Inyo County Divorce Records

Inyo County keeps all divorce records at the Superior Court in Bishop. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1508, Bishop, CA 93515. The phone number is 760-872-3038. You can also email record requests to searches@inyocourt.ca.gov. The clerk office handles all family law cases including divorces, custody disputes, and support orders. They can search for cases, make copies, and certify documents. Inyo County is in the eastern Sierra Nevada region. The area includes Death Valley, the Owens Valley, and mountain communities. The county has a small population spread across a large geographic area. The court serves residents and handles cases for people who live in remote locations. Processing times for record requests are usually one to three weeks. Search fees apply if the clerk has to look through many years of records. If no record is found after a search, the court returns your check. Inyo County does not have an online case portal. All searches go through the clerk office by phone, mail, or email.

Inyo Superior Court Records

The Inyo County Superior Court is in Bishop. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1508, Bishop, CA 93515. The physical address is 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence, CA 93526. Call 760-872-3038 for questions about divorce records. You can also email record requests to searches@inyocourt.ca.gov. The clerk staff can search for cases, make copies, and certify documents. Include as much info as you can when you contact them. The case number is the best thing to have. If you do not have the case number, give the names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was filed.

Inyo County does not have an online case portal for public searches. To search for a case, you must call, email, or mail a written request. The clerk will search the system and tell you if the case exists. If they find the case, they can make copies and certify documents. If they do not find the case, they will return your check if you sent one. The court does not keep search fees if no record is found. This is different from many other counties.

Standard searches cover 10 years of records. If you want the clerk to search beyond 10 years, let them know when you submit your request. Longer searches take more time and may cost more. The clerk will tell you if extra fees apply. Most people know the approximate year of their divorce, so the 10-year window is usually enough. If your divorce is from many decades ago, mention that in your request so the clerk knows to search older records.

Record Fees in Inyo County

Inyo County charges a $15.00 search fee per name. This fee covers a search of 10 years of records. If the clerk has to search more than 10 years, they may charge an additional fee. The $15 search fee is separate from the copy and certification fees. If you have the case number, you may be able to skip the search fee. Call or email the clerk and ask if they charge a search fee when you provide the case number. Some counties waive the search fee if you give them the exact case number.

Copies cost $0.50 per page. If you need certified copies, the certification fee is $40.00 plus the per-page copy fee. A certified divorce decree typically costs $40 plus a few dollars for pages. This is higher than most California counties, which charge $15 for a certified divorce decree under Government Code Section 70674. Inyo County may use a different fee structure or classify divorce decrees under a different category. Check with the clerk about the exact cost for your specific request.

If the clerk searches for a case and does not find it, they return your check. This is a helpful policy. Many counties keep the search fee even if no record is found. Inyo County returns your money if the search comes up empty. This gives you peace of mind when you are not sure if a case exists. Send a check with your request and the court will only cash it if they find the case and make copies.

Requesting Divorce Decrees

To request a divorce decree from Inyo County, write a letter to the court. Include the case number if you have it. If you do not have the case number, give the full names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was filed. State what you need. Most people ask for a certified copy of the final judgment of dissolution. Include a check or money order made payable to Inyo Superior Court. The amount depends on what you are requesting. If you are not sure of the exact fee, call the clerk at 760-872-3038 and ask. They can tell you how much to send.

Add your return address and phone number so the clerk can contact you if they have questions. Mail your request to Inyo County Superior Court, P.O. Box 1508, Bishop, CA 93515. The clerk will process your request and mail the documents back to you. Processing time is usually one to three weeks. If the file is in storage or very old, it may take longer. The clerk will let you know if there are delays.

You can also email record requests to searches@inyocourt.ca.gov. Include the same info in your email. The clerk will respond by email and tell you what they found and how much it will cost. Once you know the cost, you can mail a check or arrange payment. Email requests are convenient because you get a response faster than mailed letters. The clerk can tell you right away if the case exists and what documents are available.

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 for details about fault or blame. This system makes divorce less adversarial and more focused on practical issues like dividing property and arranging custody.

Residency requirements must be met before filing. One spouse must live in California for six months. That spouse must also live in Inyo County for three months. This rule is in Family Code Section 2320. If you moved to Inyo 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. The time gives both parties a chance to think and negotiate.

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. Many people make mistakes when they rush through the forms.

The filing fee in Inyo 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 in California. 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. The court will grant the divorce even if your spouse does not participate.

Old Divorce Records

Inyo County has divorce records going back many decades. The court keeps files from all time periods. Older files may be in storage or on microfiche. If your divorce is from many years ago, let the clerk know when you submit your request. Standard searches cover 10 years. If you need them to search older records, mention that in your letter or email. The clerk will search the older indexes and see if the file exists. Processing time for very old records can take several weeks. The clerk will let you know how long it will take once they start the search.

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

Nearby Counties

Inyo County borders several other counties. Mono County is to the north. Esmeralda County, Nevada is to the northeast. Nye County, Nevada is to the east. San Bernardino County is to the south. Tulare County is to the west. Fresno County is to the northwest. 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 Mono or San Bernardino County, contact those courts for records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for cases online? No. Inyo County does not have an online case portal. You must call, email, or mail a request to the clerk office.

How do I submit a record request? Call 760-872-3038, email searches@inyocourt.ca.gov, or mail a written request to P.O. Box 1508, Bishop, CA 93515.

How much does a search cost? The search fee is $15.00 per name for a 10-year search. If they do not find a record, they return your check.

How long does a search cover? Standard searches cover 10 years. If you need them to search older records, let the clerk know in your request.

What if I do not have the case number? Give the clerk the names of both parties and the approximate year. They can search the system and find the case number for you.

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.