Alameda County Divorce Records
Alameda County divorce records are stored at the Superior Court in Oakland. All cases filed in this county go through the same court system no matter if you live in Fremont, Hayward, or Berkeley. The court keeps the full case file with all papers from start to finish. When you search for a divorce record here, you can find the petition, response, financial papers, settlement agreements, and the final decree. Most recent cases show up in the online portal. Older cases may need a trip to the courthouse or a call to the clerk. The court clerk can help you get certified copies or just plain copies of the documents you need.
Where to Find Records
The main clerk office sits at 2233 Shoreline Drive in Alameda. They handle all county records. Call them at (510) 891-6005. Office hours run from 8:30 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon on weekdays. If you have questions about a family law case, contact the Hayward Hall of Justice at (510) 690-2702. This office deals with divorce and custody matters directly.
Alameda County uses two online portals. The older eCourt portal and the newer Odyssey public portal both let you search for cases by name or number. Some case files are available to view. Others show just a list of what was filed. You cannot see everything online. Sealed documents and some financial records stay private even in the public portal. If you need those papers, visit the courthouse in person or send a written request by mail.
The court website is alameda.courts.ca.gov. Look under records to find info on how to request copies. The public portal is at publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov. Use that to search for free. You do not need an account to search but some features require you to sign up.
Costs and Fees
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 in Alameda County. That is the standard fee set by state law under California Government Code Section 70674. Plain copies without a seal cost $0.50 per page. If you want other documents certified, the fee is $40 plus $0.50 per page.
The clerk may charge an off-site retrieval fee of $10 if they have to get your file from storage. Older cases often get moved to an archive. That adds time and a small fee. If the clerk has to search for your case because you do not have a case number, and the search takes more than 10 minutes, they can charge a $15 search fee per Government Code Section 70627. Bring the case number if you have it. That saves time and money.
Getting Your Copies
You have three ways to get records. Go in person to the clerk office at 2233 Shoreline Drive. Walk in during business hours. Tell the clerk what you need. Give them both names and the year of the divorce or the case number. They can often make copies the same day if the file is on-site. If the file is off-site, they will tell you how long it takes.
Mail requests work too. Write a letter with your request. Include the case number or the names of both parties and the year filed. Say if you want plain copies or certified copies. Send a check or money order for the fees. Mail it to Alameda County Superior Court, 2233 Shoreline Dr, Alameda, CA 94501. Processing time for mail requests usually takes one to three weeks. Allow more time if the file is stored off-site.
Online searches give you basic case info but you cannot download full court documents for free. You can see the case number, filing date, and parties involved. Some portals show a docket with each filing. To get actual copies of the papers, you still need to request them from the clerk.
Note: Alameda County Superior Court provides remote access to some case information but not all family law documents can be viewed online due to privacy rules under California Court Rule 2.503.
What Divorce Files Contain
A full divorce case file has many papers. The petition starts the case. It lists what the filing party wants. The response is the answer from the other spouse. Both sides file financial disclosures. These forms list income, debts, and property. If they settle, they file a marital settlement agreement. If they go to court, there are motions, declarations, and judge orders. The final judgment is the divorce decree. That is the paper that ends the marriage and sets the terms for custody, support, and division of assets.
Most people just need a certified copy of the final judgment. Banks, employers, and government offices ask for this to prove the divorce is done. If you need other papers like the settlement agreement or custody orders, tell the clerk exactly what you want. They can pull specific documents from the file. You do not have to order the whole file unless you want everything.
Some documents in a divorce file may be sealed or confidential. Information about children gets extra protection. Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers are redacted from public copies. If a judge sealed part of the case due to domestic violence or safety concerns, you cannot get those papers without a court order.
Using the Online Portal
Alameda County provides two online systems. The eCourt portal at eportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov has been around for a while. The newer Odyssey portal at publicportal.alameda.courts.ca.gov is easier to use. Both let you search by name or case number. Type in a last name and first name. Pick the case type as family law or dissolution. Hit search and you get a list of results.
Results show the case number, parties, filing date, and case status. Click on a case to see more details. The docket lists all the filings in order by date. You can see when papers were filed and what type they are. Some documents have a link to view them. Others do not. If there is no link, the document is either sealed or not available for remote viewing. You have to go to the courthouse to see it.
Searching is free. You do not pay to look up a case. You only pay when you want copies. The portal does not charge online fees like Los Angeles County does. Alameda keeps it simple. Search for free. Order copies through the clerk if you need them.
State Divorce Laws
California law controls how divorce works in Alameda County. The state is no-fault. You file based on irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity. No one has to prove cheating or abuse. California Family Code Section 2310 sets out these grounds. Most people use irreconcilable differences.
Residency rules apply. One spouse must live in California for six months before filing. That person must also live in Alameda County for three months. If you just moved here, you wait. Family Code Section 2320 explains this. The petition must say you meet the time limits. The court may ask for proof like a lease or utility bill.
The waiting period is six months. After the petition is served on the other spouse, at least six months must pass before the judge can sign the final judgment. Family Code Section 2339 creates this rule. Even if both sides agree on everything, they still wait. The court can make temporary orders during this time for custody, support, and who stays in the house.
California divides property 50-50. All assets and debts from the marriage are community property. Each spouse gets half unless they agree to something different. Separate property belongs to the person who owned it before marriage or got it as a gift or inheritance. The court must sort out what is community and what is separate before dividing anything.
Legal Help in Alameda County
Alameda County Superior Court has a self-help center. Staff can give you forms and explain how to fill them out. They cannot give legal advice. They cannot tell you what to do in your case. But they can help you understand the process and what forms you need. Visit them at the courthouse or check the court website for hours and contact info.
The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has all the standard divorce forms. Download them for free. Instructions explain each form. Use these if you are doing your divorce without a lawyer.
Legal aid groups serve people with low income. These groups offer free help if you qualify. Contact Bay Area Legal Aid or other local groups to see if they can help with your divorce. The State Bar of California runs a lawyer referral service at 1-866-442-2529 if you want to hire a private attorney.
Major Cities in Alameda County
Residents of major cities in Alameda County all use the same Superior Court system for divorce cases. No matter where you live, you file at the county courthouse and your records are kept there.
Nearby Counties
If your divorce was filed in a different county, check that county court for records. Each California county keeps its own files.