Nevada County Court Records

Nevada County court records contain information generated and maintained by members of the county judiciary during legal proceedings. These records can be created and stored in many forms, including handwritten documents, typed papers, audio recordings, video, electronic files, computer drives, etc.

The local judiciary is mandated to keep court records as evidence that legal matters are correctly handled. County courts also provide valuable material for members of the public who want to familiarize themselves with the justice system. Judgments, summons, appeals, exhibits, depositions, injunctions, appeals, warrants, and subpoenas are examples of court records.

Are Court Records Public in Nevada County?

Nevada County court records are classified as public under the California Public Record Act (CPRA). According to the Public Record Act, private citizens, businesses and organizations, and the media can access court records by contacting the appropriate custodians.

While court records are public information that can be accessed by the public, some types of court records have restricted access or are completely exempted from disclosure. Listed below are some examples of records exempted or restricted under the CPRA.

• Any records subject to a motion to seal or filed under a court seal
• Personal information, the disclosure of which would be a clear violation of privacy
• Any records that would identify the victims of crimes such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking
• Personal information excluded from court registers, calendars, and indexes
• Personnel information or records of county peace or custodial officers

Records that are restricted or exempted may still be accessed by interested parties. They can obtain a court order to release the records, or the records may be released with some parts removed or redacted. The California Trial Court Records Manual Appendix 1 supplies further information about records restricted or exempted from public access.

Nevada County Court Records Search

Nevada County offers record seekers several options for performing a Nevada County court record search. The following options are available for search for Nevada County court records.

• Contact the Nevada County Superior Court Clerk
• Visit the Nevada County Superior Courthouse where the case was heard
• Use the online resources provided by Nevada County courts, such as the Case Information Web Portal
• Try out any of the available third-party court records websites

Nevada County Court Records Search by Name

Interested parties may perform name-based Nevada County court records search by contacting the Nevada County Superior Court clerk. Requesters may fill out the Court Record Request form and submit it to the court clerk. The form has a section where requesters can enter the names of parties or defendants as criteria for the record search. The form must be filled out and can be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the Nevada City or Truckee courthouses, depending on where the case was heard.

Different forms must be submitted for each different case type requested. When requesting, record seekers must also show a valid driver's license or photo ID.

Payment for all record requests must be made in advance or included with all mailed requests. Any search that takes more than ten minutes will incur a $15 search fee. Copies of the record cost $0.50 per page, and certification of court documents costs $40 per document. Checks and money order payments should be payable to the Nevada County Superior Court. If the requester wants the records mailed back, they must provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope with adequate postage for their request.

Record seekers can also search for records using any of the public kiosks provided at the Nevada City and Truckee courthouse locations. There is also the option to create an account on the Superior Court Case web portal. An account of this database provides the ability to research and collect case information. With an account, the user can search for case information using names, case numbers, and case dates. This option is usually reserved for people who are parties or attorneys involved in a case.

Nevada County Courts

In Nevada County, most court cases are handled by the Nevada County Superior Court. Listed below are the locations of all the branches of the Superior Court operating in Nevada County.

Nevada County Superior Court - Nevada City
201 Church Street,
Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 265-1293 (Civil, Small Claims)
Phone: (530) 265-1311 (Criminal, Traffic)
Phone: (530) 265-1293 (Family Law, Probate)
Email: nccounter@nccourt.net

Nevada County Superior Court - Truckee
10075 Levon Avenue,
Truckee, CA 96161
Phone: (530) 582-7835
Email: trcounter@nccourt.net

Nevada County District Court Records

The Nevada County Superior Court acts as the district court equivalent for Nevada County. The Superior Court maintains general jurisdiction over the county. Additionally, multiple Divisions handle most of the court cases heard in its courthouses. The list below shows some of the types of cases heard in the Nevada County Superior Courts.

• Criminal cases
• Civil cases
• Domestic/Family law
• Probate cases
• Small Claims
• Mental health
• Traffic cases and minor infractions

Nevada County Criminal Records

Criminal records such as criminal histories can be obtained from local police departments for their jurisdictions in Nevada County. For example, the Truckee Police Department can do a criminal history search for the town of Truckee alone. Record seekers may be required to visit the department in person with ID to fill out the forms and pay any required fees. For answers to any questions about criminal histories, requesters may call the records technician at (530) 550-2323.

Record seekers may obtain criminal records for the whole county from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Record seekers may call the Sheriff’s Office Records Division at (530) 265-1471 for information about requesting public records and criminal histories.

On the state level, individuals may request criminal history records covering the whole of California, including Nevada County arrest records and criminal records from the California Department of Justice. As the repository for Criminal Records for California, the DOJ offers visitors criminal record checks for various reasons. Interested parties can request their criminal records by submitting live scan fingerprint images from any Public Live Scan site. Criminal history records from the California DOJ will incur a processing fee of $25.

Nevada County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Nevada County, criminal court case records can be obtained from the Nevada County Superior Court. To obtain criminal case records, applicants typically have to fill out the court record request form and then submit it in person, by mail, or by email to the appropriate courthouse. Using the form, provide adequate case information such as the case number, party/defendant name, and years to be searched. Include the correct payment for the search fee and any copies with the request, as payment must be made in advance. While filing the form, be sure to check the box for criminal records as the records required.

The records can be picked up in person or mailed back to the requester. Requesters must supply a self-addressed stamped envelope for the copies to be sent back by mail. If a record search exceeds 10 minutes, record seekers will be charged a $15 search request fee. Copies of any criminal records requested will cost $0.50 per page, and an additional $40 per document will be charged for certifying any records. If the fees are unknown, requesters can insert a blank check with a memo saying “not to exceed $140”. The clerk will fill in the correct amount after the request has been processed.

The courthouse locations in Nevada City and Truckee also have public kiosks where visitors can look up court records.

Get Nevada County Civil Court Records

Civil court records are the records of legal disputes between private parties instead of a violation of criminal law. Records generated by such cases include motions, claims, rulings, judgments, and subpoenas. These records can be obtained from the Nevada County Superior Court, where the case was heard.

To request Nevada County civil court records, requesters must download and fill out the court record request form. While filling out the form, be sure to fill in the relevant case information, such as parties and defendants, search ranges, and case number. The completed form and any other accompanying documentation can be sent to either of the courthouses in Nevada City or Truckee. Requesters are also required to send a self-addressed and stamped envelope if they require the copies to be returned by mail. Record searches will be charged a $15 record search fee and $0.50 per page for any physical copies of the record.

The Superior Courthouses in Nevada County also provide public kiosks where visitors search for civil court records on their own. The Nevada County Superior Court has an online Ecourt portal where record seekers can access basic case information after they create an account on the portal. More comprehensive records are available for parties to a case or their attorneys.

Nevada County Family Court Records

Family court records are the records of legal proceedings concerning domestic issues such as divorce, dissolution, legal separations, paternity, visitation, emancipation, domestic violence, child support, and child custody. The Family Law division of the Nevada County Superior Court hears these cases and maintains their records.

To obtain family law court records in Nevada County, record seekers must contact the superior court location where the case was heard. Record seekers may visit the court location and use the public kiosks there to perform a record search. Another option is to fill out the court record request form and submit it along with advance payment to the appropriate courthouse. While filling out the form, it is essential to check off family law as the type of record being requested. Requests can be submitted via posted mail, email, or by dropping it off at the courthouse in person.

Family law records can also be searched online using the Nevada County Superior Court Web Portal. To search for public family court records in the database, users are required to create an account.

Nevada County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Nevada County Clerk-Recorder and the Nevada County Superior Court maintain marriage and divorce records, respectively. By law, certified copies of marriage records in California may only be obtained by eligible persons, including the couple, their immediate family, and legal representatives. Parties not eligible by law may receive a copy marked “informational, not a valid document to establish identity”. This means that informational copies cannot be used for any legal business.

Copies of marriage certificates can be ordered from the county clerk-recorder in person at the office, by mail, online, and by fax. First, the requester must fill out the Application for Marriage Certificate. When filing the form, requesters need to indicate what type of certificate is being ordered. Ordering a certified copy requires the completion of Section 2 (sworn statement)of the form. The attached Certificate of Acknowledgement must be signed in front of a Notary Public if the order is being made by mail or fax. Applicants should be sure to study the instructions provided properly to ensure a successful order.

In-person orders

The completed form can be submitted in person at the office clerk's office at:

950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210,
Nevada City, CA 95959

The form should have been filled out before coming to the office. Applicants with any issues may call the office at (539) 265-1221.

Mailed orders

For a mailed order, the completed form, along with the Certificate of Acknowledgement, should be mailed to the above address. Payment in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Nevada County Recorder should be included with the application.

Faxed orders

Submit the completed form and notarized acknowledgment to (530) 265-9842, then call (530) 265-1221 to provide credit card payment information. All card payments will incur an additional $2 fee.

Online orders

Marriage records can also be ordered online using the Nevada County Vital Records Online Ordering System. Online orders incur an additional nonrefundable $4 service and credit card processing fee and a $0.35 “vital verify fee”.

Marriage records cost $17 per copy, mailed, faxed, and online orders will incur an additional $3 standard shipping fee or $23 express FedEx shipping fee for mailing the order to the requester.

Divorce records on the other hand can be requested by filling out the court request form and submitting it to the Superior Court clerk as with other family law record requests. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, and by email. Record requests from the superior court incur a $15 search fee while copies and certification of records cost $0.50 per page and $40 respectively.

Nevada Birth and Death Records

Nevada County birth and death records are both maintained by the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder. These records are considered vital records noting vital events in the life of an individual. Records of these events are important as they help to determine important facts such as an individual’s identity and nationality. In California, these records can only be obtained by eligible persons such as the subject of the record, their immediate family, legal representatives, and some government or law enforcement agencies.

Birth and death records for Nevada County can be obtained in different ways. The county allows people to order copies of these records in person, by mail, by fax, and using their online platform.

Records can be ordered by filling out the Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application and submitting it in person, by mail, or by fax. To order certified copies of this record, requesters must fill out and sign the sworn statement in the form. The certificate of acknowledgment is to be filled out and signed in front of a notary public when submitting the request by mail or fax. The application does not require the certificate of acknowledgment if an Informational Copy is requested. Informational copies are for information only and cannot be used to establish identity or for any legal business.

The completed forms can be submitted in person or mailed to the Clerk-Recorder’s office at:

950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210
Nevada City, CA 95959.

The form can also be submitted by faxing it to (560) 265-9842. To pay for orders submitted by fax, requesters must call (530) 265-1221 to supply credit card payment details.

Copies of birth certificates cost $29 per copy, while death certificates cost $24 per copy. This fee is non-refundable and will be charged as a search fee if no record is found. Orders returned to the requester by mail will incur a $3 shipping and handling fee.

The Nevada County Online Vital Records Ordering System provides the option of ordering Nevada County vital records online. Vital records ordered via the system will cost the normal fee plus a $4 service and credit card processing fee and a $0.35 Vital Verify fee. Total processing/shipping time is about 7 to 10 business days after the application is approved.

Record seekers can call (530) 265-1221 with any questions about obtaining vital records such as birth and death certificates from the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder.

Nevada County Probate Court Records

Probate court records are records from cases involving wills, estates, and legal ownership of an individual's assets after they die. They also hear cases involving guardianships, conservatorships, and mental health treatments. The Probate Court division of the Nevada County Superior Court is where these cases are heard.

In Nevada County, probate court records can be requested using the court record request form. Record seekers may fill out the form and return it using the options provided on the form. These include by mail, email, or by visiting the courthouse in person. The requester must provide details about the record, such as party names and case numbers, and indicate that the records requested are probate records.

Copies of probate records cost $0.50 per page, while the certification of a record costs $40 per document. If a record search takes longer than ten minutes, the requester will also be charged a $15 search fee. If the copies requested are to be sent by mail, the request must also include a self-addressed and stamped envelope.

Nevada County Property Records

Nevada County property records refer to records of properties and transactions involving properties within the county. Examples of property records include records of grants, mortgages, liens, plats, trusts, and so on. In Nevada County, these records can be obtained from the Nevada County Assessor and the County Clerk-Recorder.

Record seekers may acquire property records by visiting the county assessor’s office in person and making a request. They may also be able to request by mailing a written request to:

950 Maidu Avenue
P.O. Box 599002
Nevada City, CA 95959

The request should include the property address, owner’s name, or parcel number and state the required records. Record seekers may call ahead at (560) 265-1232 to inquire about accessing property records and any required fees. Records can also be looked up online using the Assessor’s ParcelQuest search tool. The search tool allows record seekers to look up records by property details such as parcel number or address.

The County Clerk-Recorder records and maintains records of deeds, liens, mortgages, and grants. This means requests for records of those transactions may be directed to the clerk-recorder’s office. Record seekers may visit the clerk-recorder’s office to request these records or search for records online using the Recorded Documents Search.

Nevada County Court Records Online

Another option for accessing Nevada County court records is trying third-party websites. These resources, such as Californiacourtrecords.us, provide convenient and easily accessible court records from the comfort of a home or office. Such sites have user-friend interfaces and search facilities where users can search for records using criteria such as party names, court dates, and case numbers. However, it should be noted that most of these websites are not official government resources, so their information may not be error-free.