Sonoma County Court Records

Sonoma County court records are official documents created and maintained by the Sonoma County Superior Court in relation to all the cases filed within the county. These records include wills, codicils, charges, motions, pleas, petitions, docket entries, orders, and judgments.

Sonoma County court records are fundamental to the functioning of its judicial system. They are evidence of what transpired in court concerning different cases and may also serve as a valuable resource for legal professionals to study legal precedents.

Are Court Records Public in Sonoma County?

The California Public Records Act (CPRA) allows the disclosure of government records to the public upon request, as long as the disclosure of such records does not infringe on the rights or privacy of individuals or prevent the government from performing its functions effectively. Although the judicial branch of government holds court records that are disclosable to the public due to their rights of access, it is not mandated by the CPRA to provide these records. Instead, the judicial branch has the discretion to determine how it provides access to its records.

The California Rules of Court 2.400(a) permit the public inspection of court records in the office of the court clerk; however, certain records may be sealed by court rule under Rule 2.550. Additionally, the public can access electronic court records maintained by the court, both remotely and at the courthouse. Nevertheless, the right to access certain electronic records are restricted only to the courthouse. Per Rule 2.503, the Sonoma County Superior Court can grant access to these electronic court records only within court premises:

• Family records
• Juvenile records
• Mental health records
• Conservatorship and guardianship records
• Criminal records

Sonoma County Court Records Search

Performing a court record search in Sonoma County depends on the case type and category of the record. For instance, the case summaries of civil and family law cases are accessible online, though the official court files are only available in the courthouse. Requesters may visit the clerk’s office to conduct a more comprehensive search. Lastly, on-site public access information terminals, located at courthouses, provide access to electronic records with remote access restrictions.

Sonoma County Court Records Search by Name

In Sonoma County, searching court records by name is one way to access case information on the Sonoma Superior Court’s Odyssey Portal. To perform this search, the user is required to select the “smart search” and provide the first, middle, and last names of the party involved in the case.

Sonoma County Courts

The Sonoma County court system comprises only the Superior Court of Sonoma County. The Superior Court is responsible for maintaining the rule of law and providing fair and timely justice within the county. Furthermore, this court accomplishes its duties through several court divisions, namely: Family Law Division, Criminal Division, Civil Division, Probate Division, Juvenile Division, Small Claims Division, and Traffic Division.

Within Santa Rosa, the Superior Court operates across multiple locations. Each location focuses on specific areas of law, allowing for effective management of the county’s legal workload. Below is an outline of the Sonoma Superior Court locations:

Civil and Family Law Courthouse
3055 Cleveland Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 521-6500

Empire College Annex
3035 Cleveland Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 521-6500

Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 521-6500

Juvenile Justice Center
7425 Rancho Los Guilicos Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Juvenile Delinquency Court: (707) 521-6700

Sonoma County Superior Court Case Search

The Sonoma Superior Court handles a wide range of legal matters within the county. Cases relating to violations of criminal law are heard in the court’s Criminal Division. The Civil Division, on the other hand, focuses on legal disputes between two individuals. Furthermore, the Superior Court also handles family law cases, juvenile delinquency matters, juvenile dependency, probate matters, city ordinance violations, and violations of the vehicle code.

To look up a case in the Superior Court remotely, the requester may visit the website of the Sonoma County Superior Court and navigate the court case portal to access court records that are available to the public online. Superior court cases that are unavailable online but open to the public are accessible at the Office of the Superior Court Clerk.

Sonoma County Criminal Records

Sonoma County criminal records are collections of official law enforcement and judicial documents detailing individuals’ involvement with the criminal justice system. These documents include probation reports, jail records, arrest reports, and correctional facility records.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office accepts and fulfills requests for copies of crime reports by citizens of the county within 10 days. To make a request, fill out the Report/Public Records Request Form. It is important to note that there is a cost to obtaining copies. For inquiries about the applicable fee, contact the Sheriff’s Records by e-mail at Sheriff-CIB@sonoma-county.org or by phone at (707) 565-2204.

Sonoma County Criminal Court Case Lookup

There are two ways to perform a criminal court case lookup in Sonoma County. First, the requester can use the public access terminals available in Room 107J and Room 105-J of the Hall of Justice. The fee for using these terminals is $15 per case after 10 minutes. Alternatively, the website of the Sonoma County District Attorney permits anyone to search for the records of any criminal case through the Witness & Victim Criminal Case Lookup tool if they provide a criminal court case number, a district attorney case number, or a police report case number.

Get Sonoma County Civil Court Records

Sonoma County civil court records are the official documents associated with cases filed in the Civil Division of the county’s Superior Court. These records are maintained by the division and are generated from lawsuits usually involving one of the following:

• Recovery of property or money
• Collection of damages for personal injury
• Protection of civil rights
• Enforcement of contracts

An individual seeking civil court records in Sonoma County may find the summary of their desired case on the Superior Court’s Odyssey Portal. Locate the “smart search” button and enter a case number or the names of the party involved in the case. It is recommended to use the on-site public access terminals at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse for detailed research and access to official court records.

Sonoma County Family Court Records

Family court records in Sonoma County are documents related to legal matters filed in the Family Law Division of the Sonoma County Superior Court. These records contain information pertaining to family law cases involving marriage dissolution, child custody, legal separation, family support, nullity, adoptions, and domestic violence restriction orders.

The Family Law Division permits individuals to request copies of their family court records or conduct record searches. Individuals requesting confidential records are only eligible if they are a party to the case and can provide valid photo IDs. Interested parties can fill out and submit the Family Law Case Information or Copies Request online. It is worth noting that there is an applicable fee for searching records, and requests may not be granted without payment.

Sonoma County family records are helpful in public health research for understanding trends in family dynamics and their impact on well-being. Also, these records can aid in establishing eligibility for citizenship or inheritance.

Sonoma County Marriage and Divorce Records

Sonoma County marriage and divorce records are official documents of marital unions and dissolutions concluded in the county. Marriage records may contain details such as a couple’s names, the marriage date, and the location where the marriage took place. Divorce records, on the other hand, include information on the dates of divorce filing and finalization, as well as any spousal support arrangements.

The Office of the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder maintains and provides the marriage certificates of marriages that occurred within the county. These records date back to September 23rd, 1846. While public marriage records are available to parties to the marriage, relatives, law enforcement agency officers, and persons authorized by court order, confidential marriage records are only accessible to parties to the marriage and persons authorized by court order.

There are several ways to obtain confidential and public marriage records in Sonoma County. Requestors who prefer to receive their records by mail can send a completed Application for Certified Copy of a Marriage Certificate, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a $17 fee for each requested copy (postal check or money order) to the address below:

Vital Records Division
Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder
585 Fiscal Drive
Room 103
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Alternatively, requesters may visit the office of the county clerk during office hours after completing the In-Person Marriage Certificate Application online.

On the other hand, divorce records in Sonoma County are maintained by the Family Law Division of the Superior Court. These records can be accessed by contacting the division.

Sonoma Birth and Death Records

Sonoma County birth and death records are documents that contain the details of births and deaths occurring within the county. Maintained by the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder, these records are important due to their usefulness in maintaining historical connections and tracing family lineage. Also, they serve as tools for allocating benefits and social services within the county.

According to the California Health Safety Code, Section 103525, copies of birth and death records are accessible to the public upon request and payment of the applicable fees. However, Section 103526 establishes that unauthorized persons may only be issued certified informational copies of birth and death records. Certified copies of these records are issued only to authorized persons, including:

• Registrants (for birth records)
• Parents
• Legal guardians
• Grandchildren
• Grandparents
• Children
• Spouses
• Siblings
• Domestic partners
• Authorized law enforcement agents
• Persons authorized by a court order
• Attorneys representing the registrants

The website of the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder provides detailed information on how to order birth certificates and death certificates, including the criteria for obtaining these records.

Sonoma County Probate Court Records

Sonoma County probate court records are maintained by the Probate Division of the Sonoma County Superior Court. These records are primarily generated from the orderly disposition of a deceased person’s personal and real property. Other types of cases from which probate court records are created include:

• Mental health commitment
• Guardianship and conservatorship appointments for minors and incapacitated persons
• Trust Administration
• Will validity contests

Accessibility to probate court records in Sonoma County depends on the age of the records. For example, the Probate Division can provide more recent records by completing the Probate Case Information or Copies Request and paying the applicable fees.

The best method to obtain older probate court records, especially records filed before 1984, is to contact the Archived Records Division. The requester will be required to provide sufficient details, such as the party names and the year the case was filed. The Archived Records Division is located at:

Hall of Justice
Archived Records Department
600 Administration Drive
Room 110-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Sonoma County Property Records

Sonoma County property records are official documents establishing the legality and provenance of real estate properties in the county. These records contain information such as the names of the current and previous owners, addresses, locations, and parcel numbers ( unique identifiers linked to the property). Additionally, property records contain other details related to transaction histories, tax information, mortgages, liens, survey records, occupancy statuses, and the physical characteristics of lands.

The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder’s Office also functions as the Assessor's office. This means that property assessments and property records are maintained in the same location. Depending on the information needed, property records may be accessible online or in the Assessor’s Office. Information such as land value, net value, improvement value, personal property value, and lot size are accessible online by providing a street number or parcel number. If your interest is to confirm the current assessed owner of record for a property, you may send an email to the office.

For information not accessible online, you can visit the office during business hours to use the assessor’s computerized property data system at a designated public kiosk. This is helpful if you have the street number, parcel number, or owner’s name.

Sonoma County Court Records Online

Sonoma County residents can save time and effort by using third-party online resources such as californiacourtrecords.us to search court records. These resources offer centralized access to a vast collection of court records and provide quicker results than visiting the courthouse in person. However, it is important to know that such resources may contain outdated information while some may require a paid subscription to access them.