Elk Grove Divorce Records Access

To find divorce records for Elk Grove residents, you need to contact Sacramento County Superior Court. The city does not keep divorce records. All family law cases for Elk Grove are filed at Sacramento County courthouses. The main family law location is the Family Relations Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn Road in Sacramento. This courthouse handles most divorce cases for the county. The court maintains records for all dissolution cases filed in Sacramento County. You can search for basic case information online through the county's public portal. To obtain copies of documents, you must submit a formal request and pay the required fees. A certified divorce decree costs fifteen dollars plus fifty cents per page for copies. Processing times depend on the method you use. Walk-in requests may be completed the same day if the file is available. Mail requests typically take several weeks.

Sacramento County Family Court

Elk Grove is part of Sacramento County. When someone files for divorce in Elk Grove, the case goes to Sacramento County Superior Court. The Family Relations Courthouse is at 3341 Power Inn Road in Sacramento. This building handles most family law matters for the county. You can call the main line at (916) 875-3400. The office is open from eight thirty in the morning until four in the afternoon on weekdays. If you need information about divorce records specifically, you can also call the Civil Division at (916) 874-5522.

Sacramento County has a long history of maintaining court records. The files include petitions, responses, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and final judgments. If children were involved in the divorce, the file may also have custody orders, visitation schedules, and child support orders. Most family law documents are public records. Some may be sealed or restricted by court order. The clerk will tell you what is available when you make your request.

The court stores older records in various ways. Some older files may be in off-site storage or archived. If your case is more than ten or fifteen years old, it may take extra time to locate and retrieve the file. The court does not typically charge a separate retrieval fee for off-site files, but processing may take longer. Call ahead to ask about the status of your file if you need records from an older case.

Sacramento County uses a centralized records system. This means you can request records by mail or in person at the main courthouse even if the case was originally filed at a different location. The clerk can access all county records and process your request from the Family Relations Courthouse.

Search for Elk Grove Cases Online

Sacramento County offers an online case portal at prod-portal-sacramento-ca.journaltech.com. This portal lets you search for cases by party name or case number. The system shows basic case information and a register of actions. The register lists all documents filed in the case along with the dates they were filed. This helps you understand what is in the file before you order copies.

To use the portal, enter a last name in the search box. If the name is common, you may get many results. Add a first name or narrow the date range to cut down the list. The search results show the case number, parties, filing date, and case type. Click on a case to see more details. The register of actions shows each document that was filed. For example, it might list "Petition for Dissolution" with a date. This tells you what was filed and when, but it does not let you view the actual document in most cases.

Family law documents are usually not available for online viewing in Sacramento County. You can see that they were filed, but you cannot read them on the portal. To get copies, you need to request them from the clerk. Write down the case number from your online search. Then call, mail, or visit the courthouse to ask for copies. Having the case number speeds up the process and avoids the search fee.

Costs and Processing Times

A certified divorce decree costs fifteen dollars. This is the standard fee in all California counties. The fee includes the certification and a copy of the judgment. If you need extra pages, the court charges fifty cents per page. For other documents like orders or agreements, certification costs forty dollars plus fifty cents per page for copies. Regular uncertified copies are fifty cents per page without the certification fee.

Processing time depends on how you submit your request. Walk-in requests at the courthouse may be completed the same day if the file is on-site and the staff is not too busy. Call ahead to check if same-day service is possible. The Family Relations Courthouse phone is (916) 875-3400. Mail requests typically take two to four weeks. The clerks work through requests in the order they arrive. If your file is in storage or if the case is very old, add extra time for retrieval and processing.

You can pay by check, money order, or credit card. Make checks payable to Sacramento County Superior Court. If you mail your request, include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the court can send your documents back. For in-person requests, you can pay at the counter with cash, check, or card. The clerk will give you a receipt and tell you when the documents will be ready.

Note: The filing fee for a new divorce case in Sacramento County is four hundred thirty-five dollars, but this is separate from the cost of obtaining copies of records.

How to Request Records

You can request divorce records by mail or in person. For a mail request, include these items in your letter:

• Your name and address
• Phone number or email
• Case number or both party names with year
• Description of documents you need
• Payment by check or money order
• Self-addressed stamped envelope

Mail your request to Sacramento County Superior Court, Family Relations Courthouse, 3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, CA 95826. The clerks will process your request and mail the documents back to you. If there is a problem or if they need more information, they will contact you by phone or mail. Make sure your contact info is clear and correct.

For in-person requests, visit the Family Relations Courthouse during business hours. Bring a photo ID. Tell the clerk the case number and what documents you need. If you are a party to the case, let them know. You may have easier access to your own records. Some documents may be sealed or confidential. The clerk will tell you what is available. Pay at the counter. If the file is on-site and the staff is not busy, you may get copies the same day. If the file needs to be retrieved, the clerk will tell you when to come back or will mail the documents to you.

Finding Legal Assistance

Sacramento County provides self-help services for people handling their own divorce. The Family Law Facilitator office offers free help with court forms and procedures. They can answer questions about how to fill out forms and what to expect in court. They do not give legal advice about your specific case, but they can explain the general process. You can visit the facilitator office at the Family Relations Courthouse or call for information.

Legal aid organizations serve Elk Grove and the rest of Sacramento County. Legal Services of Northern California provides free legal help to low-income residents in family law matters. They handle divorce, custody, and support cases. You must qualify based on income. Apply on their website or call their intake line. The Sacramento County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that connects you with private attorneys who offer consultations at a reduced fee.

The California courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has extensive resources for people doing their own divorce. The site includes form instructions, videos, and step-by-step guides. All California courts use the same basic forms, so this website applies to Elk Grove and every other city in the state. If you need to file or respond to a divorce, use these free resources to understand the paperwork and procedures.

Other Sacramento County Cities

Elk Grove is one of the largest cities in Sacramento County. If you need divorce records from another city in this county, check our page for Sacramento. Both cities use the same Superior Court system. For more information about the court and how to access records throughout the county, visit our Sacramento County page.