Humboldt County Court Records

Any legal action or proceeding begun in Humboldt County produces corresponding documentation that members of the public, attorneys, judges, media professionals, historians, and other stakeholders can review for various reasons.

To a member of the public, a court record may be a useful device for monitoring the legal process, including case statuses, documents submitted in a court case, and orders entered by the court. Meanwhile, for a legal professional, the record offers judicial precedents that can be utilized to build or argue current cases. Media professionals and historians, on the other hand, may acquire a court record to collect facts for publications, gain insights into historical cases, or research legal advancements, and so on.

Rule 2.502 of the California Court Rules broadly defines a "court record" as any paper, exhibit, or document filed in a court action or proceeding. Granted, the specific contents of California court records (including those created in Humboldt) vary by case, but they may include motions, orders, verdicts, pleadings, opinions, dockets, calendars, affidavits, answers, notices of appeal, registers of action, subpoenas, and other associated documentation.

Are Court Records Public in Humboldt County?

Yes. Per Rule 2.400(a) of the California Rules of Court, the general public can examine or copy all court records preserved in the clerk's office. However, there may be restrictions imposed by court rule, court order, or statute to protect the privacy of parties engaged in court cases or prevent sensitive information from appearing in the public domain.

The California Trial Court Records Manual, in Appendix 1 and § 10.3.1, “Confidential Records,” cover court records for which secrecy is mandated by statute or rule. These records include:

• Records of juvenile proceedings
• Unlawful detainer proceedings
• Records of adoption proceedings
• Records of confidential family law proceedings, such as family conciliation court records, records generated from actions to terminate parental rights, and support enforcement and child abduction records
• Search warrants
• Sensitive or personal information about witnesses, crime victims, and other third parties in a police report filed with the court
• Certain Humboldt County arrest records, such as the arrest record of a defendant found factually innocent
• Criminal defendant's statement of assets
• Probation reports
• Reports about proposed conservators or guardianship
• Medical records
• Psychiatric records or reports in criminal cases
• Pre-sentence diagnostic reports under Cal. Penal Code § 1203.03
• Indigent defendant requests for funds

Regarding accessibility to confidential records, certain records may be initially closed but later opened for public review. At the same time, specific portions of a court record may be confidential, and other parts releasable to the general public. In such instances, the court may redact the confidential sections before disclosing the record to the requester. Finally, some court files are only accessible to "authorized" parties under the law, which often include the subject of the record, their counsel, and government entities for an official purpose or proceeding.

Humboldt County Court Records Search

In general, individuals seeking Humboldt court records can visit the local court or draft a formal request to be submitted online or by postal mail. Equally available to the public are third-party websites that simplify the search for court and other Humboldt County public records.

Humboldt County Court Records Search by Name

To conduct a name search of court records in Humboldt, a person must possess the name of an entity (person or organization) that became a defendant or plaintiff in a court case, otherwise called a "case name". Subsequently, they can prepare a written request and send it electronically or by mail to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. In addition to the case name, the letter should contain the requester's contact details and indicate whether copies are desired.

Another method of executing a case name search in Humboldt is to visit the local courthouse during regular business hours to present an oral or written request. Self-service terminals are also available at the courthouse and law library for unassisted legal research. Note that regardless of the chosen request method, a fee applies when requesting copies of Humboldt County court records.

Humboldt County Courts

Below is the contact information of the court in Humboldt County.

Humboldt County Superior Court
Humboldt County Courthouse
825 5th Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7256

Humboldt County Superior Court Case Search

The superior court in Humboldt County is a trial court of general jurisdiction that can hear any type of criminal or civil case filed in Humboldt. While the court hears matters at one location (the Humboldt County Courthouse), it has special divisions to handle the incoming caseload, including civil/appeals, small claims/unlawful detainer, criminal/traffic, family/juvenile, adoptions/guardianship, etc. The contact information for the court divisions (and the court clerk's office hours) is available on the court's official website.

To find records of a case heard in the Humboldt County Superior Court, one can stop by the local courthouse or law library to use a public access terminal, or they may visit the Superior Court Clerk's Office during regular operational hours for a walk-in service. Below is the office's location:

421 “I” Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7256

The Clerk's Case Record Request Form can also be completed online and submitted to the office's email address. The same form can be pre-filled and printed before going to the Clerk's office. Requesters must specify if they wish to view, copy, or certify a superior court case record. The following fees apply for requests:

• Research Fee (for searching a record or file longer than 10 minutes): $15
• Copy Fee: 50 cents per page
• Exemplification Fee: $50
• Certification Fee: $40

For those filling out the online request form, the Clerk's office will contact them with the total amount due. This amount must be paid in full before the documents can be provided to the requester.

Individuals seeking an official transcript (word-for-word account of a case proceeding) from the court can complete the Clerk's Transcript Request Online Form. Note that all assessed fees must be paid before a record will be released.

Humboldt County District Court Records

In Humboldt County, there is only one superior court that hears all matters brought to the county's justice system. Per Proposition 220, the county has no other court, including any district court. Individuals who wish to view or copy records from superior court proceedings should refer to the guidelines outlined in the previous heading.

Humboldt County Criminal Records

The Records Division of the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office serves as the central repository of Humboldt criminal records maintained by local law enforcement. These records contain details of an individual's criminal activities in the county, including their arrests and charges, which form part of their criminal history.

However, under Cal. Penal Code §§ 13300 through 13326 and 11105, an individual's criminal history is not public information and can only be released to the subject of the record, authorized applicant agencies (e.g., certain employers and regulatory agencies), and law enforcement agencies for law enforcement reasons. Subjects can request their criminal history records from the California Department of Justice for $25.

Under the California PRA, the public can only obtain certain Humboldt county arrest records and charge information from the Sheriff's Office, such as an arrestee's full name, mugshot, arrest date, and initial charges. Individuals can access some arrest information by reviewing the Sheriff's Jail Reports, or they may submit an official request through the Sheriff's Public Records Request portal. Additionally, these Humboldt County criminal records requests can be submitted by email, postal mail, phone, fax, or in person during regular business hours.

Main Station
826 4th Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7251
Email (Records Unit): sheriffrecords@co.humboldt.ca.us

McKinleyville Station
680 Pickett Road
McKinleyville, CA 95519
Phone: (707) 839-6600

Garberville Station
715 Cedar Street
Suite B
Garberville, CA 95542
Phone: (707) 923-2761

Each request must contain information that clearly describes the sought-after record(s). Photocopies or electronic copies of records may be released, and fees may apply for physical copy requests.

Note: Any requester who is a suspect or party defined in Cal. Gov. Code § 7923.605 (a victim of an incident or their authorized representative, an insurance carrier against whom a claim has been or might be made, or a person suffering bodily injury or property damage or loss because of certain crimes) must use a different request process. The Sheriff's Office provides an Online Records Request Form (PDF version) that such inquirers can fill out and return via email or to the Sheriff's Main Station to obtain case records and other information collated during a law enforcement investigation. (These forms can also be used by members of the public seeking autopsy and toxicology reports.)

Individuals can call the Sheriff's Records Division at (707) 445-7251 for additional inquiries.

Humboldt County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Criminal cases heard by the Humboldt County Superior Court include:

• Felonies: Criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment in a state penitentiary for over a year or by death
• Misdemeanors: Criminal offenses punishable by a fine or imprisonment for less than a year in a city or county jail
• Infractions: Offenses not punishable by jail/prison time but for which the penalty is a fine. An example is a traffic violation.

People who wish to view or copy records of criminal cases filed in Humboldt can submit a request in person at the Superior Court Clerk's Office or in writing by mail. It is not necessary to make a request in writing when visiting the Clerk's Office. However, those who wish to do so must include the following:

• The defendant's name, birth date, case number (if known), and a list of the desired documents.
• Their [the requester] contact information, including name, address, and phone number.
• The appropriate records fee. The Clerk's Office will communicate the amount due to the requester, although the Standard Fee and Bail Schedules can be reviewed for the relevant sum. Subsequently, the individual must send a check of the total and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Clerk's Office to receive the documents.

The Clerk's Case Record Request Form can also be used to request a Humboldt County criminal case record online.

Get Humboldt County Civil Court Records

Civil court records stem from legal proceedings initiated to determine private rights or obligations, such as product liability, contract breach, marriage dissolution, name change, conservatorship, landlord/tenant, juvenile dependency, elder abuse, and property damage cases.

In Humboldt County, the Superior Court Clerk's Office is the official custodian of these records. Interested parties can stop by the office at 421 “I” Street, Eureka, during normal business hours to submit a request. They can also complete and submit the Clerk's Case Record Request Form online. Further, one can use a public access terminal at the county courthouse to research a civil case.

Every inquirer must have at least a case name or number to facilitate a search for a civil court record. The party must also be prepared to cover all fees the Clerk's Office assesses to fulfill their order.

Humboldt County Family Court Records

Humboldt County family court records detail what occurred when the local superior court sat in judgment over a domestic-related matter, which might have been divorce, adoption, child custody, separation, spousal support, child abuse, property division, domestic violence, parental rights, visitation, etc.

To obtain the records, a person must submit a request to the Humboldt County Superior Court Clerk's Office. The office accepts case inquiries in person at 421 “I” Street, Eureka, CA 95501, or via written request by mail. Alternatively, one can also access the Clerk's Case Record Request Form online, which is forwarded to the Clerk's email address after completion. The form can also be printed and used to make an in-person request at the Clerk's Office.

Requesters must note, however:

• Fees apply to copy, certify, or otherwise reproduce a court document. The Humboldt County Superior Court's Standard Fee and Bail Schedules (2024 version) can be reviewed for such costs. The Clerk also provides these fee assessments after one submits their request.
• Certain family court records remain inaccessible to the public to protect those directly involved in a family law matter or third parties who may be affected by a record's dissemination.

Humboldt Dissolution of Marriage Records

Marriage dissolution (also known as "divorce") is a legal matter heard in the Humboldt Superior Court to end a marital relationship. Individuals requiring divorce case records in Humboldt can make a formal request to the local Superior Court Clerk's Office in person or via mail. They can also fill out the Clerk's Office Case Record Request Form to order case documents without going to the courthouse.

Ordering a certified copy of a marriage dissolution record costs $15. However, the Clerk's Office charges $10 per certified copy if a public agency makes the order.

Humboldt County Marriage and Divorce Records

Where a Humboldt County public records request pertains to a divorce document, the requester should visit or contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office for inspection or copies, as explained in the previous header.

Parties can also complete and submit the California Department of Public Health's (CPDH) Divorce Record Application Form by mail if seeking divorce records from 1962 through June 1984. Each certificate costs $16, payable by check or money order to "CDPH Vital Records". However, the document is not the actual divorce decree. It is only a face sheet of a divorce action, which comprises the parties' names, filing date, county of divorce, and case number. The actual divorce decree of a divorce case finalized in Humboldt must be obtained from the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

On the other hand, persons searching for Humboldt County marriage records should query the Humboldt Clerk-Recorder’s Office, which issues copies of marriage records. An order can be placed as follows:

• Online through the office's authorized vendor
• In the dropbox situated outside the Clerk-Recorder’s Office door
• In-person during normal business hours
• Via US or Express mail

Individuals using the in-person, mail, or dropbox option must complete and submit the Clerk-Recorder's Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage Record. The form can only be used to request one marriage record, and each copy costs $17. The fee is payable by cash, check, or card (Debit, Visa, Discover, Mastercard)

It is important to note that the Clerk-Recorder's office issues authorized and informational certified copies. Only persons eligible by law can obtain an authorized certified copy of a Humboldt County marriage certificate. These include the registrant, their immediate family, and their legal representatives. Other people can only obtain certified informational copies, which are not valid documents to establish identity.

Requests for Humboldt County marriage records can also be made to the CPDH. Each certified marriage record costs $17. However, the office only issues certified copies of public marriage certificates for events that occurred from 1905 to 1999 and from 2008 to the present. Ordering guidelines are available on the agency's Obtaining Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates page.

Humboldt Birth and Death Records

Humboldt birth and death records are obtainable through the local Clerk-Recorder’s Office. These documents serve various legal purposes. Birth records are essential for proving a person's identity. Meanwhile, death records are useful for settling estates and claiming benefits or insurance. Together, these records, alongside marriage records, are the Humboldt County vital records.

To obtain a Humboldt County birth certificate, one can complete the relevant sections of the Clerk-Recorder's Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Record and include a $29 fee payable to the Clerk-Recorder’s Office. The request can be submitted in person or by mail to the addresses below.

Physical Address
825 5th Street
Eureka, CA 95501

Mailing Address
Humboldt County Recorder
Vital Record Division
825 5th Street
Eureka Ca, 95501

Visitors must present proof of identity and pay the certificate fee in cash or by credit card. Meanwhile, mail requesters should have their signatures acknowledged by a Notary Public before submitting the form, and they may pay the fee by check or money order.

A requester can also order Humboldt County birth records online through the Clerk Recorder’s vendor. The vendor charges an additional $7 service fee, with an option to pay an extra $20 for overnight service.

The same process explained above can be used to order a Humboldt death record. The requester can fill out the required fields in the Clerk/Recorder's Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Record Form. They can submit this request online, in person, via mail, or dropbox. However, each copy of a Humboldt County death certificate costs $24.

Similar to marriage records, the Humboldt Clerk-Recorder issues both authorized and informational certified copies of birth and death records. However, only persons who meet the state's criteria (outlined in Cal. Health & Safety Code §103526(c)) can obtain authorized copies.

For additional information, such as request processing times, one can contact the Clerk/Recorder at (707) 445-7593 or via email at clerkrecordergeneral@co.humboldt.ca.us.

Birth and death records can also be acquired from the California Department of Public Health for $29 and $24, respectively. The CDPH supplies more details about the vital records ordering process on its Vital Records website.

Humboldt County Probate Court Records

Probate court records include all documentation or data generated from probate proceedings, including guardianships/conservatorships, will contests, and administration of decedent estates. In Humboldt, these records are maintained by the Humboldt Superior Court Clerk's Office and can be requested like any other civil court record.

Accordingly, interested persons can visit the Clerk's Office during business hours to inspect or copy a probate record. They can also complete the Clerk's Case Record Request Form online or request a document by mail. The requester will need to provide information to locate the probate case, such as a case party's name or case number. They must also cover any associated document costs.

Humboldt County Property Records

Inquiries about property records maintained in Humboldt County can be made to the local Clerk-Recorder and Assessor's offices. The Clerk's office records all real estate instruments into the Humboldt County public records, including reconveyances, mortgages, deeds of trust, contracts, maps, surveys, and the like. Requests for these records can be made during office hours at the Recorder's physical location:

825 5th Street
5th Floor
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7593 or (888) 486-2732 (toll-free)

Documents are free to view at the Clerk-Recorder's Office. Parties can also choose to complete and submit an Official Record Copy Order Request and put it in the dropbox located outside the Clerk-Recorder’s door.

Individuals who do not reside in the county or who cannot appear in person to make a request can utilize the Clerk's Self-Service Web Portal to view indexes or purchase plain/certified copies of real estate documents. The portal has records from 1979 to the present and can be explored by party name, document number, map, or document type.

The following fees apply, regardless of the avenue used to submit a property records request to the Humboldt Clerk/Recorder's Office:

• Copies of recorded documents: $2 for first page and $1 thereafter
• Certification: $2 per document
• Copies of maps: $7 for first page and $5 thereafter

However, an additional 2.95% service fee ($2 minimum) is charged for each credit card transaction through the Self-Service Web Portal.

On the other hand, property records maintained by the Humboldt County Assessor pertain to real estate assessments concluded in the county. To obtain these records, a person may access the Assessor's Property Assessment Inquiry Database. The system can be searched by street address, assessment number, or parcel number. For more information, the Assessor's Office can be contacted at (707) 445-7663 or (866) 240-0485 (toll-free).

Humboldt County Court Records Online

There are several third-party websites that disseminate Humboldt County court records online. Operated by non-government affiliated companies, these websites feature user-friendly and extensive systems that anybody can access to find various public records, including those generated in and outside Humboldt County. One notable example is Californiacourtrecords.us.

When utilizing third-party services, consumers must keep certain limitations in mind. Firstly, while records from third-party databases are indeed sourced from government repositories, there may be discrepancies in content across websites, as the databases are updated at different intervals. Further, a user may be charged if they require a complete report related to their search subject. Additionally, sensitive or confidential court records cannot be found on these websites and must be sought through the courthouses or clerk's offices. Nonetheless, third-party databases are an excellent starting point for many court record searches.