Find Santa Clara Divorce Records
People in Santa Clara file divorce cases with the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The county court system handles all family law matters including divorce, legal separation, and annulment. Santa Clara County uses an online portal where you can search for divorce cases by name or case number. The portal shows basic case information but does not display full documents for family law cases. If you need certified copies of a divorce decree or other court papers, you can request them through the court clerk. The main courthouse is in San Jose but the court serves all cities in the county. You can search records online from home or visit a courthouse location to request copies in person.
Where to Search
Santa Clara County Superior Court keeps all divorce records for the city of Santa Clara. The court has multiple locations but the main courthouse is in San Jose. Every divorce filed in Santa Clara goes into the county court system no matter which courthouse you file at. All the records are connected through the same computer database. You can search that database online at portal.scscourt.org/search.
The online portal lets you look up cases by party name, case number, or attorney name. Type in the last name of one spouse and hit search. The system will show all matching cases. You can filter by case type to see only family law cases. Each result shows the case number, filing date, and current status. Click on a case to see more details like the list of documents filed and upcoming court dates.
This portal does not show full documents. You can see that a petition was filed or that a judgment was entered, but you cannot view the actual papers online. California court rules limit online access to family law documents to protect privacy. To get copies of documents, you need to contact the court clerk.
For email requests, send your inquiry to familylaw@scscourt.org. Include the case number if you have it, the names of both parties, and what documents you need. The clerk will respond with instructions on how to pay and how long it will take to process your request.
How to Get Copies
You can request copies by mail, email, or in person. For mail requests, write to Santa Clara County Superior Court and include the case number, both party names, and a description of what you need. Send a check or money order for the fees. The standard fee for a certified divorce decree is $15. Copies of other documents cost $0.50 per page plus a $40 certification fee if you need them certified.
In-person requests are faster. Go to the courthouse during business hours. Tell the clerk you need a copy of a divorce decree and give them the case number or the names of the parties. If the file is available on site, they can make copies while you wait. Some older files are stored off-site and take extra time to retrieve.
Processing times vary. Current cases with files on site can be handled quickly. Older cases may take days or weeks if the file needs to be pulled from storage. The court does not guarantee turnaround times but most requests are completed within a few weeks.
Divorce Filing Process
To file for divorce in Santa Clara, you or your spouse must have lived in California for at least six months and in Santa Clara County for at least three months. These are the residency requirements under California law. You file a petition for dissolution of marriage along with a summons. Both forms are available on the California courts website.
The filing fee is around $435 to $450 depending on the type of case. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver by filling out a form and showing your income. The court will review your request and decide if you qualify. Once you file the petition, you must serve your spouse with a copy. Service can be done by mail, in person, or through a process server. Your spouse has 30 days to respond.
California has a six-month waiting period before a divorce can be finalized. This means at least six months must pass from the date your spouse is served until the court can enter the final judgment. Even if you and your spouse agree on everything, you still have to wait. The judgment becomes final once the judge signs it. After that, you can request a certified copy of the divorce decree from the court clerk.
What Records Are Available
The court file for a divorce case includes many documents. The petition starts the case. It lists what the person filing wants, such as division of property, child custody, or spousal support. The response is what the other spouse files. Financial disclosures show income, expenses, assets, and debts. Settlement agreements outline how the parties will divide things. The final judgment is the court order that ends the marriage.
Some documents in a divorce file may be sealed or confidential. Child custody evaluations are often sealed. Financial records might have redactions. Domestic violence restraining orders can have limited access. When you request records, the court provides what is available to the public. If you are not a party to the case, you may not get everything in the file. The divorce decree itself is public and anyone can get a copy.
Using the Online Portal
The Santa Clara County portal at portal.scscourt.org/search is free to use. You do not need an account to search. Just go to the site and select the search type. Party name search is most common. Enter the last name in the required field. You can add a first name to narrow results. The system searches all case types by default, so you might see criminal or civil cases along with family law. Use the case type filter to show only dissolution cases.
If you know the case number, use the case number search. This is faster and more accurate. Case numbers in Santa Clara County usually start with letters followed by numbers. Type in the full case number and hit search. The system will pull up that specific case.
The case details page shows a register of actions. This is a list of every filing in the case. Each entry has a date, a document type, and sometimes a brief description. You can see when the petition was filed, when the response came in, when hearings were held, and when the judgment was entered. This timeline helps you understand the case history. Note that you cannot download documents from this page. You must request copies separately.
Court Locations
Santa Clara County has several courthouse locations. The main courthouse is in San Jose. There are also courthouses in Palo Alto, Morgan Hill, and other cities. Family law cases can be filed at different locations depending on where you live. Once a case is filed, the records are stored by the court clerk and are accessible through any courthouse in the county.
If you need to visit a courthouse in person, check the hours first. Most courthouses are open from 8am to 4pm on weekdays. Some close for lunch. Call ahead to make sure the office you need is open. You can find courthouse addresses and phone numbers on the court website at scscourt.org.
Recent Changes
Starting January 1, 2026, California law allows people to photograph court records at the courthouse. This change came from Assembly Bill 1524. Before this law, you could only get copies from the clerk. Now you can bring a phone or camera and take pictures of documents while you review them. This can save money on copy fees. Check with the clerk about the rules for photographing records. Some restrictions may still apply to certain types of documents.
Fees and Payment
Santa Clara County follows the standard fee schedule set by California law. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $15. This includes the certificate and any pages that are part of the judgment. Copies of other documents are $0.50 per page. If you want them certified, add $40. Search fees are $15 if the clerk has to spend more than 10 minutes looking for the case.
The court accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards. Make checks payable to Santa Clara County Superior Court. If you mail a request, include payment with your letter. If the court cannot find the record, they will return your payment. Do not send cash through the mail.
Contact the Court
For questions about divorce records in Santa Clara, email familylaw@scscourt.org. You can also call the court during business hours. The main number connects you to different departments. Ask for family law records or the clerk's office. Court staff can tell you how to request copies, what fees apply, and how long it will take. They cannot give legal advice but they can explain the process.
The court website at scscourt.org has forms, instructions, and links to the online portal. You can find information about filing fees, court rules, and where to get help with your case. The website also lists legal aid organizations that offer free assistance to people who qualify.