Search Calaveras County Divorce Records
Calaveras County divorce records are kept at the Superior Court in San Andreas. Every divorce case filed in this county goes through the same courthouse no matter where in the county you live. The court maintains a full file for each case with all papers from the petition through the final decree. You can search for cases online using the county case portal. This portal lets you look up cases by name or case number from home. If you need certified copies or want to view documents that are not available online, you contact the clerk office. The clerk can provide copies by mail or in person. Calaveras County uses a Tyler Technologies portal similar to other small California counties.
Court Contact Info
The courthouse is at 400 Government Center Drive in San Andreas, CA 95249. Call (209) 754-9800 to reach the clerk office. Staff can answer questions about cases, fees, and how to get copies. Business hours are weekdays. Call ahead if you plan to visit so you know the office is open.
Calaveras County has an online case portal at portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud. Use this site to search for divorce cases. Type in a name or case number. The system shows matching results. You can see the case number, parties, filing date, and status. Click on a case to view more details including a docket of all filings.
The portal is free to search. You do not pay to look up cases or view basic case info. Some documents may be available to view online but most family law papers are not shown due to privacy rules. If you need full documents, request them from the clerk. The portal is a good way to find the case number before you order copies.
How to Get Copies
Go to the courthouse in San Andreas at 400 Government Center Drive. Tell the clerk you need a divorce record. Give them the case number if you have it. If not, give both party names and the year the divorce was filed. The clerk will search the files. If they find the case, they can make copies while you wait. You pay the fees and take the copies with you. This is the fastest method.
You can also request copies by mail. Write a letter with your request. Include the case number or both names and the year. Say if you want plain copies or certified copies. List which documents you need. Send a check or money order made out to Calaveras County Superior Court. Mail it to Calaveras County Superior Court, 400 Government Center Dr, San Andreas, CA 95249. Include your return address and phone number. Processing time for mail orders usually runs one to three weeks depending on the workload.
Call first if you have questions. The clerk can tell you if the case exists and what the fees will be. That way you know before you send money or make a trip to the courthouse. Have the case number or party names ready when you call so they can look it up quickly.
Fees for Records
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15. This is the state standard fee under California Government Code Section 70674. The fee includes certification and the pages. Plain copies without a seal cost $0.50 per page. If you need other documents certified, the fee is $40 plus $0.50 per page per Government Code Section 70626.
If the clerk has to search for your case by name and it takes more than 10 minutes, they may charge a $15 search fee under Government Code Section 70627. You can avoid this fee by bringing the case number. Search the online portal first to find the case number before you request copies. That saves you time and money.
Documents in a Divorce Case
A divorce file contains all papers from the case. The petition is the first filing. It starts the case and says what the filing party wants. The other spouse files a response. Both sides must file financial disclosure forms. These list income, property, and debts. If they settle, they file a marital settlement agreement. If they go to trial, the file has motions, declarations, and orders from the judge. The final judgment is the divorce decree. This court order ends the marriage and sets terms for custody, support, and property division.
Most people only need a certified copy of the final judgment. That is the paper that proves the divorce is done. Banks, employers, and government agencies ask for it. You can request just the judgment or you can order the whole file if you need all the documents. Tell the clerk what you want so they know what to copy.
Some documents may be sealed or confidential. Info about minor children is protected. Financial account numbers and Social Security numbers get redacted from public copies. If the court sealed the case for safety or privacy reasons, you cannot get those papers without a court order. The clerk will tell you if any documents are restricted.
Using the Online Portal
Go to portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud. Click on case search. Enter a party name. You can search by last name, first name, or both. The system searches the database and shows matching cases. Common names may return many results. Add filters like case type or year to narrow it down.
Results show in a list. Each entry has the case number, parties, filing date, and case type. Look for family law or dissolution cases. Click on a case number to see more details. The case view shows the status, assigned judge, and upcoming events. The docket tab lists every filing in the case. You can see when each paper was filed and what type it is. Some filings have a document link. Most family law documents do not show online but the docket gives you a good overview of the case timeline.
Write down the case number if you find your case. Use that number when you request copies from the clerk. It speeds up the process and helps avoid search fees. The online portal is a free tool to locate cases before you order documents.
Divorce Law in California
California allows no-fault divorce. You file based on irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity. California Family Code Section 2310 lists these grounds. Almost everyone files under irreconcilable differences. That means the marriage cannot be saved. You do not have to prove fault or wrongdoing. The court grants the divorce without asking what went wrong.
Residency rules apply before you can file. One spouse must live in California for six months. That person must also live in Calaveras County for three months. Family Code Section 2320 sets these requirements. Your petition must state that you meet the time limits. The court may ask for proof like a lease or utility bills showing a Calaveras County address.
A six-month waiting period applies after you serve the petition. The divorce cannot be final until at least six months pass. Family Code Section 2339 creates this rule. Even if both sides agree on all terms, the judge must wait six months to sign the final judgment. The court can make temporary orders during the wait for custody, support, and use of the home.
California divides property 50-50. All assets and debts from the marriage are community property. Each spouse gets half unless they agree to a different split. Separate property belongs to the person who owned it before marriage or got it as a gift or inheritance. The court decides what is community and what is separate before dividing anything. Calaveras County follows the same community property rules as the rest of California.
Getting Help with Your Case
Calaveras County Superior Court has staff who can help with forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice. They cannot tell you what to do in your case. But they can explain how to fill out forms and what steps to follow. Call or visit the court to ask for help. The clerk can point you to the right forms and tell you where to file them.
The California Courts self-help site at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has all the standard divorce forms. Download them for free. Each form has instructions. These forms work in Calaveras County and all other California counties. The state uses the same basic forms everywhere.
If you need a lawyer, the State Bar of California runs a referral service at 1-866-442-2529. They connect you with a family law attorney in your area. Legal aid groups help people with low income. Contact a local legal aid office to see if you qualify for free or low-cost legal help.
Nearby Counties
If your divorce was filed in a different county, contact that county Superior Court for records.