Find Fresno County Divorce Records

Fresno County holds divorce records dating back to 1860. The Superior Court keeps all dissolution files at two main locations. The Family Law division is at 1130 O Street on the second floor in downtown Fresno. The Archives office at 1963 E Street stores older cases and handles special record requests. You can search for many cases online through the county public portal. The system shows case info for filings from recent decades. If you need certified copies of divorce decrees or full case files, contact the Family Law clerk at 559-457-1700. The Archives office can be reached at 559-457-4903. Fresno is the fifth largest county in California by population. The court system processes thousands of family law cases each year. Records are well organized but older files may take extra time to retrieve. Processing can vary from same day service for in-person requests to several weeks for mailed orders.

Fresno Superior Court Records

The Family Law division of Fresno Superior Court is at 1130 O Street, 2nd Floor, Fresno, CA 93721. Call 559-457-1700 for questions about current or recent divorce cases. This office handles all active family law matters. The clerk staff can search for cases, issue certified copies, and help you understand what documents are in the file. Most people go here first when they need divorce records from the last 20 years. The clerk counter is open during business hours. You can walk in and ask for help or send your request by mail.

The Archives office is at 1963 E Street, Fresno, CA 93706. Phone number is 559-457-4903. This office keeps older records and special files. Hours are Monday through Thursday 8am to 3pm and Friday 8am to 12pm. If your divorce case is from many decades ago, the Archives may have the file. The staff can search older indexes and pull paper files. Some very old cases are on microfiche or in storage boxes. The Archives can make copies and certify documents just like the main clerk office.

You can search for cases online at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov/FRESNOPORTAL. This portal shows basic case info for family law cases. Type in a party name or case number. The system returns a list of matching cases. Click on a case to see the filing date, case type, and party names. Some cases show a docket with all the filings. Others just show summary info. The portal does not provide full document downloads for most family law files. To get copies of documents, you must contact the clerk or Archives office.

Fresno County has one of the longest record histories in California. Cases go back to 1860 when the county was established. If you need a very old divorce record from the 19th century or early 20th century, contact the Archives. They can check the old indexes and see if the file still exists. Not all old files have survived. Fire, flood, and simple wear over time have destroyed some records. The Archives staff will tell you if your file is available or if it was lost.

Using the Online Case Portal

The Fresno County public portal is free to use. No login is needed for basic searches. Go to publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov and look for the case search box. Type in the last name of one party and hit search. The system shows all cases with that name. You can add the first name or middle initial to narrow the results. If you have the case number, use that. Searching by case number gives you the exact case right away.

The portal shows different levels of detail depending on the case. Some cases have a full docket showing every document filed. You see the date each paper was filed and a brief description. Other cases just show the names and filing date with no docket. The system does not make confidential documents available for download. Financial records, child custody evaluations, and sealed filings are not shown. If you need those, you must ask the clerk for permission or file a motion with the court.

Search results update regularly. New filings appear within a few days. If you filed for divorce recently, give it a week or two before checking the portal. The case has to be entered into the system and processed. Once it is in, you can track the case online. Check back to see when new documents get filed. This is a good way to stay informed about your case without calling the clerk every day.

Record Fees in Fresno County

A certified divorce decree costs $15.00. This is the standard California fee set by Government Code Section 70674. The $15 covers a certified copy of the final judgment with the court seal. Extra pages cost $0.50 each. Most divorce judgments are three to five pages, so your total is usually $15 to $17. The fee is the same whether you request by mail or in person.

Other certified documents cost $40.00 plus $0.50 per page. This applies to custody orders, restraining orders, and other court orders that are not the final divorce judgment. If you just need uncertified copies for your records, those are $0.50 per page with no certification fee. Uncertified copies are fine for personal use. If you need to give the document to a government agency, bank, or another court, get the certified version.

Search fees apply when the clerk has to do a long search. If the search takes more than 10 minutes, the fee is $15.00 per name. Most searches are free because people provide a case number or clear info. If you ask for a search of a common name across many years, the clerk may charge the search fee. Give as much detail as you can. The case number, filing year, and both party names all help. The online portal is free for searches. You can search all day without paying a cent.

There is no separate retrieval fee for archived files in Fresno County. The Archives office pulls files at no extra charge. Processing time may be longer if the file is very old or stored in a remote location. Budget a few weeks for requests involving 19th or early 20th century records. Recent cases stored at the Archives usually come back faster.

Getting Divorce Decrees

Start with the online portal. Search for your case at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov. Find the case number and write it down. That number is the key to fast service. If you cannot find the case online, call the Family Law clerk at 559-457-1700. They can search the older system. Have the names of both spouses and the approximate year ready.

To order a certified divorce decree by mail, write a letter to the court. Include the case number, both party names, and the year if you know it. State that you want a certified copy of the final judgment of dissolution. Send a check or money order for $15.00 made out to Fresno Superior Court. Include your return address and phone number. Mail to: Fresno Superior Court, Family Law Division, 1130 O Street, 2nd Floor, Fresno, CA 93721. The clerk will process your request and mail the decree to you. Allow two to four weeks for mail orders.

In-person requests are faster. Go to the clerk counter on the 2nd floor at 1130 O Street. Bring the case number if you have it. Ask for a certified copy of the divorce decree. The clerk can print and certify the decree while you wait if the file is on-site. Bring payment. The clerk accepts checks, money orders, and possibly cash or cards. Call ahead to confirm payment options. Many people prefer in-person service because they walk out with the document the same day.

For very old cases, contact the Archives at 559-457-4903. Let them know the case is from a long time ago. They will check their indexes and see if the file exists. If it does, they can make copies and certify them. Processing time for old files varies. Some files are easy to find. Others take digging through storage. Be patient and follow up if you do not hear back within a reasonable time.

Divorce Laws in California

California uses no-fault divorce. You do not need to prove your spouse did anything wrong. The legal ground is irreconcilable differences as stated in California Family Code Section 2310. You file a petition saying the marriage cannot be saved. The court does not ask for details about why. This makes divorce less adversarial. You focus on dividing assets and arranging custody rather than blaming each other.

Residency rules must be met before you file. One spouse must live in California for six months. That spouse must also live in Fresno County for three months. This requirement is in Family Code Section 2320. If you just moved to Fresno, wait three months before filing. If you do not meet the residency rule, the court will not accept your petition. The six-month state rule and three-month county rule both have to be satisfied.

A six-month waiting period applies to all divorces. After the other spouse is served with the petition, you must wait six months before the divorce can be final. This rule is in Family Code Section 2339. Even if you agree on everything, the court will not sign the final judgment until six months and one day after service. The waiting period gives both parties time to think and negotiate. It also ensures children have time to adjust. There are no exceptions to this rule in California.

Divorce Forms and Filing

California courts use standard forms created by the Judicial Council. The main divorce forms are FL-100 (Petition), FL-110 (Summons), FL-120 (Response), and FL-180 (Judgment). You can download all these forms free at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-forms. The website includes instructions for filling out each form. Read the instructions carefully. Many people make mistakes when they rush through the forms.

The filing fee in Fresno County is around $435 to $450. This is the standard California fee set by state law. You pay this fee when you file your petition with the clerk. If you cannot afford the fee, apply for a fee waiver using form FW-001. The court reviews your income and expenses. If you qualify, the court waives most or all of the fees. You still have to file all the required forms. The waiver just means you do not pay money up front. Many people qualify for fee waivers in California. Do not skip filing just because you cannot pay. Ask for the waiver first.

After filing, you must serve the papers on your spouse. California requires personal service. Someone over 18 who is not you must hand the papers to your spouse in person. That person fills out a proof of service form showing when and where service happened. You file the proof of service with the court. Once service is complete, the six-month waiting period starts. Your spouse has 30 days to respond. If they do not respond, you can request a default judgment. The court will grant the divorce even if your spouse does not participate.

Old Divorce Records

Fresno County has records going back to 1860. This makes it one of the best preserved court systems in California. The Archives office maintains files from all eras. Early records are handwritten on ledger paper. Later records are typed. Modern records are digital. The Archives can retrieve files from any time period. Very old files may be fragile. The staff will make copies carefully to preserve the originals.

If you need a divorce record from the 1800s or early 1900s, contact the Archives at 559-457-4903. Let them know the approximate year and the names of both parties. They will search the old indexes. Some indexes are in books kept at the Archives. Others are on microfiche. The search can take time because the staff has to go through records one by one. Be patient. The Archives staff are experts at finding old files.

The California Department of Public Health has certificates for divorces from 1962 through June 1984. If your Fresno County divorce happened during those years, you can order a Certificate of Record from CDPH. This certificate shows the names, filing date, county, and case number. It is not the actual divorce decree. For the full decree, you still need to contact Fresno Superior Court. After June 1984, CDPH stopped collecting divorce data. All records after that are only at the county level.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search for a divorce case online? Go to publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov and use the case search tool. Type in a party name or case number to find the case.

What does a certified divorce decree cost? The fee is $15.00 for the decree plus $0.50 per page for extra pages. Most people pay around $15 to $17 total.

Can I get same day service? Yes, if you visit the clerk counter in person and the file is on-site. The clerk can print and certify the decree while you wait. Mail orders take a few weeks.

How far back do records go? Fresno County has divorce records dating back to 1860. Contact the Archives office for very old cases.

Is there a retrieval fee for old files? No. Fresno County does not charge a separate retrieval fee. Processing time may be longer for very old files, but there is no extra charge.

Can anyone get a copy of my divorce decree? Yes. Divorce decrees are public records in California. Anyone can request a copy. Some documents in the case file may be confidential, but the final decree is public.