Sacramento Divorce Records

Divorce records for Sacramento residents are stored at the Sacramento County Superior Court. The court has a dedicated Family Relations Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn Road that processes all divorce and family law cases in the city. When someone files for divorce in Sacramento, the paperwork goes through this courthouse. You can search for divorce cases online through the county's public portal. The system shows case numbers, parties, and filing dates. Full documents are not available for download due to privacy protections in California law. To get certified copies of a divorce decree or other filings, you need to contact the clerk's office by phone, mail, or in-person visit. The court maintains records permanently, though older files may be stored off-site and take longer to retrieve.

Where to File and Find Records

Sacramento is the county seat of Sacramento County. All family law matters in the city go through the county Superior Court. The Family Relations Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, CA 95826, handles divorce filings and other family law cases. You can reach the courthouse at 916-875-3400. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. For divorce records specifically, contact the Civil Division at 916-874-5522. They can help you request copies of divorce decrees and other court documents.

Sacramento County has an online case portal at prod-portal-sacramento-ca.journaltech.com. This system lets you search for cases by party name or case number. The search is free. You can view basic case info including the parties, case type, filing date, and a list of documents on file. However, California Rules of Court 2.503 limit what you can see in family law cases. Most divorce documents cannot be viewed or downloaded remotely due to privacy concerns. You will see the docket but not the actual papers. To get copies, you must contact the clerk or go to the courthouse.

The court charges standard California fees. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 under Government Code Section 70674. This fee includes the entire judgment no matter how many pages. If you need other documents certified, the court charges $40 for certification plus $0.50 per page for copies. Payments can be made by cash, check, or money order at the courthouse. Some services accept credit cards with a processing fee.

Filing for Divorce in Sacramento

To file for divorce in Sacramento, you must meet California's residency requirements. You need to live in the state for at least six months and in Sacramento County for at least three months before filing. This is per California Family Code Section 2320. Once you meet residency, you can file at the Family Relations Courthouse. The filing fee is $435 to $450 depending on the type of case. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for a waiver using form FW-001.

California uses statewide divorce forms. Form FL-100 is the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Form FL-110 is the Summons. These start your case. After filing, you must serve copies on your spouse. The spouse then has 30 days to file a Response using form FL-120. If your marriage was short, you have no children, limited property, and both spouses agree, you might qualify for summary dissolution using form FL-700. This is a simpler process with fewer forms.

All divorces require financial disclosures. Both parties must complete form FL-140, the Declaration of Disclosure, and form FL-142, the Schedule of Assets and Debts. These forms list income, expenses, property, and debts. You serve these on the other party even if you agree on everything. The court uses this information to approve settlements or make decisions about property and support.

California law requires a six-month waiting period before a divorce can become final. The time runs from the date your spouse was served with the Summons and Petition. Even if you file an uncontested case and agree on all terms, the court will not issue a final judgment until six months have passed. This rule is in Family Code Section 2339. Most divorces take longer than six months due to paperwork, negotiations, or court schedules. Once the judgment is signed and filed, it becomes part of the permanent court record.

How to Obtain Divorce Records

To get a copy of a Sacramento divorce decree, you can visit the Family Relations Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn Road. Bring photo ID and the case number if you have it. If you do not know the case number, provide both party names and the approximate year of the divorce. The clerk can search for the case. For recent cases, you may get copies the same day. Older files in off-site storage may take several days to retrieve.

You can also request records by mail. Write to Sacramento County Superior Court, Civil Division, 720 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Include the case number or the names of both parties and the year the divorce was filed. Send a check or money order for $15 payable to Sacramento Superior Court for a certified divorce decree. If you need additional documents, add $40 per document for certification plus copy fees. Provide your return address and a phone number. Processing time for mail requests varies from one to four weeks depending on the court's workload and whether the file is on-site or in storage.

Only certain people can get copies of divorce records. The two parties in the case can always obtain their own records. Attorneys representing either party can get copies. Other people may need to show a legal interest or provide a court order. The clerk will ask for identification to verify who you are. California law protects privacy in family law cases while allowing appropriate public access to court records.

Legal Assistance in Sacramento

Sacramento County Superior Court offers free help through its Family Law Facilitator program. The facilitator can answer questions about forms, explain procedures, and review your paperwork. They cannot give legal advice or represent you in court, but they can help you understand the process and make sure your forms are complete. Call the courthouse at 916-875-3400 and ask for the Family Law Facilitator.

Legal Services of Northern California provides free legal help to low-income residents of Sacramento County. They handle family law cases including divorce, custody, and support. To see if you qualify, visit lsnc.net or call their office for an intake appointment. They can assist with paperwork, negotiations, and court representation if you meet income guidelines.

The Sacramento County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with local attorneys who practice family law. Many lawyers offer reduced-rate initial consultations. You can hire a lawyer for your entire case or use limited-scope representation where the lawyer handles specific tasks while you do the rest yourself. This is sometimes called unbundled services.

The California Courts Self-Help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has comprehensive guides for every step of the divorce process. You can find instructions on filing, serving papers, responding to petitions, and attending court hearings. All divorce forms are available for free download. The site also has videos and FAQs that explain California family law in plain language. Sacramento County also has a divorce roadmap on its court website that walks you through the local process.

Additional Information and Resources

For divorces that occurred between 1962 and June 1984, the California Department of Public Health has a Certificate of Record. This is not the actual divorce decree but a short document showing the divorce happened. It includes the names of both parties, the county, the filing date, and the case number. The fee is $18 per copy and processing can take many months. CDPH does not have any records for divorces after June 1984. You can get the application form at cdph.ca.gov.

Sacramento is the state capital and home to many state agencies. If you have questions about California family law statutes, you can visit the California Legislative Information website at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The site has the full text of the California Family Code, Government Code, and other laws related to divorce. You can search by code section number or keyword.

After your divorce is final, you may need to update your records with various agencies. If you changed your name, notify the Social Security Administration and the California DMV. Update your name on bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, and property titles. The court does not automatically send your divorce decree to these agencies. You must provide certified copies yourself. It helps to get several certified copies when you first order your decree so you have them for future use.

Sacramento County keeps divorce records permanently. Even very old cases remain on file, though they may be in off-site storage. If you need a divorce record from many years ago, contact the court and provide as much information as you can. The clerk can search historical records, but it may take extra time to locate and retrieve files from decades past.