Fresno County Court Records

Fresno County court records are official files pertaining to court cases and judicial actions in the county courts. Such records may contain diverse information based on the case type, recording officer, and case status. For example, adoption court documents may contain birth information, including the case party's birth parent's names. Despite the difference in content, Fresno court records provide information on the following:

• The case party's name
• Case number, type, and status
• Name of the presiding judge
• Case summaries

Note: California court records serve as evidence that a particular action occurred in the court. Also, they ensure the court maintains fair conduct during court proceedings.

Are Court Records Public in Fresno County?

Public members can access Fresno County court records under state laws. The California Public Records Act and Rules of Court govern Fresno public records, including court records. Such laws determine which court records are exempt or publicly accessible.

The California Government Code Sections 7923.60-7929.610 and 7930-7930.215 cover all exempted records in the state. Under these sections, the following court records are exempt from public access:

• Court documents containing personnel or medical records that may violate the record subject's right to privacy (Gov. Code §7927.700)
• Preliminary drafts, notes, or memoranda created by court officials (Gov. Code §7927.500)
• Court documents on pending litigation or claims that directly involve court officials
• Court documents that are exempt under state or federal statutes
• Court records containing privileged financial data or trade secrets were submitted to the court.
• Court data that may compromise the safety or privacy of judicial branch personnel or entities.

Rule 10.500(f) of public access to judicial administrative records covers exempt judicial court records.

Fresno County Court Records Search

The clerk of court is the custodian of court records in Fresno County. The clerk enables access to court records via online, mail, or in-person searches. For example, the Fresno clerk of the superior court allows online viewing of court records via its Case Management and Information System.

Requesters using the online search route may view court records by inputting the case party's name or case number. In contrast, requesters must present a request letter to search court records via mail or in person.

Fresno County Court Records Search by Name

The superior court clerk allows name-based searches for court records via its online search portal. Requesters must provide the case party's name so they can view all court records related to the case party. Record seekers may also conduct name searches at the clerk's office.

The Superior Court Clerk
Archives Facility
1963 "E" Street
Fresno, CA 93706
Phone: (559) 457-4903

Fresno County Courts

Fresno County is home to five superior courts. Each superior court division oversees specific case types. The courts’ addresses are listed below:

Fresno County Superior Courts

Fresno County Superior Court - B.F. Sisk Courthouse
1130 O Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-2000

Fresno County Superior Court - Criminal Courts Departments 95 & 96
1265 M Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-2000

Fresno County Superior Court - Downtown
1100 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93724
Phone: (559) 457-2000

Fresno County Superior Court - Juvenile
Juvenile Delinquency Facility
3333 East American Avenue
Suite A
Fresno, CA 93725
Phone: (559) 457-4810

Fresno County Superior Court - M Street Courthouse
2317 Tuolumne Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-1700

Fresno County District Court Records

There are no district courts in Fresno County. Instead, the county superior courts oversee cases that would otherwise fall under the jurisdiction of the district courts in other states. In addition, the court divisions handle specific case types. For example, the superior court's B.F. Sisk Courthouse handles civil court cases. In contrast, the Criminal Courts Departments 95 & 96 and the Downtown Division oversee criminal court cases.

The clerk of the superior court enables access to civil and criminal cases via an online search portal. The clerk also allows in-person requests via drop boxes installed at each courthouse division. Requesters can drop their record requests into these dropboxes. The clerk's office will process the requests within 24 hours. Moreover, you must time-stamp the request letter before placing it in the dropbox. Also, you may inquire about the records in person at the counter in the clerk’s office.

Note: For record requests via dropbox, the clerk's office only accepts payments in the form of money orders or checks. You can use the clerk's fee schedule to determine the total cost of the requested record. For example, paper copies cost $0.5 per page.

Fresno County Criminal Records

Fresno County criminal records are not public documents. According to the California Department of Justice (DOJ), criminal records are only accessible to the record subject, authorized applicant agencies, and law enforcement agencies.

The DOJ also allows fingerprint-based searches for criminal records. State residents can access Fresno County criminal records by filling out a Request for LiveScan form in English or Spanish. Next, the requester must send the completed document to the nearest law enforcement agency for fingerprinting.

On the other hand, out-of-state requesters can obtain a copy of criminal records by taking these steps:

1. Print and fill a Request for Criminal Record in English or Spanish.
2. Get fingerprinted at a local enforcement agency. The fingerprint card must contain these details:
   1. The requester's full name
   2. Birth date and sex
   3. Mailing address.
3. Include the required fee as a check or money order made payable to the California Department of Justice.
4. Mail the application and other required documents to:

California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
P.O. Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-0207

Conversely, Fresno County arrest records are available at the county sheriff’s office. You may request Fresno arrest records by contacting the county sheriff at (559) 600-8400 or visiting this address:

Administration Office
2200 Fresno Street
Fresno, California.

You may also obtain Fresno County arrest records at the Fresno County district attorney’s office.

Fresno County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Fresno County’s clerk of the superior court maintains online and offline access to criminal court case information. You may view court information online via the clerk’s online search portal.

You can also receive physical copies of Fresno criminal records by using dropboxes installed at the clerk’s office. You must time-stamp your request letter in order for the clerk to process it quickly.

Note: Requesters using the dropbox option must include the request fee as a money order or check. The clerk’s office maintains a fee schedule document that outlines fees for different requests. For example, it costs $40 to get a certified copy of criminal court case records.

Get Fresno County Civil Court Records

Fresno County civil court records provide information on civil court cases and disputes, such as civil equity and landlord/tenant disputes. The clerk of the superior court keeps records of civil court cases. It also provides online or offline access to the records.

To view Fresno civil court records online, interested parties must visit the clerk's search portal and input the required search details. Alternatively, you can obtain copies of civil court records online by visiting the clerk’s office at:

Fresno County Superior Court - B.F. Sisk Courthouse
1130 O Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-2000

The Superior Court Clerk
Archives Facility
1963 "E" Street
Fresno, CA 93706
Phone: (559) 457-4903

Record seekers may also submit a record request and payment at drop boxes installed at the courthouses. The request letter must provide information on the following:

• The case party's name and other identifying information
• The case number, type, or status
• The requester's mail address.

The required fee must be a money order or check payable to Fresno County Superior Court.

Note: Use the fee schedule to determine the estimated cost of getting the court record.

Fresno County Family Court Records

The Fresno County Superior Court (B.F. Sisk Courthouse) oversees all family court cases filed in the county. Family court cases under its jurisdiction include but are not limited to adoption, child custody and visitation, divorce, and termination of parental rights.

To access family court records, requesters must follow this guide:

Step 1: Find the agency or custodian holding the record

The clerk of the superior court is responsible for keeping these records. The clerk also enables access to the records via an online search portal or in-person request options.

Step 2: Determine if you are eligible to receive the record

Fresno County family court records contain confidential or sensitive data. The court clerk may redact the sensitive parts. Furthermore, the clerk will only issue confidential court records to the record subject, family relations, legal representatives, or third parties acting on behalf of the record subject.

Step 3: Select your preferred mode of accessing the record

Visit the clerk's online case search tool to view court documents. To access the records in person, requesters must visit the clerk's office and choose one of these options:

• Inquire for court records at the counter.
• Submit a request for records in drop boxes installed in the clerk's office.

Step 4: Provide the necessary documents

You need a request letter and a search fee to get records in person. In addition, you must include a copy of a photo ID in your request.

Note: The request letter must contain the record subject's name, case information, and the requester's address. The clerk's office processes record requests within 24 hours.

Fresno Dissolution of Marriage Records

In Fresno County, marriage dissolution records contain information on divorce events. Interested parties can access these records by following these steps:

1. Find the custodian holding the record
2. Select a request option for getting the record
3. Provide the necessary documents
4. Pay the required fee using the specified payment option.

Fresno County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Fresno County recorder's office keeps records of all marriage certificates and licenses issued in the county. In contrast, divorce records are available at the office of the superior court's clerk.

The County Recorder's office provides informational and certified copies of Fresno County marriage records. Note that the county recorder will only issue certified or unrestricted copies to the following parties:

• The record subject
• Legal representatives
• Government agencies

That said, you can access the records via mail or in-person requests to:

Fresno County Recorder
P.O. Box 766
Fresno, CA 93712

Mail requests for Fresno County marriage certificates must include the following documents:

• A completed and notarized request form for marriage records
• A $17 check or money order made payable to Fresno County Recorder.

The clerk of the superior court provides two options for obtaining divorce records:

• Online access using a searchable database
• Offline requests via dropboxes or in-person at the clerk’s office

Provide a request letter and a search/copy fee when using the dropbox request option. The fee must be a money order or check payable to Fresno County Superior Court. Use the fee schedule document to get an estimate of the cost.

Fresno Birth and Death Records

Interested parties can access Fresno County birth or death records with the following general steps:

Step 1: Find the agency holding the record

Fresno County vital records, such as birth and death records, are under the purview of two county agencies:

• Fresno County Department of Public Health
• Fresno County Recorder's Office.

The former keeps records of birth events that occurred less than two years ago. However, you'll find older records at the recorder's office.

Step 2: Determine if you're eligible to obtain the record

Only the following requesters can obtain birth or death records in Fresno County:

• The record subject
• Family relations
• Persons or entities empowered by a power of attorney or assigned as the executor of the record subject's estate.
• Legal representatives
• Eligible government agencies.

Step 3: Choose a preferred request method for the records

Fresno birth and death certificates are accessible via online or offline requests. The county's Department of Public Health allows online requests for the records.

Step 4: Gather the required documents

For mail or in-person requests, requesters must collate these documents:

1. Request for an authorized and certified birth or death record in English or Spanish. An alternative is to fill out a request form for informational copies in English or Spanish.
2. The required fees. The county recorder charges $29 and $24 for Fresno County birth and death certificates, respectively. Also, it only accepts payments in money order or check checks for mail-based requests.
3. A notarized certificate of identity (for mail requests)
4. A valid picture ID (for in-person requests)
5. Send the required documents and payment via mail or in person to:

Mail address
P.O. Box 11867
Fresno, CA 93775-1867

Physical Address
1221 Fulton Street
1st Floor
Room 128
Fresno, CA 93721

Birth and death records play an important role in genealogy research. In addition, Fresno County birth certificates help to verify the record subject’s identity and connection to the county.

Fresno County Probate Court Records

The probate division of the superior court handles all probate cases in Fresno County. Furthermore, the court hears probate cases, such as wills and trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.

The clerk of the superior court provides an online search platform for all probate cases filed by the probate court. Interested parties only need to provide the case party's name or case number so they can view the records online.

An alternative request option is to contact the clerk of the county probate court. You may visit or make inquiries via phone at (559) 457-1888 or in person at:

Probate Clerk's Office
Sisk Courthouse
1130 O. Street
3rd Floor
Fresno, CA 93724.
Fax: (559) 457-1835

Fresno County Property Records

In Fresno County, the Assessor's Office keeps records of all taxable properties in the county. Furthermore, it provides information on property ownership, maps, assessed property values, and liens.

The Assessor's Office also enables online access to property records via these search databases:

• Assessed Value Lookup
• Parcel Map searches

Requesters must input the property’s parcel number or address to view the record.

Fresno County Court Records Online

County clerks often enable online access to court records. For example, the Fresno clerk of the superior court allows online viewing of court records via its Case Management and Information System. Third-party search sites like courtrecords.us may also provide online access to Fresno County public records, including court case documents. These sites may feature one or multiple court case records on their platform. Record seekers may utilize these search sites since they offer a more convenient way to access records. However, third-party search sites should not be used as reliable sources of court records in Fresno County. Some sites may contain outdated or inaccurate data.