Imperial County Divorce Records

Imperial County maintains divorce records at the Superior Court in El Centro. The courthouse is at 939 West Main Street. The main phone number is 760-482-2200. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. The clerk staff handle all family law cases including divorces, custody matters, and support orders. They can search for cases, make copies, and certify documents. Imperial County also has a Family Law Self Help Center at 760-482-2233 if you need help with forms or procedures. You can search for cases online through the county web portal. The system shows basic case info like filing dates, party names, and case numbers. To get certified copies of divorce decrees or full case files, contact the clerk office by phone, mail, or in person. Imperial County is on the California-Mexico border in the southeastern desert. The area includes agricultural communities and border cities. The court serves a diverse population.

Imperial Superior Court

The Imperial County Superior Court is at 939 West Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243. The main number is 760-482-2200. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The clerk staff can help you with record requests, case searches, and questions about divorce procedures. If you need help filling out divorce forms or understanding the process, call the Family Law Self Help Center at 760-482-2233. The self help staff provide free assistance to people representing themselves.

Imperial County has an online case search portal at imperialcourt.org/WebCaseSearch. The portal is free and open to the public. You do not need an account or login. Type in a party name or case number to search. The system shows a list of matching cases. Click on a case to see more details. You get the case number, filing date, case type, and party names. Some cases show a docket with all the filed documents. Others just show basic info. The portal does not provide full document downloads. To get copies of documents, contact the clerk office.

The clerk can search for cases by name, case number, or date range. If you know the case number, that is the fastest way to find your file. If you do not have the case number, use the online portal or call the clerk and give them the names of both parties. They can search the system and tell you the case number. Once you have the case number, you can request certified copies or other documents.

Fees for Divorce Records

A certified divorce decree costs $15.00 in Imperial 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. Extra pages cost $0.50 each. Most divorce judgments are a few pages long, so your total is usually $15 to $18. The fee applies 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 besides the divorce decree. If you just need uncertified copies for personal records, those cost $0.50 per page with no certification fee. Uncertified copies are fine if you just want to read the documents. If you need to submit the document to a government agency or another court, get a certified copy with the seal.

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, 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 faster the search goes and the less likely you are to pay a search fee.

Requesting Divorce Decrees

Start by finding your case number. Use the online portal at imperialcourt.org/WebCaseSearch to search by party name. Once you find your case, write down the case number. If you cannot find the case online, call the clerk at 760-482-2200 and ask them to search. Give them the names of both spouses and the approximate year the divorce was filed. They can look it up and give you the case number over the phone.

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 Imperial Superior Court. Add your mailing address and phone number. Mail to Imperial County Superior Court, 939 West Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243. The clerk will process your request and mail the decree back to you. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders.

In-person visits are faster. Go to the courthouse at 939 West Main Street during business hours (8am to 4pm). Bring the case number if you have it. Ask the clerk for a certified copy of the divorce decree. The clerk can often 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 get the document the same day.

Using the Case Search Portal

The Imperial County case search portal is at imperialcourt.org/WebCaseSearch. No login is required. Type a last name into the search box and click search. The system shows all cases with that name. You can narrow results by adding a first name or selecting a case type. Choose family law cases to see only divorce and custody matters.

Each search result shows the case number, filing date, case type, and party names. Click on a case to see more details. The detail page may show a list of documents filed in the case or just basic info. The system does not provide full document downloads for most cases. If you see a document you need, contact the clerk and request a copy. They can print it and mail it to you or have it ready for pickup.

The portal updates regularly. New cases appear within a few days of filing. If you recently filed for divorce, check back in a week or two. The case has to be entered into the system first. Once it is in, you can track new filings and court dates online. This is a helpful way to stay informed without calling the clerk every day.

California Divorce Law

California uses no-fault divorce. You do not need 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 has broken down. The court does not ask for details about fault or blame. This system reduces conflict and makes the process simpler.

Residency requirements must be met before filing. One spouse must live in California for six months. That spouse must also live in Imperial County for three months. This rule is in Family Code Section 2320. If you moved to Imperial County recently, 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 all California divorces. 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 to the waiting period.

Divorce Forms and Filing

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.

The filing fee in Imperial 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 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 done, 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.

Family Law Self Help

Imperial County has a Family Law Self Help Center to assist people who represent themselves in divorce cases. Call 760-482-2233 to reach the self help staff. They can answer questions about forms, procedures, and court rules. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case, but they can explain how the process works and help you fill out forms correctly. The self help center is a free service provided by the court.

The self help staff can help with filling out divorce petitions, responses, financial disclosures, and settlement agreements. They can tell you what forms you need for your situation. They can also explain filing procedures and what to expect at court hearings. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the self help center is a good resource. Many people successfully complete their divorce with help from the self help staff.

Older Divorce Records

Imperial 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 Imperial 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 Imperial Superior Court. After June 1984, CDPH stopped collecting divorce data. All records after that are only available from the county court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for cases online? Yes. Imperial County has an online case search portal at imperialcourt.org/WebCaseSearch. The portal is free and requires no login.

What are the court office hours? Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 760-482-2200 for the main clerk office.

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.

Where can I get help with divorce forms? Call the Family Law Self Help Center at 760-482-2233. The staff can help you fill out forms and explain procedures.

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.