Pasadena Divorce Records
Pasadena is part of Los Angeles County, so all divorce records for Pasadena residents are filed and kept at Los Angeles County Superior Court. The city has its own courthouse, the Pasadena Courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street. This courthouse handles many types of cases including some family law matters. For divorce records, the main Family Law Clerk Office is at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. That office is in Room 426 on the fourth floor at 111 North Hill Street. Call (213) 633-6363 for family law clerk questions. The Family Law Files office is in Room 112 on the first floor. Call (213) 830-0803 for records. Hours are 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. Los Angeles County has online portals where you can search for divorce cases. The Divorce Judgments portal at lacourt.org/ldosv2 lets you search by name or case number. Guest users pay $4.75 per name search. Registered users pay one dollar for the first ten searches. Document downloads cost one dollar per page for the first five pages and forty cents per page after that, up to a max of forty dollars per document.
Pasadena Divorce Records
Los Angeles County Court System
Los Angeles County operates the largest court system in California with courthouses across the county. Pasadena has its own courthouse at 300 East Walnut Street. This building handles civil, criminal, and some family law cases. For family law matters, cases may be filed and heard in Pasadena or at the main Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in Los Angeles is the main family law center for the county. The Family Law Clerk Office is in Room 426 on the fourth floor. Call (213) 633-6363. Family Law Filing is (213) 830-0830. Family Law Files are in Room 112 on the first floor. Call (213) 830-0803. These offices handle filing, records, and general questions about family law cases.
The Archives and Records Center is at 222 North Hill Street in Room 212. Call (213) 830-0803. This office stores older files. If you need a divorce record from many years ago, contact the Archives. The Certification Unit is at 111 North Hill Street in Room 112C. This is where you get certified copies in person.
When you file for divorce in Pasadena, the case goes into the Los Angeles County system. You get a case number. The case may be assigned to Pasadena or another courthouse. All documents you file become part of the permanent court record. The court keeps these files indefinitely. You can search for cases online or request copies from the clerk.
Search Divorce Cases Online
Los Angeles County has multiple online portals for case searches. The Divorce Judgments portal at lacourt.org/ldosv2 is specifically for divorce cases. You can search by party name or case number. The portal shows basic case info and judgment details. This is a good place to start if you know you are looking for a divorce case.
The Online Services portal at lacourt.org/paos/v2public covers all case types including family law. LA Court Connect at lacc.lacourt.org is another search option. All three portals pull from the same database so you should find the same cases in any of them.
The online system has family law cases from 1983 to the present. Document images are available starting May 1, 2000. You can search for free as a guest but downloading documents costs money. A name search costs $4.75 for guest users. If you register for an account, the first ten searches cost one dollar each. After that, fees increase.
Documents cost one dollar per page for the first five pages. Pages six and up cost forty cents each. The max charge is forty dollars per document. This means even a long divorce decree will not cost more than forty dollars to download.
To search, enter the last name and first name of one party. If you have the case number, enter that instead. The system shows matching cases. Click on a case to see the Register of Actions. This is a timeline of all filings and events. Some documents may be available to view or download. Family law cases have privacy rules. Financial forms and custody reports are usually not available to the public.
Request Certified Copies
A certified copy has the court seal and clerk signature. You need this for official uses like remarriage or name changes. To get a certified copy in person, go to the Certification Unit at 111 North Hill Street in Room 112C in downtown Los Angeles. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, bring the names of both parties and the year the divorce was filed or finalized.
Tell the clerk you need a certified copy of the divorce decree. The clerk will look up the case and tell you the fee. In-person certified copies cost twenty-five dollars per document. This is higher than most other California counties. Pay at the counter with cash, check, or card. If the file is on-site, the clerk may be able to provide your copy the same day. If the file is archived, it may take longer.
For mail requests, write a letter with the case number or party names and approximate date. Say you want a certified copy of the divorce decree. Include a check or money order made out to Los Angeles Superior Court. Check the court website for current fees as they may differ from in-person fees. Mail to: Los Angeles Superior Court, Archives and Records Center, 222 North Hill Street, Room 212, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Do not send cash. The court will process your request and mail the copy to you. Allow several weeks for processing.
You may also be able to order certified copies through the online portal and have them mailed to you. Check the portal for options and fees. Online ordering can be convenient if you do not want to visit the courthouse in person.
California Divorce Requirements
To file for divorce in California, one spouse must live in the state for six months. The same person must live in the county where they file for three months. Family Code Section 2320 sets this residency rule. If you just moved to Pasadena, wait until you meet the time requirement before filing in Los Angeles County.
California is a no-fault state. You do not need to prove your spouse did anything wrong. You just state there are irreconcilable differences. This means the marriage is broken and cannot be saved. Family Code Section 2310 lists the two grounds for divorce. Irreconcilable differences is what most people use. The other is incurable insanity, which is rarely used.
Once the court enters a judgment, you must wait six months before the divorce is final. The six months start from when the respondent was served with the divorce papers. After six months pass and the judge signs the judgment, the divorce is complete. Both parties are single and can remarry. Family Code Section 2339 explains the waiting period.
Divorce records are public in California. Anyone can request a copy of a divorce decree. Some documents may be sealed like financial disclosures or custody evaluations. But the basic fact of the divorce and the final judgment are open records.
How to Start a Divorce Case
To file for divorce in Los Angeles County, fill out form FL-100, Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and form FL-110, Summons. You can get these forms at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-forms. All California courts use the same forms. Download and print them for free. The filing fee is around $435 to $450. If you cannot afford it, fill out form FW-001 to request a fee waiver. The court looks at your income and expenses and may waive all or part of the fee.
After you file, you must serve the other party. Someone over 18 who is not part of the case must deliver the papers. You can hire a process server or use the sheriff. The person who serves the papers fills out a Proof of Service form. You file this with the court to show that service happened.
The other party has thirty days to respond. If they do not respond, you can ask for a default. If both parties agree on all issues, you can file a stipulated judgment. If you disagree, you may need mediation or a trial. Most cases settle before trial.
- FL-100 Petition to start the case
- FL-110 Summons for the other party
- FL-120 Response form
- Financial disclosure documents
- FL-180 Judgment to finalize the divorce
Free Legal Help
Los Angeles County has a Family Law Facilitator office that provides free help with child support and other family law issues. They can explain forms and procedures. They do not represent you in court. The court also has a self-help center where staff can answer questions about the process. They cannot give legal advice but they can guide you through forms and steps.
If you need a lawyer but cannot afford one, contact Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. They help low-income people with family law cases. Call to see if you qualify. The Los Angeles County Bar Association also offers a lawyer referral service. You can get connected with an attorney for a reduced-rate consultation.
Many people in California represent themselves in divorce cases. This is allowed by law. The court provides forms and instructions. You must follow all rules and deadlines. If you get stuck or have questions, ask the self-help center or consult a lawyer. Some lawyers offer limited scope services where they help with part of your case while you handle the rest yourself.