Monterey County Superior Court Case Search

The Monterey Superior Court records consist of a collection of papers and materials, including original filings and exhibits, and sometimes transcripts, submitted to the Superior Court Clerk during or at the end of legal proceedings for entry into the record repository.

A complete Superior Court record typically provides the following information:

• Details that uniquely identify the record, including the names of the participants—parties, judge, and attorneys, case number, citation, and case type.
• Allegation/Claims, including cross-claims or counterclaims.
• Defenses, objections, and arguments
• Evidence
• Motions, rulings on issues, executions, and verdicts

Unless restricted, all documents in the Superior Court case files are open for public inspection. Public members sometimes look up records to evaluate their chances of success and to restructure their approach when instituting an action on a similar issue. Additionally, these records are often cited to defend a claim or protect a personal or property right.

What Kinds of Cases Are Heard in the Monterey Superior Court?

As a trial court, the Monterey County Superior Court serves as the court of first instance in most criminal and civil matters. Due to its enormous caseload and the complexity of each, the Superior Court is divided into several specialized departments, including civil, criminal, care court, appeals, family and children, restraining orders, small claims, probate, landlord/tenant, and traffic.

Monterey County Superior Court

The Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction structured to efficiently handle a wide range of criminal and civil disputes. It has a corresponding division for each case type it handles. For instance, if a plaintiff files a claim of $12,500 or less, the claim falls under the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court. Civil claims exceeding this amount but less than $25,000 are categorized as limited civil cases, whereas claims exceeding $25,000 are considered unlimited civil cases.

Appeals from the decisions of the Court’s divisions are handled by the Appeal Division, which means that the Superior Court’s decision-reassessment mechanism is integrated into the Court's structure.

The Monterey Superior Court serves as the primary forum for assessing justice and fairness and maintains the peace and stability of the County.

Below are the Court’s location and contact information:

Salinas Courthouse
Courtroom 1-11
240 Church St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 775-5400

Juvenile Justice Court
Courtroom 12
1422 Natividad Rd
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 775-5400

Monterey Courthouse
Courtroom 13 - 17
1200 Aguajito Road
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 647-5800

King City Courthouse
Courtroom 18
250 Franciscan Way
King City, CA 93930
(831) 883-5300
Matters Served: Traffic Self-Help Center

Marina Courthouse
Courtroom 20 - 21
3180 Del Monte Blvd.
Marina, CA 93933
(831) 883-5300

Monterey County Case Lookup

Individuals wishing to access the Monterey County Superior Court records can request to view them at the Clerk of Court's Office. The Clerk's office provides access to Small Claims, civil limited, civil unlimited, family law, and probate case files, including proceeding-related documents, such as minute orders dated July 9, 2012, through to the present. These documents can be viewed by using public computers located in the Court’s viewing room. Some records may not be immediately accessible, especially if the records are stored offsite. Offsite records typically take 7 to 10 working days to retrieve. The clerk charges a $10.00 retrieval fee for up to three files.

If the request is more than five copies, submit a completed Court File Request Form. It typically takes at least 72 hours to process this request.

Those who wish to obtain copies of these records can make a request directly to the clerk's office, 2nd floor. These requests can be made in person or via mail.

In-person Requests:

Researchers will need to provide the following information:

• Case number;
• Case Name/Caption;
• Additional information that will assist the clerk with identifying the case

Cash and credit cards (Visa/Mastercard/Discover) are the primary accepted means of payment. Print checks and money orders with the account holder's name and address.

For mail requests:

Print and fill out the Request for a Record Search and/or Copies Form and enclose it with a check or money order payable to the Superior Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough to accommodate the requested copies. Mail them to:

Superior Court of California, County of Monterey
Attention: Records
1200 Aguajito Road
Monterey, CA 93940

If you are unsure about the appropriate fee, specify by stating on the check, "Not to exceed $75.00," based on the anticipated amount. The records will be processed and mailed back to the provided mailing address.

While ordinary copies typically cost 50 cents, additional fees may be charged for certified copies—copies carrying the Court’s stamp and seal, certifying that the document is a true copy. Requesters are encouraged to refer to the local Fee Schedule for the current fees.

To access the Court Reporter’s transcripts or the audio recordings of a court proceeding, complete and mail the Request for Court Reporter Transcripts form or Request for Audio Recording of Court Proceedings to the Clerk's Office.

Instead of having to mail or visit the clerk's office, a quick search can be conducted remotely via Case Lookup for civil limited, civil unlimited, family law, and probate court indexes and court calendars. Through this platform, users can locate cases by entering either just a case number, a party full name, a business name, or a filing date.

Monterey Superior Court Case Search by Name

Upon the conclusion of a court case, the clerk of court stores the case file and indexes the record alphabetically, numerically, or sequentially into the record repository using details like case number, party name, or citation. This is typically done for easy referencing and accessing. Consequently, a requester seeking specific case files must provide at least one of these details. Court staff and search engines rely on this information to sift through the numerous records and narrow searches down to the requested record.

Monterey Superior Court Docket Search

Also known as a court calendar, the Monterey County Superior Court docket is an official record that tracks the progress of a case that is still pending before the court. It serves as a timeline detailing critical case events such as scheduled hearings, motions filed by parties, court rulings, and final judgments. The Monterey Superior Court docket can be accessed electronically via Case Lookup. Visit the website and select "Daily Calendar" on the homepage.

Lookup Monterey County Superior Court Online

Although Case Lookup is the primary resource for electronically accessing the Monterey County Superior Court records, aggregate third-party websites may also serve as a platform for accessing court records online, including Californiacourtrecords.us. Third-party platforms generally offer a user-friendly interface for accessing Monterey County court records. However, it is crucial for users to exercise caution when using these unofficial sources. Users are advised to cross-reference information obtained with official court resources to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Supreme Court vs. Superior Court

The Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction, responsible for handling civil and criminal cases, family law matters, probate issues, and small claims. It conducts trials, hears evidence, and issues rulings on legal disputes. If a party contests the outcome of a decision from the Monterey Superior Court, it can appeal to a higher court.

In contrast, the California Supreme Court is the state’s highest appellate court. It primarily reviews cases that have been appealed by the California Courts of Appeal and ensures that legal principles are correctly applied and constitutional or statutory questions answered to favor the public interest. Unlike the Superior Court, it does not conduct trials or hear witnesses but rather reviews cases to ensure that the lower court has not made any error in issuing judgment.