Are Kern County Divorce Records Public?

Kern County divorce records are publicly accessible unless they contain information that is exempt under state or federal statutes. The California Public Records Act governs public access to records generated by government entities. In addition, the law determines the procedures and requirements for accessing records. For instance, public members seeking to obtain records must contact the agency in charge of maintaining them.

Per the California Codes (§§ 7921.000 — 7922.210), government entities have the legal right to withhold access to certain divorce information. Such information is redacted or outrightly withheld if the disclosure is not in the public interest. Thus, exempt records may include information whose disclosure will violate the privacy and safety of concerned parties. For instance, personal data concerning minors in a divorce case are excluded from public view.

Note: Divorce case parties can petition the court to seal divorce information. The petition must contain compelling evidence that the case party’s privacy exceeds the public interest in the record.

Who Can Access Kern County Public Records?

The California state law allows all public members, including entities, to access public records in Kern County. Public members can access public records using resources provided by government entities. These entities must release records after receiving relevant information from requesters.

However, certain public records are deemed confidential and inaccessible to the general public. Government entities in charge of such information may only disclose them to legally eligible parties, such as the following:

• The record subject
• Immediate relations
• Legal representatives, including entities like the district attorney’s office
• Government agencies

To obtain confidential records, eligible parties must present a valid proof of identification or relationship document to the record custodian.

In contrast, third-party requesters may access confidential public records by presenting one of the following documents:

• A court order that empowers them to obtain the record.
• A letter of authorization or consent from a record subject.

Do I Need to State My Purpose and Use When Requesting Divorce Records in Kern County?

No, you do not need to state your reasons for requesting divorce records in Kern County. The state law only requires the public to provide enough information about requested documents. For instance, you must provide the case party name or number to view divorce court documents on the county’s search database.

How do you Request Divorce Records in Kern County?

To request Kern County divorce records, interested applicants must follow this process:

1. Determine the agency responsible for maintaining the record
   Kern County divorce records are under the purview of local and state-level agencies. At the local level, the county’s superior court is the official record custodian of divorce case files and decrees. However, you will find certificates of divorce records from 1962 to 1984 at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
2. Select a preferred method of getting the record.
   The county superior court offers online and offline access to divorce decrees and case files. In contrast, the CDPH only allows mail-in requests for divorce certificates.
3. Order Kern County divorce records using the preferred option.
   To obtain divorce certificates, interested parties must submit a mail request to the CDPH at:

California Department of Health
Vital Records: 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

The mail-in request must include a completed request form in English or Spanish and a $16 fee. Attach the request fee as a money order or check made payable to the “CDPH-Vital Records”.

Alternatively, you can order divorce case records by sending a mail or in-person request to the county superior court at:

Kern County Superior Court - Delano
1122 Jefferson Street
Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (661) 720-5800

Kern County Superior Court - Kern River
7046 Lake Isabella Boulevard
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
Phone: (760) 549-2000

Kern County Superior Court - Lamont
12022 Main Street
Lamont, CA 93241
Phone: (661) 868-5800

Kern County Superior Court - Metropolitan Division Justice Building
1215 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 868-5393

Kern County Superior Court - Mojave
1773 State Highway 58
Mojave, CA 93501
Phone: (661) 824-7100

Kern County Superior Court - Ridgecrest
132 East Coso Avenue
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Phone: (760) 384-5900

Kern County Superior Court - Shafter
325 Central Valley Highway
Shafter, CA 93263
Phone: (661) 746-7586

Kern County Superior Court - Taft
311 Lincoln Street
Taft, CA 93268
Phone: (661) 868-5800

The request must include the case subjects’ names and the required copy fees in a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Kern County’s superior court charges $15 for producing certified copies of dissolution judgments. In contrast, photocopies are $0.5 per page. Mail-based payments must be in the form of a money order or check made payable to the Kern County Superior Court.

What Information is Included in a Kern County Divorce Record?

Kern County divorce records may contain the following details:

• The divorce case parties’ full names
• Divorce type, such as dissolution or legal separation.
• Divorce filing date
• Court information, including court name, location,
• Case information, such as divorce decrees and court transcripts.
• Attorney name, state bar number, and address.

Kern County’s superior courts may redact sensitive or sealed information from publicly accessible divorce files. Excluded information may include personal or financial information, such as social security numbers and alimony payments.

Fees for Accessing Kern County Divorce Records

In Kern County, the document type and request volume may determine the cost of accessing divorce records. For example, the county superior court charges $15 and $40 for certified copies of divorce judgments and orders, respectively. However, plain copies only cost $0.5 per page.

Note: Requesters may contact the record custodian’s office to determine if there are fee waivers for accessing divorce records.

How Long Does It Take to Obtain Divorce Records in Kern County?

In Kern County, it may take up to ten business days for requesters to obtain divorce records from the superior court. However, the CDPH may process divorce requests within four to six weeks of receiving the request.

The processing time may vary based on the request method and volume or the record custodian’s workload. For instance, in-person orders have a short processing time in comparison to mail-in orders.

Can I Request Divorce Records Online in Kern County?

Yes, interested parties can find Kern County divorce records through the county superior court’s online case platform. To view records on the platform, inquirers must provide the case party names and other required data.

Third-party search websites like Californiacourtrecords.us provide alternative options for requesting divorce records. Such sites are typically easy to use and may allow users to download divorce documents. However, third-party search sites are unregulated and may not contain accurate information.

Are There Any Exceptions to Accessing Kern County Divorce Records?

Yes, there are exceptions or limitations to accessing divorce records in Kern County. Such restrictions help to protect sensitive data, such as personal information, on minors in a dissolved union. The court may also seal records if the disclosure does not serve the public interest. To access restricted information, record seekers must present a court order or written authorization from the record subject.