Glenn County Court Records

Court records in Glenn County, California, encompass all materials maintained by the local superior court regarding legal actions or proceedings instituted by private citizens, government entities, and other parties in Glenn County. Specifically, Section 68151(a) of the Government Code defines a court record as all papers and documents in a case folder, any item maintained by the court in connection with a case, and other records listed in Cal. Gov. Code § 68152(g). These records include motions, writs, depositions, transcripts, orders, bonds, subpoenas, opinions, decrees, judgments, and registers of actions or dockets.

Glenn court records, part of the broader California court records, uphold the judiciary's accountability and transparency. They also help secure litigants' rights, facilitate appeal processes, support background investigations, and provide legal references (precedents) that can be used to argue or decide current cases.

Are Court Records Public in Glenn County?

Yes. Glenn County court records are open to members of the public under case law. As highlighted in California Rules of Court (CRC), including rules 2.400(a) and 2.503(a)(1), court records are disclosable as a "matter of public rights of access to the courts" (see Summary of the California Public Records Act 2004, p. 4). However, this right is not absolute, as specific statutes, rules of court, and court orders make particular records confidential.

Confidential Glenn court records include:

• Juvenile dependency and delinquency case records
• Psychiatric records or reports
• Reports about prisoners who have mental health disorders
• Records and documents in attachment cases
• Identities of sex offense victims
• Reports regarding proposed conservatorship or guardianship

Other exempt records are listed in the California Trial Court Records Manual, Appendix 1.

Note: "Court records", in this context, means case or adjudicative records. The term should not be misconstrued for judicial administrative records, to which the public still maintains greater access, provided a record is not exempt under CRC 10.500(f).

Glenn County Court Records Search

A Glenn County court records search can be achieved by visiting the local courthouse or utilizing resources provided by the superior court to make or submit record requests. Interested individuals can also find Glenn court records on third-party databases.

Glenn County Courts

Like other counties in California, Glenn County has a superior court adjudicating all legal matters brought to or initiated in the county. Below are the court's contact and location details:

Superior Court of California, County of Glenn
Main Courthouse
526 West Sycamore Street
Willows, CA 95988
Phone: (530) 934-6446

The superior court's website has relevant contact information for each court division (civil, family law, probate, small claims, criminal, traffic, mental health, juvenile).

Glenn County Criminal and Civil Records

Criminal and civil court records are part of the Glenn County public records, meaning anyone can read or retrieve them.

The Case Search portal offers online access to Glenn County court records. Site users can obtain court calendars, case indexes, and registers of actions using parameters like a litigant's name or case number. However, case documents cannot be printed or downloaded, and certain cases are not publicly available.

One can visit the main courthouse to obtain copies or view cases unavailable on Case Search. No fee is charged to inspect a case on a courthouse computer, but visitors are responsible for fees assessed if a clerk conducts the search. Costs for reproducing, certifying, or authenticating (exemplifying) documents also apply—for instance, 50 cents for plain copies (charged per page) and $40 to certify documents (charged per document). The court's Printable Civil Filing and Appearance Fees list has the relevant costs on page 13.

Alternatively, requesters who need copies of court records can request by mail. A mail request should include the name to be searched, the case type, and an approximate filing date. Senders should also include the applicable search and copy fees (see the Fees list) and a self-addressed envelope for the return of responsive documents. If uncertain about the order amount, the inquirer can include a check with a "not to exceed $20" order in the memo line, and the clerk's office will fill in the exact amount.

A particular distinction is crucial when discussing civil and criminal records in Glenn County. The court system only disseminates civil and criminal court records. Civil court records stem from non-criminal disputes between individuals, businesses, or government agencies. Meanwhile, criminal court records originate from proceedings initiated by the government due to penal code violations.

The criminal records from the Glenn Superior Court differ from those maintained by other criminal justice agencies, like local law enforcement. If the inquiry pertains to Glenn County arrest records, a request should be made to the agency responsible for an arrest. Individuals can also order their statewide criminal histories from the California Department of Justice, which includes reported Glenn County criminal records.

Glenn County Marriage Records

Members of the public seeking Glenn County marriage records can fill out and submit the Clerk-Recorder’s Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate for $17 per copy. Requests can be submitted personally or via mail:

Glenn County Clerk-Recorder’s Office
516 West Sycamore Street
2nd Floor
Willows, CA 95988

Per Cal. HSC §103526, only authorized persons can obtain a certified copy of a non-confidential (public) Glenn County marriage certificate. Nonetheless, certified informational copies are available to anyone, although they carry the "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity" watermark.

Meanwhile, certified copies of confidential Glenn marriage certificates are only provided to the spouses or someone designated by court order, and informational copies of such certificates are not available.

Persons who cannot mail or hand-deliver requests will find the Recorder's Official Records Search a handy resource for requesting copies of Glenn County vital records, including marriage documents.

Glenn County Divorce Records

Divorce proceedings in Glenn County are adjudicated in the local superior court, which maintains related records. Interested individuals can, therefore, visit the county courthouse to inspect cases, request specific case documents (like a divorce decree), or request entire case files. They can also send requests by mail or access the court's Case Search portal for divorce case information. The "Glenn County Criminal and Civil Records" header summarizes these record request methods.

Glenn County Birth Records

One way to access Glenn County birth records—important for verifying a person's identity—is to request copies via the Assessor/Clerk-Recorder's Official Records Search portal by following the prompts. Individuals can also request such documents by mail or in person using these application forms:

• Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Record (In-Person Requests)
• Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Record (Mail or Fax Requests)

People can obtain authorized and informational certified copies of a Glenn County birth certificate for $29 each. However, only eligible parties can request authorized certified copies.

Glenn County Death Records

Copies of Glenn County death records—important for estate settlements and claiming inheritances—can be obtained as follows:

• Through the Glenn County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder's Official Records Search portal
• By completing and submitting forms highlighted in the "Glenn County Birth Records" section

Like other Glenn County vital records (i.e., birth and marriage), only parties permitted by law can obtain an authorized certified copy of a Glenn death certificate. All others can only receive an informational copy, which, although still a certified copy, cannot be used for legal purposes. Each death certificate ordered from the Glenn County Clerk-Recorder's Office costs $24.

Glenn County Probate Court Records

Records of probate matters filed or handled in Glenn County can be obtained by visiting the local superior court or accessing the court's Case Search system. One can also get plain or certified copies of probate court records via mail. The costs for search and copy requests are indexed in the Printable Civil Filing and Appearance Fees document, page 13.

Glenn County Property Records

The following resources are useful for accessing Glenn County property records, which detail the ownership, characteristics, assessment, taxation, and other pertinent information about real estate in Glenn:

• The Glenn County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder's Official Records Search portal: Users can search for and obtain records of real estate transactions. One can also mail or hand deliver a Request for Copies of Official Records to retrieve property document copies. The County Clerk-Recorder Schedule of Fees document has the applicable copy and certification costs.
• The Assessor/Clerk-Recorder's Parcel Information portal: Users can look up assessment information, property features, and parcel maps.

Glenn County Court Records Online

Third-party databases, like Californiacourtrecords.us, provide an alternative method for retrieving Glenn County court records without having to contact government agencies. These websites are operated by private entities and facilitate public records searches, including inquiries into Glenn arrest records, property documents, and more.

Nationwide searches, instant access, and round-the-clock availability are notable advantages of third-party databases. However, potential limitations include the risk of obtaining incomplete records and the unavailability of confidential information.