Moreno Valley Divorce Records

Residents of Moreno Valley file divorce cases at the Riverside County Superior Court. The Family Law Courthouse at 4175 Main Street in Riverside handles all divorce filings for the county. Cases get assigned a case number at filing and then move through the court system. You can search for Moreno Valley divorce records through the county online portal or by going to the courthouse. The court stores files that contain petitions, responses, financial forms, settlement papers, and the final judgment. Most recent cases show up in the online system. Older files from before the digital switch may need an in-person visit or a written request to the clerk. Riverside County keeps divorce records going back many decades. The standard fee to get a certified copy of a divorce decree is fifteen dollars. Extra pages cost fifty cents each. If you need the court to pull a file from storage, that may add time to your request.

Riverside County Family Court

All divorce cases for Moreno Valley go through Riverside County Superior Court. The main Family Law Courthouse sits in downtown Riverside at 4175 Main Street. This courthouse has the Family Law Division, where staff handle all dissolution cases for the entire county. Phone support is open from 7:30 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. Call (951) 777-3147 for help with family law matters. The building includes clerks who can help with filing, records requests, and general questions about your case.

Moreno Valley has its own courthouse at 13800 Heacock Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92553. This location handles some court hearings but the main filing and records office for family law stays in Riverside. If your case has a hearing set in Moreno Valley, the judge may hold the session at this branch. But to get copies of records or file new papers, you need to work with the Riverside Family Law Courthouse.

The Family Law Division deals with all types of family cases. This means divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, child support, spousal support, and domestic violence restraining orders. Staff at the courthouse can tell you what forms to use. They can also explain the steps in a divorce case. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your specific case. For legal help, you may want to talk to a lawyer or use the court self-help center.

Search Divorce Records Online

Riverside County offers an online case portal at epublic-access.riverside.courts.ca.gov. You can use this portal to search for divorce cases by name or case number. The system works best if you have both the first and last name of one party. You may also want to know the year the case was filed. This helps narrow down results if the name is common.

When you search by name, the portal shows a list of cases that match. Click on a case number to see the Register of Actions. This is a list of all filings and court events in that case. You can see dates when papers were filed, when hearings took place, and when the judgment was entered. Some documents may be available for viewing or download depending on the case type and date. Family law cases have limits on what the public can see. Certain financial forms and custody evaluations stay sealed.

If you need a certified copy of the divorce decree, the online portal may let you order it. Riverside County charges fees for online searches and document downloads. A single name search costs one dollar. You can buy search packages for more searches at a lower rate per search. Five searches cost $3.50. Ten searches cost five dollars. Seventy-five searches cost twenty-five dollars. If you search often, you can get unlimited searches for thirty days for $250.

Documents that you download from the portal are usually not certified. A certified copy has the court seal and the clerk signature. You need a certified copy for official purposes like name changes, remarriage, or government applications. To get a certified copy, you need to request it from the court clerk. You can do this in person, by mail, or sometimes through the online system.

Get Records In Person or By Mail

Going to the courthouse in person is often the fastest way to get a divorce decree. Walk up to the records window at the Family Law Courthouse and fill out a request form. Bring the case number if you have it. If you only have names and the approximate year, the clerk can look it up. The clerk will tell you the cost and may be able to print your copy right away. If the file is stored off-site, it can take extra time to retrieve. Some older files are at a storage facility and need a few days or weeks to get back to the courthouse.

You can also send a mail request. Write a letter that includes the full names of both parties, the case number if known, and the year the divorce was filed or finalized. Say clearly that you want a certified copy of the divorce decree. Include a check or money order for fifteen dollars made out to Riverside Superior Court. Add extra money if you think the decree is more than a few pages. Each extra page is fifty cents. Send your letter to: Riverside County Superior Court, Family Law Courthouse, 4175 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501. Mail requests usually take a few weeks. The clerk will process your request and mail the documents to you.

The court accepts cash, checks, money orders, and cards at the in-person window. For mail requests, send a check or money order only. Do not mail cash. If the court cannot find the case, they will return your check. If they find it but the cost is different than what you sent, they may call or write to ask for more money.

Processing times can vary. During busy times, the clerk may have a backlog. Budget at least two to four weeks for a mail request. In-person requests are usually same-day or next-day unless the file is off-site. If you need the record urgently, call ahead to ask if the file is on-site and how long it will take.

California Divorce Laws

California law sets the rules for divorce. To file in California, one spouse must live in the state for at least six months. That same person must live in the county where they file for at least three months. This residency rule is in California Family Code Section 2320. If you moved to Moreno Valley recently, you need to wait until you meet the time requirement before you can file in Riverside County.

California is a no-fault divorce state. The law allows divorce for two reasons. The first is irreconcilable differences. This means the marriage cannot be fixed. The second is incurable insanity. Most cases use irreconcilable differences. You do not have to prove wrongdoing or blame. You just state that you and your spouse cannot get along. This is covered in Family Code Section 2310.

After the court enters a judgment of dissolution, you must wait six months before the divorce is final. This waiting period starts from the date the respondent was served with the divorce papers. The six-month rule is in Family Code Section 2339. Once the six months pass and the judgment is signed, both parties are officially unmarried. They can remarry if they want.

Divorce records in California are generally public. Anyone can request a copy of a divorce decree from the court. Some parts of the file may be sealed or confidential. For example, child custody evaluations and certain financial documents may not be available to the public. But the basic fact that a divorce happened and the final judgment are public records.

Forms and Filing Fees

To start a divorce in Riverside County, you file a petition with the court. The main form is FL-100, Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. You also file FL-110, Summons, and other required forms. All California courts use the same statewide forms. You can get forms from the court website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-forms or from the clerk office in person. The forms are free to download and print.

The filing fee to start a divorce case in California is $435 to $450 depending on the county. Riverside County charges the standard amount. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver. Fill out form FW-001, Request to Waive Court Fees. The court will look at your income and expenses. If you qualify, the court waives most or all fees. You may also get a partial waiver if you can pay some but not all.

After you file the petition, you must serve the other party. This means giving them official notice of the case. You cannot serve the papers yourself. You need someone over 18 who is not part of the case to deliver the papers. Or you can use a professional process server or the sheriff. There is a fee if you use the sheriff. A private process server sets their own rate. Once the papers are served, the person who served them fills out a Proof of Service form and files it with the court.

The respondent has thirty days to file a response. If they do not respond, you can ask for a default. A default means the court can move forward without their input. If both parties agree on all issues, you can file a stipulated judgment. This speeds up the process. If you disagree, you may need a trial. Most cases settle before trial through negotiation or mediation.

• Petition form (FL-100) to start the case
• Summons form (FL-110) to notify the other party
• Response form (FL-120) for the respondent
• Financial disclosure forms to share income and assets
• Judgment form (FL-180) to finalize the divorce

Note: New in 2026, California added form FL-700, Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution, for simple cases where both parties agree on everything.

Free Legal Help

Riverside County has a Family Law Facilitator office. This office provides free help with child support and some other family law issues. They can help you understand forms and court procedures. They do not represent you in court. They also do not handle every type of case. Call the Family Law Facilitator to ask if they can help with your situation.

The court also has a self-help center. Staff at the self-help center can explain how to fill out forms. They can tell you what steps to take. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to say in court. The self-help center is a good place to start if you do not have a lawyer and need basic guidance.

If you need a lawyer but cannot afford one, contact Legal Aid. Inland Counties Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents in Riverside County. They handle some family law cases. Call to see if you qualify. There are also lawyer referral services through the Riverside County Bar Association. These services can connect you with an attorney who charges a reduced rate for the first consultation.

Many people represent themselves in divorce cases. This is called appearing pro per or in propria persona. California law allows you to handle your own case. The court provides forms and instructions. You are responsible for following the rules and deadlines. If you are not sure what to do, ask the self-help center or talk to a lawyer for advice.