Santa Clara County Court Records

Santa Clara County court records refer to official files that document legal proceedings and decisions made within the judicial system of Santa Clara County, California. These documents cover case filings, judgments, motions, evidence, court transcripts, and orders issued by judges; this documentation serves as a valuable resource for attorneys, researchers, and the public to track legal proceedings, understand case histories, and access essential legal information.

Are Court Records Public in Santa Clara County?

Yes, under California law, court records in Santa Clara County are generally accessible to the public. The California Public Records Act establishes the right of individuals to request and inspect court documents, promoting open access to government records such as Santa Clara County public records. However, certain records are exempt from public access. The California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6254.3) allows record custodians to withhold records if the public interest in non-disclosure outweighs disclosure interest, demonstrated on a case-by-case basis.

Santa Clara County Court Records Search

To perform a general search for court records in Santa Clara County, interested individuals may use any of the following options:

• Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County website.
• Courthouse public access terminals.
• Records request from the court clerk.
• Online third-party services (fee-based).

Santa Clara County Court Records Search by Name

To perform a name-based search for court records in Santa Clara County, individuals should follow these steps:

• Go to the Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County website.
• Click on "Case Information Online"
• Choose the case type (e.g., civil, traffic, criminal) and click "Access Now".
• Click "Case Search".
• Under "Party Search," enter the first and last names, and complete the captcha.
• Click "Find Cases" to initiate the search process.

Santa Clara County Courts

The Santa Clara County court system includes the Superior Court, handling civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases.

Below is a list of all court locations in the county:

Santa Clara County Superior Court
Downtown Superior Court
191 North 1st Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 882-2100

Santa Clara County Superior Court
Family Justice Center
201 N. First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 792-4200

Santa Clara County Superior Court
Hall of Justice
190-200 West Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 808-6600

Santa Clara County Superior Court
Juvenile Justice Courthouse
840 Guadalupe Parkway
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 808-6200

Santa Clara County Superior Court - Old Courthouse
161 North 1st Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 882-2100

Santa Clara County Superior Court
Palo Alto Courthouse
270 Grant Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: (650) 462-3800

Santa Clara County Superior Court
Santa Clara Courthouse
1095 Homestead Road
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Phone: (408) 556-3000

Santa Clara County Superior Court
South County Courthouse
301 Diana Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Phone: (408) 695-5000

Santa Clara County Superior Court Case Search

The Santa Clara County’s Superior Court network handles various types of cases:

• Civil cases involve private rights disputes, such as lawsuits for money, property, contracts, damages, or civil rights protection.
• Criminal cases range from minor infractions to serious offenses like robbery and murder.
• Family Division deals with divorce, support, custody, restraining orders, and mediation.
• The Juvenile Division addresses cases involving minors accused of crimes or abuse and neglect issues.
• The Probate Division manages property transfers, wills, adoptions, and guardianships.
• Small Claims Court resolves disputes quickly and inexpensively, excluding attorneys, and operates in the Downtown Superior Court.
• The Traffic Division handles traffic-related matters.

To search for court cases in Santa Clara County, interested parties should follow these steps:

• Visit the county Superior Court website.
• Navigate to "Online Services" and select "Case Information Online".
• Choose "Access Now" according to the case type.
• Click on "Case Search" and input details like a case number, first name, and last name.
• Click "Find Cases" to run the search.
• Review the search results for the desired case information.

Santa Clara County District Court Records

The legal system in Santa Clara County operates through the Superior Court. Unlike some other states, there are no separate district courts. The Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County, manages all legal matters, including court records requests.

Santa Clara County Criminal Records

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office maintains the county's criminal records history such as Santa Clara County arrest records. The Records Division, which houses all Sheriff's Office records, is in the lobby of Sheriff's Office Headquarters in San Jose.

In-person counter services require an appointment. For assistance or scheduling, individuals can contact (408) 808-4705.

Individuals can request a copy of their local criminal record like Santa Clara County arrest records for a fee. Santa Clara County residents must visit in person and present a valid I.D. for verification. They must provide the necessary information for paperwork and undergo fingerprinting to confirm their identity. The Records division will send the criminal record by mail within four weeks.

Non-residents of Santa Clara County, California, must submit:

• A fingerprint card from a law enforcement agency.
• A notarized letter requesting the criminal history for personal use, including aliases, a return address, contact information, and a copy of a valid photo I.D. or Passport.
• A $25.00 personal check or money order is payable to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

For mailing purposes, individuals can use the following address:

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office
Attention: Records Division
55 West Younger Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110.

Interested persons can find other relevant information on the County Sheriff's Office Records Division's web page.

Santa Clara County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Not all documents in a Santa Clara County court file are public, and certain types of information are restricted from public access. Viewing or copying the following documents is not allowed:

• An arrest report or any other file that lists a victim's name, location, or telephone number
• Domestic violence protective orders
• Own Recognizance (O.R.) reports
• Probation reports
• Financial or medical information.

An easy way to access a criminal records search in Santa Clara County is to utilize the criminal case index search tool provided on the Santa Clara Superior Court's website. Under "party search," fill in relevant fields such as first name and last name, then click "FIND CASE(S)". Santa Clara criminal records can also be accessed physically at a county courthouse. To do this, interested parties must have the case number.

How to Get Santa Clara County Civil Court Records

Santa Clara County civil court records include a range of documents such as case filings, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, and other legal documents related to civil disputes within county jurisdiction. Accessing civil court records in Santa Clara County involves using the Case Information Portal on the Santa Clara County Superior Court website. For search purposes, individuals must provide the case number or party name.

Santa Clara County Family Court Records

Santa Clara County Family Court handles various Family Law cases like divorce, child custody, support, domestic violence restraining orders, adoptions, and guardianships. These cases cover legal matters regarding family relationships, child welfare, dispute resolution, and legal rights. Family court records in Santa Clara County document proceedings, judgments, orders, and agreements related to these issues, providing a detailed record of the court's decisions and actions concerning families and children.

Interested parties should note that Health & Safety Code Section 103526 covers records within California State. This means only the family members, legal guardians, certain individuals with court orders, attorneys, adoption agencies, law enforcement, and government agencies acting within their scope can access some family court records.

To access Santa Clara County Family Court records, visit the Case Information Portal for details and hearing dates. Note that confidential cases, such as adoptions, mental health issues, and custody petitions for unmarried parents, are not accessible through this portal.

Santa Clara Dissolution of Marriage Records

Individuals seeking access to marriage dissolution documents can either visit the Santa Clara County Superior Court courthouse and request a copy in person or apply via mail.

Family Justice Center
201 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Mailing location:
191 N. First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 792-4200

To request a copy by mail, interested parties must provide:

• A written request, i.e., the Family Records Copy Request Form.
• A money order or certified check made payable to the Superior Court ($ 0.50 per page).

A certified copy incurs an extra fee($10 - requested by a public organization, $15 - requested by any other petitioner).

• A self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate postage.

The case number is necessary to find marriage dissolution documents. If it's unknown, individuals should search for the case number online using the Court's Case Information Portal, using either spouse's name under “PARTY SEARCH” from the time of the dissolution. Typically, divorce records for the past decade are available on this website.

Santa Clara County Marriage and Divorce Records

Per Health & Safety Code Section 103526, those authorized to access Santa Clara County vital records such as Santa Clara County marriage records within California State include the subject, parents, legal guardians, certain family members, individuals with court orders, attorneys, adoption agencies, law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral directors acting within their scope.

Existing Santa Clara County marriage records, for example, Santa Clara County Marriage certificates fall under the custodianship of the Santa Clara County Recorder. These records are not available for online access. Individuals must schedule an in-person appointment at the County Recorder's Office to get these records. Individuals can contact the County Recorder's Office at (408) 299-5688 for any questions.

Meanwhile, divorce records are available at the Santa Clara County Superior Court's Family Justice Center. Requestors can obtain these records at the Justice Center in person or by sending a mail request.

For mail requests, applicants have to do the following:

• Complete a written request using the Family Records Copy Request Form
• Attach a check to the Superior Court ($0.50 per page) and an extra fee for a certified copy ($10 for public organizations, $15 for others).
• Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate postage.

201 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Mailing address
191 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95113.

Santa Clara County Birth and Death Records

The Santa Clara County Recorder manages existing county vital records such as Santa Clara County birth certificates and death records. These records, for example, Santa Clara County birth records, are not available online; individuals must schedule an in-person appointment with the County Recorder's office to obtain them.

Clerk-Recorder’s Office
110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor
San Jose, California 95134
Phone: (408) 299-5688

Interested parties should note that per Health & Safety Code Section 103526, those authorized to access birth/death records within California State include the subject, parents, legal guardians, certain family members, individuals with court orders, attorneys, adoption agencies, law enforcement, government agencies, and funeral directors acting within their scope.

Santa Clara County birth and death records are vital for legal and genealogical purposes, including establishing identity, citizenship, inheritance rights, and medical history. These documents are also crucial for public health research, population statistics, and family history research.

Santa Clara County Probate Court Records

Probate cases in Santa Clara County are managed at the Downtown Superior Court in San Jose. The probate court records in the county cover a range of cases, including estate administration, wills, trusts, and guardianships. Probate cases can be searched online at the Case Information Portal.

Santa Clara County Property Records

Santa Clara property records are essential for verifying ownership, assessing values, understanding tax liabilities, and conducting real estate research. Property-related information in Santa Clara records includes ownership details, property tax assessments, transaction history, legal descriptions, and mortgage or lien information.

To search property records in Santa Clara County, individuals should visit the "Real Property Search" section on the County Assessor’s website. Enter the property address, complete the captcha test, and click "Search".

Santa Clara County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources like Californiacourtrecords.us offer convenient access to Santa Clara County court records, providing instant availability and ease of use. However, users should exercise caution as these platforms may not always provide comprehensive or utterly accurate information compared to official sources. It's advisable to verify data from multiple reliable sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.