San Joaquin County Court Records

Court records in San Joaquin County are official documents generated by courts within the county during legal proceedings. These records may be obtained from criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. Generally, they contain vital information such as:

• Case details
• Court proceedings
• Deposition detail
• Docket entries
• Charges
• Court transcript
• Witness testimony
• Judgments and jury verdicts
• Name of the presiding judge
• Personal details of the parties involved and their attorney

Public access to San Joaquin County court records promotes transparency and accountability in the judiciary process. These records are also used by employers and agencies to perform background checks on potential employees and for other purposes. Additionally, they serve as a valuable resource for legal research, allowing for the study of specific case laws and legal precedents.

Are Court Records Public in San Joaquin County?

In San Joaquin County, most court records are considered public and accessible under the California Public Records Act (Government Code §6250 et seq.), However, certain San Joaquin County court records are exempt from public access to protect sensitive information. Typically, the following San Joaquin County court records are not available for public disclosure unless authorized by court order:

• Juvenile Records
• Mental health records
• Records sealed by court orders or state's law
• Adoption records
• Confidential information such as social security number, driver’s license number, or financial account numbers

San Joaquin County Court Records Search

San Joaquin County court records are available in physical and electronic copies. Record seekers can search for public court records in the county through the California Courts Online Portal. Some reliable third-party websites may also provide access to these records. Additionally, public court records can be requested via mail or in-person visits to the courts where the cases were filed or at the San Joaquin County Clerk's Office. However, some court records in the county are sealed by court orders or statutes to protect privacy and sensitive information. Such records are not open to the public and can only be accessed by authorized individuals.

San Joaquin County Court Records Search by Name

A name-based court record search is the most common way of finding court records in San Joaquin County. It involves using a record owner's name or the attorney name as the search parameter. Record seekers may use the Records Search section of the San Joaquin County Superior Court website to conduct name-based court records searches.

San Joaquin County Courts

The San Joaquin County court system comprises the superior courts, which are organized into court divisions based on case type. Divisions within the Superior Court include:

• Criminal Division: This court has jurisdiction over felony and misdemeanor cases
• Civil Division: This court consists of sub-divisions for "Unlimited" cases, which involve claims for more than $25,000, and "Limited" cases, with claims for less than $25,000
• Small Claims Division: This court generally handles civil claims for less than $7500
• Family: This court is tasked with handling family law cases such as dissolution of marriage, domestic violence, paternity, child custody, and other domestic relations matters
• Probate Division: This court handles probate matters, including the county's administration of the estate, guardianships, wills, conservatorships, and trusts
• Juvenile Division: This court hears cases involving juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and neglect
• Traffic Division: This court handles traffic-related citations and other offenses punishable by fines

The contact information of the various San Joaquin County Superior Courts are listed below:

San Joaquin County Superior Court-Stockton Courthouse
180 East Weber Avenue
Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 992-5555

San Joaquin County Superior Court-Lodi branch Department L-1
217 West Elm Street
Lodi, CA 95240
Phone: (209) 992-5522 (Civil, Small Claims)
Phone: (209) 992-552 (Criminal)
Phone: (209) 992-5520 (Traffic)

San Joaquin County Superior Court-Lodi branch Department L-2
315 West Elm Street
Lodi, CA 95240
Phone: (209) 992-5522 (Civil, Small Claims)
Phone: (209) 992-552 (Criminal)
Phone: (209) 992-5520 (Traffic)

San Joaquin County Superior Court-Manteca branch
315 East Center Street
Manteca, CA 95336
Phone: (209) 992-5555

San Joaquin County Superior Court-Juvenile Justice Center
535 West Matthews Road
French Camp, CA 95231
Phone: (209) 992-5698

San Joaquin County District Court Records

The San Joaquin County Superior Court serves as the county district court. The court’s records may be obtained by visiting the Superior Courthouses directly or using the online resources provided by the Superior Court branch. San Joaquin County District Court records are typically gathered from the following types of cases:

• Criminal cases
• Civil cases
• Family cases
• Probate cases
• Juvenile cases
• Traffic cases

To access San Joaquin County District Court civil case records, interested individuals should do the following:

• Open the California Courts Online Portal
• On the homepage, click the “Find Court” link, then search for San Joaquin County Superior Court from the list of all the courts
• Click on the drop-down menu to locate the Case Management link
• Select the criteria for searching on the Case Management page: party name, or docket number
• Provide the required information, then click on the search

Interested persons can take the steps below to access San Joaquin County District Court criminal case records:

• Open the California Courts Online Portal
• On the homepage, find and click the “Find Court” link, then search for San Joaquin County Superior Court from the list of all the courts
• Click on the drop-down menu to locate the Case Management link
• Click a preferred search option from case identifier, party search, or case search by case number
• Provide the required information
• Click search

The San Joaquin County Superior Court's clerk also plays the role of the county clerk. District Court record seekers can contact the San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office by email, telephone, or in person at:

180 E. Weber Avenue
Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 992-5695

San Joaquin County Criminal Records

San Joaquin County criminal records are maintained by the County Superior Court and other local law enforcement agencies like the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office Records Division. These records detail a person's criminal activities, from initial charges and San Joaquin County arrests to court proceedings and final dispositions within the county. Interested individuals can contact the California Department of Corrections or the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office to obtain these records. They can also visit the San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office to request criminal records or mail a request and the applicable fee (check or money order) to:

San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office Records Division
7000 Michael Canlis Blvd
French Camp, CA 95231
Phone: (209) 468-4408

San Joaquin County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Record seekers can access specific criminal cases in San Joaquin County per California Rule of Court 2.503. This can be done through the California Courts Online Portal. Additionally, criminal court records from the county are available at the San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office.

Get San Joaquin County Civil Court Records

San Joaquin County civil court records include documents on settlement agreements, fines, motions, writs, civil complaints, and court orders from civil cases originating from the county’s courts. They cover a variety of cases, such as:

• Libel and slander
• Property-related disputes
• Family law issues
• Torts
• Consumer protection cases
• Contract disputes
• Probate and estate issues
• Personal injury claims
• Employment discrimination

Most civil cases in the county are heard in the Superior Court, with specialized divisions handling specific matters like probate and family law. The San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office maintains the county’s civil court records.

Non-confidential civil court records in San Joaquin County can be searched online through the Case Look-up platform managed by the California Courts Online Portal. Interested persons can search civil court records by party names or case numbers. Additionally, they can visit the San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office to inspect or request copies of such court records. Confidential civil court records are not accessible to the public, and in some cases, parts of some public records may be redacted to protect sensitive information.

San Joaquin County Family Court Records

San Joaquin County family court records pertain to various family law or domestic relations cases within the county. They include files, documents, and information related to the following cases:

• Divorce
• Child custody
• Child support
• Domestic violence
• Paternity
• Adoption
• Guardianship
• Protection orders

Generally, San Joaquin family court records are not public records. California law protects the privacy of certain family court records, especially those involving sensitive matters such as child custody, divorce, and domestic violence. These records may only be accessed by the parties involved, their attorneys, and other authorized individuals. However, some information in family court cases might be available to the public, such as case summaries or docket information, unless sealed by court orders. Family court records are maintained by the family division of the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Eligible persons can visit the court to request family court records. They can also use the San Joaquin County Superior Court Case Look-up service or contact the Court Clerk’s Office.

San Joaquin Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records are documents relating to the termination of marital rights and responsibilities between spouses. In San Joaquin County, these records are maintained by the County Court‘s clerk, and they include:

• Petition for marriage dissolution
• Child custody and support orders
• Marriage settlement agreement
• Decree of dissolution of marriage
• Protective orders

Most dissolution of marriage records in San Joaquin County are deemed confidential and are only accessible to authorized persons, such as the parties involved and their attorneys. However, the general public can view divorce judgments.

San Joaquin County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage records are documents that provide details about the legal union of two individuals, while divorce records provide information on the formal termination of a marriage. In San Joaquin County, divorce records are maintained by the Superior Court where the divorce was filed, while the County Clerk’s Office maintains marriage records. While anyone can request certified copies of marriage records, only authorized persons can obtain them. On the other hand, basic information on divorce records, such as the names of the parties, the date of the divorce, and case number, are typically public. However, certain details in a divorce record, including child custody arrangement and financial settlement, are subject to certain restrictions to protect privacy. Eligible individuals can obtain San Joaquin County marriage records by directly requesting them from the Department of Health Services Office of Vital Records Section. Additionally, marriage records can be accessed by contacting the San Joaquin County Clerk’s Office. Divorce records, however, may be accessed by visiting the court where the divorce was filed.

San Joaquin County Birth and Death Records

Per California Law, San Joaquin County birth and death records are official documents that are essential for identification and genealogical research. These records are confidential per California Health and Safety Code, Section 103526. Access is restricted to only certain individuals. The Public Health Services (PHS) Vital Statistics Program has the records of birth and death of residents for the current year and the year before. To obtain record copies in person, requesters can visit the PHS Vital Records Office at:

1601 E. Hazelton Avenue
Stockton (Cross-Street Wilson Way)
Phone: (209) 468-3404

Also, certified record copies can be ordered by mail through the following steps:

• Print the appropriate application forms for birth and death certificates
• Fill it out and mail it with a check or money order of applicable fees ($24 per copy for death record and $29 per copy for birth record) to:

Public Health Services-Vital Records

P.O. Box 2009
Stockton, CA 95201

On the other hand, the Recorder-County Clerk’s Office maintains older vital records for births and deaths in San Joaquin County from 1851. Eligible persons can request certified birth or death records through the California Department of Public Health Vital Records or by contacting the Clerk’s Office at:

44 N, San Joaquin Street
2nd Floor, 260, Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 468-3939

San Joaquin County Probate Court Records

San Joaquin County probate court records are documents on cases related to estate, wills, guardianship, conservatorship, and administration of trusts. Probate court records are typically maintained by the court’s clerk and can be accessed by any interested person except those considered confidential and thereby redacted or sealed by court orders. The San Joaquin County Superior Court Case information portal provides online access to San Joaquin County probate records. Requesters can also contact the probate division of San Joaquin County Superior Courthouse through mail or in person at:

San Joaquin County Superior Court-Probate Division

180 E. Weber Avenue
Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 992-5695

San Joaquin County Property Records

San Joaquin County property records are documents that provide details on the ownership, value, and status of property in the county. These records include information on property tax information, deeds, liens, property sales history, names of parties involved in the transaction, zoning, land records, and mortgages. All property-related records for the county are maintained by the county’s Assessor's Office, Clerk-Recorder's Office, and the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. Many records are available online through the respective department's websites. Requesters can also visit the San Joaquin County clerk recorder's office at:

S44 N. San Joaquin Street, Suite
260 Stockton, CA 95202

San Joaquin County Court Records Online

Many San Joaquin County court records are publicly available and can be accessed through third-party online resources like californiacourtrecords.us. Using these platforms is time-saving and more convenient as they eliminate the need to visit record custodians in person. However, third-party online resources may not have the most recent records, and the information provided may not always be accurate.