Kern County Divorce Records

People who want to find divorce records in Kern County should contact the Superior Court clerk office at 1415 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. The court keeps all divorce case files going back many years. You can request copies of divorce decrees, court judgments, and other case papers. The clerk office is open from 8am to 5pm on business days. They handle requests in person, by mail, and through their online portal. Certified divorce decrees cost $15. Additional pages are $0.50 each. Other certified documents cost $40 plus copy fees. If you need a search done and it takes more than ten minutes, there is a $15 search fee. Processing time for mail requests is at least 10 working days.

How to Get Divorce Records

Kern County Superior Court maintains all divorce records for the county. When someone files for divorce in Kern County, the case gets assigned a number and all the paperwork goes into the court system. The clerk office stores these files. Older files may be kept at an off-site location, which can add time to retrieval. The main courthouse for family law matters is at 1415 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. This is where you go for divorce records.

To request a divorce record, you need some basic information. The court needs the case number or the full names of both parties involved in the divorce. If you do not have the case number, you can ask the clerk to search by name. Searches that take more than ten minutes will cost $15. Most searches are quick if you have good info to start with. The clerk can tell you if a record exists and how to get a copy.

You can visit the courthouse in person. Bring an ID and cash or check to pay fees. The clerk window is open from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. In-person requests may be filled the same day or within a few days depending on how busy they are. If the file is stored off-site, it will take longer. You can also send a written request by mail. Include the case number or party names, the document you want, and a check made out to Kern Superior Court. Mail requests take at least 10 working days to process. The clerk will send your documents once the request is complete.

Kern County has an online case portal where you can search for divorce cases. The portal is at kern.courts.ca.gov. You can look up cases by name or case number. The system shows basic case info like filing date, case type, and parties. Some document images may be available to view online but not all files are digitized. The online system does not replace going to the courthouse for full records, but it helps you confirm a case exists before you make a trip or send money.

Fees and Costs

A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 in Kern County. This fee follows state law under Government Code 70674. The $15 includes the certificate and copies of the decree itself. If the decree is more than a few pages, you also pay $0.50 per page for extra pages. Most divorce decrees are short so the total cost is often just $15.

Other court documents that need certification cost $40 plus $0.50 per page for copies. This applies to things like settlement agreements, custody orders, or property division orders that are not part of the final decree. If you just want regular copies without certification, the cost is $0.50 per page. Search fees apply when the clerk has to look through records for more than ten minutes. That fee is $15 per search.

You can pay by cash, check, or money order at the courthouse. Make checks payable to Kern Superior Court. Do not send cash through the mail. If you mail a request, include a check with your letter. The clerk will process your request and send the documents back to you. Processing time for mailed requests is at least 10 working days, but it may take longer if the file is archived or if there is a backlog.

Online Case Portal

Kern County offers an online case portal for public searches. The system lets you search for divorce cases by party name or case number. The portal shows a list of filings, hearings, and case status. You can see when the case was filed, who the parties are, and what type of case it is. The system does not show full document text for most records. You can view some basic information but you still need to contact the clerk for copies of actual documents.

The online portal is free to use for searches. There is no charge to look up a case or see the case summary. If the system has document images available, you may be able to view them online. Not all cases have images uploaded. Older cases may not be in the online system at all. The clerk can help if you cannot find what you need online.

To use the portal, go to the Kern County Superior Court website. The records page has a link to the case search system. Enter the last name and first name of one party, or enter a case number if you have it. The system will return a list of matching cases. Click on a case to see more details. Write down the case number so you can reference it when you request documents from the clerk.

California Divorce Law in Kern County

California is a no-fault divorce state. You do not need to prove wrongdoing to get a divorce. The only grounds for divorce are irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity, as stated in Family Code Section 2310. Most people file based on irreconcilable differences. This means the marriage is broken and cannot be fixed.

To file for divorce in Kern County, one spouse must have lived in California for at least six months and in Kern County for at least three months before filing. This rule comes from Family Code Section 2320. If you do not meet the residency requirement, you cannot file in Kern County. You would need to file in the county where you do meet the requirement.

After a divorce judgment is entered, there is a six-month waiting period before it becomes final. This rule is in Family Code Section 2339. The judgment is final six months from the date the respondent was served with the divorce papers, or six months from the date the respondent filed a response, whichever is earlier. Once the judgment is final, both parties are legally single again.

Divorce records are kept permanently by the court. Government Code Section 68152 requires that divorce judgments be retained forever. This means you can always go back to Kern County Superior Court to get a copy of your divorce decree, no matter how old it is. The court will have the record on file or in archive storage.

Who Can Get Copies

Divorce records are public in California. Anyone can request a copy of a divorce decree. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for wanting the record. The clerk will provide copies to anyone who pays the fee. This is true for most divorce records, though some sensitive documents may be sealed by court order.

If a case involves issues like child abuse or domestic violence, some documents may be confidential. The court may seal certain filings to protect privacy. Financial disclosures and settlement agreements are usually public unless the court ordered them sealed. If you request a document that is sealed, the clerk will tell you it is not available. Most basic divorce decrees and judgments are open to the public with no restrictions.

If you were a party to the divorce, you can request your own records at any time. If you are not a party, you can still get copies but you may not be able to access certain confidential filings. The clerk can explain what is available in each case. Bring ID if you go in person, though it is not always required for public records requests. Some clerks may ask for ID to confirm your identity if you are requesting your own case file.

Self-Help and Legal Aid

Kern County Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator office. This office helps people with divorce paperwork. They can review your forms and answer questions about the process. They cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. The service is free. You can visit the office at the courthouse or call for an appointment. The facilitator can help you understand what forms to file and how to fill them out correctly.

Legal aid is available for people with low income. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance serves Kern County residents who qualify based on income. They provide free legal help for family law cases including divorce. Call them to find out if you qualify. They may be able to represent you in court or help you prepare documents. Other resources include the State Bar of California lawyer referral service at 1-866-442-2529.

The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has all the standard divorce forms. The forms are free to download and fill out. The website explains each form and gives step-by-step instructions. You can also find information about filing fees, court procedures, and what to expect during a divorce. These resources are helpful if you are representing yourself without a lawyer.

Major Cities in Kern County

Kern County includes the city of Bakersfield, which is the county seat and largest city in the area. Residents of Bakersfield and all other Kern County cities file for divorce at the Superior Court in Bakersfield. No matter what city you live in within Kern County, your divorce case will be handled by the county court system at 1415 Truxtun Avenue.

Other cities in Kern County include Delano, Ridgecrest, California City, Wasco, Shafter, Arvin, and Tehachapi. All divorce cases for these cities go through the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield. There are no separate city courts for divorce. The county courthouse is the only place to file or obtain divorce records for the entire county.

Nearby Counties

If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's Superior Court. Kern County borders several other counties. To the north are Kings County and Tulare County. To the west is San Luis Obispo County. To the east are Inyo County and San Bernardino County. To the south is Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Each county maintains its own divorce records at its own courthouse.

Make sure you know which county handled your divorce before you request records. If you lived in Kern County but your spouse filed in a different county, the case would be in that other county. The residency rules determine where a case can be filed. Check with the county where the divorce petition was filed to get records.