Humboldt Divorce Records Access

Humboldt County keeps all divorce records at the Superior Court in Eureka. The courthouse is at 421 I Street. The Family Division handles all family law cases including divorces, custody disputes, and support orders. You can reach the Family Division by calling 707-445-7256 and pressing option 3. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays. The clerk staff can help you search for cases, request copies of documents, and get certified decrees. Humboldt County is on the far north coast of California. The area includes coastal towns like Eureka and Arcata plus inland mountain communities. The court serves a population spread across forests, beaches, and rural areas. Processing times vary depending on the request. In-person visits often result in same day service. Mail requests can take two to four weeks depending on the workload and whether the file needs retrieval from storage.

Humboldt Superior Court

The Humboldt County Superior Court is at 421 I Street, Eureka, CA 95501. The main phone number is 707-445-7256. Press option 3 to reach the Family Division. The Family Division clerk staff handle all divorce cases and family law matters. They can search for cases, make copies of documents, and issue certified copies of divorce decrees. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you call outside those hours, you may get voicemail. Leave a message with your name, phone number, and what you need. The clerk will call you back during business hours.

You can visit the courthouse in person during office hours. The clerk counter is inside the courthouse at 421 I Street. Bring photo ID and be ready to explain what you need. If you want a certified divorce decree, have the case number ready. If you do not have the case number, give the clerk the names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was filed. The clerk can search the system and find the case. Most people get their documents the same day when they visit in person.

Humboldt County does not have an online case portal for public searches. To search for a case, you must call or visit the clerk office. The clerk can look up cases by name or case number. They will tell you if the case exists and what documents are in the file. If you need copies, they can make them while you wait or mail them to you. There is no way to search or download documents remotely. All requests go through the clerk office.

Cost of Records

A certified divorce decree costs $15.00 in Humboldt County. This is the standard California fee under Government Code Section 70674. The $15 covers a certified copy of the final judgment with the court seal and clerk signature. If the judgment is more than a few pages, extra pages cost $0.50 each. Most divorce judgments are two to five pages, so your total is usually $15 to $18. 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 decree. If you just need uncertified copies for personal use, those are $0.50 per page with no certification fee. Uncertified copies work fine if you just want to read the documents. If you need to give the document to a government agency, bank, or another court, get a certified copy.

Search fees apply if the clerk has to do a long search. If a search takes more than 10 minutes, the fee is $15.00 per name. Most searches are free because people provide a case number or enough info to find the case quickly. If you ask for a search of a common name over many years without specific dates, the clerk may charge the search fee. Give as much detail as you can. The case number, both party names, and the filing year all help. The more info you provide, the less time the search takes.

Getting Your Divorce Decree

Start by gathering what you know about your case. You need at least the names of both spouses. If you have the case number, write it down. If you do not have the case number, call the Family Division at 707-445-7256 option 3. Give the clerk the names and approximate year. They can search the system and give you the case number over the phone. Once you have the case number, the rest of the process is much easier.

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. Enclose a check or money order for $15.00 made payable to Humboldt Superior Court. Add your return address and phone number. Mail to Humboldt County Superior Court, 421 I Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Attention: Family Division. The clerk will process your request and mail the decree back to you. Allow two to four weeks for mail orders.

In-person visits are faster. Go to the courthouse at 421 I Street during office hours (9am to 2pm). Bring the case number if you have it. Ask the clerk for a certified copy of the divorce decree. The clerk can print and certify the decree while you wait if the file is available. Bring payment in the form of cash, check, or money order. Ask at the counter what payment methods they accept. Most people prefer in-person service because they walk out with the document the same day.

California Divorce Law

California uses no-fault divorce. You do not have to prove your spouse did anything wrong. The legal ground for divorce 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 why. This makes divorce less adversarial. You focus on dividing property and arranging custody instead of blaming each other.

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

A six-month waiting period applies to every California divorce. After you serve the divorce papers on your spouse, you must wait six months before the court can finalize the divorce. This rule is in Family Code Section 2339. The earliest the divorce can be final is six months and one day after service. Even if both parties agree on everything, the court will not sign the final judgment until this time has passed. There are no exceptions. The waiting period gives both parties time to think and negotiate.

Divorce Forms and Filing Fees

All California courts use the same divorce forms. The Judicial Council creates these forms and updates them each year. The main forms are FL-100 (Petition for Dissolution of Marriage), FL-110 (Summons), FL-120 (Response), and FL-180 (Judgment). You can download these forms free at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-forms. The website includes instructions that explain how to fill out each form. Read the instructions before you start filling out the forms.

The filing fee in Humboldt County is around $435 to $450. This is the standard California fee set by state law. You pay this 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 looks at 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 the filing fee. Many people qualify for fee waivers. Do not skip filing because of cost. 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 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 ask for a default judgment. The court will grant the divorce even if your spouse does not participate.

Old Divorce Records

Humboldt County has divorce records going back many decades. The court keeps files from all time periods. Older files may be stored off-site or on microfiche. If your divorce is from many years ago, let the clerk know when you call or visit. They will search the older records. Retrieval of old files can take extra time. Allow a few weeks for requests involving very old cases. The clerk can tell you how long it will take once they locate the file.

The California Department of Public Health has limited records. CDPH kept divorce certificates from 1962 through June 1984. If your Humboldt County divorce happened during that time, 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 Humboldt Superior Court. After June 1984, CDPH stopped collecting divorce data. All records after that are only available from the county court.

Nearby Counties

Humboldt County borders several other counties. Del Norte County is to the north. Trinity County is to the east. Mendocino County is to the south. If you are not sure where your divorce was filed, check these neighboring counties. Each county has its own Superior Court. Divorce records are kept in the county where the case was filed. If you filed in Del Norte or Trinity County, contact those courts for records. The same applies to Mendocino County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for cases online? No. Humboldt County does not have an online case search portal. You must call or visit the clerk office to search for cases.

What are the office hours for the Family Division? Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 707-445-7256 and press option 3.

How much does a certified divorce decree cost? The fee is $15.00 plus $0.50 per page for extra pages. Most people pay around $15 to $18 total.

Can I get same day service? Yes, if you visit the courthouse in person during office hours and the file is available. The clerk can print and certify the decree while you wait.

Do I need the case number? The case number helps a lot. If you do not have it, the clerk can search by party names and approximate year. Provide as much info as you can.

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