopardize the safety and security of another. The following information or documents may be restricted from public access where necessary:

• Medical information
• Records of juvenile offenders
• Adoption records
• Complaints to and investigations by the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, state and local law enforcement agencies
• Personnel records such as home addresses, telephone numbers, private email addresses, and social security numbers where such disclosure will constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Records exempted or prohibited under state or federal law
• Confidential commercial and financial information.

El Dorado County Court Records Search

Members of the public can find El Dorado County court records at the following locations:

• The Superior Court clerks’ office
• The originating courthouse
• The El Dorado Superior Court online case index
• Third-party public records search site.

El Dorado County Court Records Search by Name

To find court records by name in El Dorado County, start by determining and identifying the name of the court where the case sought was decided. Then, the searcher needs to compile information that can sufficiently describe and identify that record; this includes the case name, filing date, case number, date of birth, and case type.

Researchers who know the case number for the record they seek should fill out the record request form, Local Form M-5. Those who do not have the case number should download and complete the Local Form M-6 and submit it by mail, fax, or at the office of the court clerk in the respective court branch. Individuals can submit up to ten names in the request form. However, requests for more than three name-based searches take about 15 business days to be processed, and there is a $10 standard retrieval fee for each file.

Alternatively, one can find case information on civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic matters online at the Superior Court Online Case Index. Courts are in the process of digitizing their case records. As a result, not all case files are available. Hence, it is advisable to look up El Dorado County court records at public terminals at the courthouse or send a mail request to receive certified copies of court documents.

El Dorado County Courts

The court system in El Dorado County comprises only the Superior Court. The Superior Court of California has different branches in the County of El Dorado, and they have departments in which they specialize. Below are the addresses and contact information of all El Dorado County:

El Dorado County Superior Court — Placerville Main Street Branch
495 Main Street
Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-6426 (Main Line)
Phone: (530) 621-7464 (Criminal Division)
Phone: (530) 621-6726 (Mediation)
Phone: (530) 621-5098 (Family Law Facilitator)
Fax: (530) 622-9774

El Dorado County Superior Court — Placerville Building C Branch
2850 Fairlane Court
Suite 120
Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-6726 (Family Law)
Fax: (530) 626-0656

El Dorado County Superior Court — Placerville Fair Lane Branch
295 Fair Lane
Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-7470
Fax: (530) 295-2611

El Dorado County Superior Court — Cameron Park Branch
3321 Cameron Park Drive
Cameron Park, CA 95682
Phone: (530) 621-5867
Phone: (530) 621-6430 (Appeals)
Phone: (530) 621-7469 (Jury Coordinator)
Fax: (530) 672-2413

El Dorado County Superior Court — South Lake Tahoe Branch
1354 Johnson Boulevard
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: (530) 573-3075 (Civil/Small Claims/Juvenile/Family Law/Probate)
Fax: (530) 544-6532

El Dorado County Superior Court Case Search

The El Dorado Superior Court has jurisdiction over appeals, probate, domestic relations, family law, juvenile matters, civil, criminal, and traffic proceedings. The Placerville Division handles appeals, civil cases, small claims, unlawful detainer, alternative dispute resolution, criminal DCSS, traffic violations, family law, family law mediation and facilitators, guardianship, juvenile dependency, juvenile justice, jury coordinators, probate, conservatorship, mental health, and restraining orders. Similarly, the South Lake Tahoe Division handles civil, small claims, criminal, traffic, family law facilitator, juvenile, family law, probate, unlawful detainer, and restraining orders.

Members of the public can inspect and request copies of the Superior Court records at the Clerk’s Office during business hours. Requests for more than three names will need to be left at the court for processing. Requests left at the court take approximately 15 working days and are attended to on a first come /first serve basis. Interested persons can also retrieve copies of El Dorado County superior court records by mail and fax. Search fees may be determined at between $0.50 to $15 per file, depending on the nature and volume of the requests. All fees are to be paid by check payable to the El Dorado Superior Court.

An alternate search option is the Online Case Index. Searchers can create an account here for free to look up case information from the Superior Court online. However, due to the digitization of records process ongoing at the Superior Courts, case information is not updated regularly and may not be publicly available. For guaranteed results, it is better to direct queries to the office of the Superior Court clerk in person, by mail, or by fax.

El Dorado County District Court Records

California does not operate on a district court system, so there are no district courts in El Dorado County. District courts are typically trial courts that adjudicate civil, criminal, traffic, and bankruptcy cases. The primary trial court in California is the Superior Court. Just like a district court, the El Dorado Superior Courts handle a wide range of cases, including civil and small claims cases (family law, dissolution of marriage, personal injury, contract disputes, property disputes, eviction), criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, and simple offenses).

El Dorado County Criminal Records

Interested persons can obtain El Dorado County arrest and criminal records from the Superior Court clerk. Print and complete the Local Form M-55, then submit it by mail or in person at the clerk’s office counter. The form requires the applicant to provide personal information, including their name, address, phone, and email. They are also to provide the case number, party name, defendant's date of birth, and filing date. The applicant is also to identify the specific criminal court record requested, for example, charging documents, disposition, sentencing order, register of actions, dismissal order, or the entire file (excluding documents that are prohibited from disclosure).

El Dorado County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Criminal case records are official records of legal proceedings regarding felonies (murder, robbery, arson, fraud, drug trafficking), misdemeanors (petty theft, traffic violations, driving under the influence), juvenile crimes, and domestic violence. In line with the CPRA, criminal case records are public records, but juvenile records are exempt from public disclosure. Individuals may look up criminal case information online at the El Dorado Superior Court website.

Get El Dorado County Civil Court Records

El Dorado County civil records can be obtained from the courthouse where the case is filed. Following a guaranteed right of access to court records by the CPRA, courts must provide reasonable and accessible means for the public to view case information. Hence, all members of the public can walk into a superior court in El Dorado to request copies of court records that are not restricted by statute or federal or state law. Requesters must, however, provide sufficient information to identify the record they seek, i.e., the name of any or both parties to the case, case number, filing date, and date of birth.

El Dorado County civil court records may also be available online at the court’s case index website. Individuals can find information on civil suits involving contract disputes, probate, domestic relations, torts, personal injury, small claims, unlawful detainer, professional negligence, trespass, and domestic relations.

El Dorado County Family Court Records

Family law matters in El Dorado County are handled by the Superior Court. This means that family court records can be obtained in the same way as regular court records. However, due to the sensitive nature of some of these records, especially those involving minors, some information contained in family court records may be redacted. Certain records, like juvenile and adoption records, are often sealed and confidential records.

The El Dorado County Superior Court handles a variety of family law cases, including divorce and legal separation, child custody, visitation rights, child support, spousal support, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence, child neglect, and abandonment.

El Dorado Dissolution of Marriage Records

The El Dorado Recorder-Clerk's office is responsible for filing and maintaining dissolution of marriage records. These records include divorce decrees and separation proceedings concerning the legal termination of a marriage. They may contain the names of spouses, the date of marriage, the date of divorce, the court where the divorce was finalized, and information detailed in the divorce decree (child custody, alimony, property division).

El Dorado County Marriage and Divorce Records

El Dorado County marriage records and divorce records may be obtained from the county recorder clerk’s office. Interested persons must complete the Vital Records application form and schedule an appointment at the Recorder-Clerk’s South Lake Tahoe or Placerville office from any of those who wish to obtain a copy of their marriage certificate.

There are two types of public marriage records: the authorized certified copy and the informational certified copy. An authorized copy costs $17, and the applicant must provide a sworn statement to obtain it. Those who are not authorized can obtain the informational copy; however, this document is not a valid document to establish identity.

It is also possible to order a copy of a marriage certificate by mail. Simply download and fill out the ‘Application For Certified Copy of Marriage Record’ form, fill out the necessary criteria, attach payment ($17) by money order, personal, or cashier’s check, and mail it to the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk office.

Mail Requests to:

El Dorado County Recorder
360 Fair Lane
Placerville CA 95667.

El Dorado Birth and Death Records

The El Dorado County recorder-clerk’s office is the custodian of vital records (birth, death, and marriage records) in the county. They can be obtained via mail or at any of the recorder’s office locations. To purchase a copy of an El Dorado county birth or death record by mail, download and complete the application for “Application For Certified Copy of Birth Record” or “Application For Certified Copy of Death Record” Form.

Enclose the form, a self-addressed envelope, and a money order or check for the search fee in a mail packet and mail to the El Dorado county recorder along with the record production fees. Certified copies of birth records cost $32, while death records cost $24. This fee is payable by personal or cashier’s check and money order.

Another option is to complete the Vital Record Application online and schedule an appointment at the County Recorder’s Office near you to purchase a copy of the death or birth record.

El Dorado County Probate Court Records

The El Dorado Superior Court’s probate division handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust cases. Probate court records are available at the El Dorado County Superior Court clerk's office.

El Dorado County Property Records

The El Dorado County Assessor and Recorder are custodians of El Dorado County property records. Individuals can find information on official land records, property tax information, liens, mortgages, assignments of interests over land, certificates of occupancy, easements, deeds, covenants, reconveyances, and other registrable interests and documents affecting real and personal property.

The Assessor’s Office has an Online Property Information Search Tool where searchers can look up property information on landed properties, parcels, aircraft, mobile homes, and mining claims. Likewise, the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk has an Official Records Search site where individuals can find records and documents concerning ownership, conveyance, rights, and interests in personal and real property in the county.

El Dorado County Assessor's Office
360 Fair Lane
Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-5719 (Placerville)
Phone: (530) 573-3422 (South Lake Tahoe)
Fax: (530) 642-8148 (Placerville)
Fax: (530) 573-3425 (South Lake Tahoe)
Email: assessor@edcgov.us.

El Dorado County Court Records Online

Third-party state record search tools are useful for finding court records. These sites aggregate court information from multiple jurisdictions in one website, making research easier and more streamlined. Unlike the standard 15-day processing time for receiving records by mail, Looking up court records online is faster and less time-consuming. Furthermore, online search platforms like Californiacourtrecords.us make court records more accessible to the general public.

As promising as this sounds, third-party state record platforms have limitations. The accuracy and completeness of information on some of these are not guaranteed. Furthermore, the information available may be outdated. These websites also charge a fee per search or require the user to pay subscription fees before they can access comprehensive records.