Lake County Divorce Case Records

If you need divorce records from Lake County, you can go to the Superior Court in Lakeport or the branch office in Clearlake. The main courthouse is at 255 North Forbes Street in Lakeport. The Clearlake branch is at 7000-A South Center Drive. Both locations can help you request copies of divorce decrees and other case documents. The clerk office in Lakeport is open from 8am to 4pm on weekdays. You can call them at (707) 263-2374 with questions about records. The Clearlake office can be reached at (707) 994-6598. Lake County maintains all divorce case files and can provide certified copies for a fee. The court keeps records going back many years so you can request old cases as well as recent ones.

Lake County Superior Court Locations

Lake County Superior Court has two locations. The main courthouse is in Lakeport at 255 North Forbes Street. This is where most family law cases are handled. The clerk office at this location maintains all the divorce records for the county. The second location is in Clearlake at 7000-A South Center Drive. This branch office can also assist with records requests though most files are kept in Lakeport.

If you want to request a divorce record, you can visit either courthouse. The Lakeport office is the main location and has all the files. The Clearlake office may need to order files from Lakeport if they are not available on-site. Both offices are open during business hours on weekdays. You can call ahead to make sure the office is open and to ask about what you need to bring.

When you visit the courthouse, bring ID and cash or a check to pay fees. The clerk will ask for the case number or the names of both parties in the divorce. If you do not have the case number, the clerk can search for the case by name. There may be a search fee if the search takes a long time. Once the clerk finds the case, you can request copies of the divorce decree or other documents. Some requests can be filled while you wait. Others may take a few days if the file needs to be retrieved from storage.

You can also send a written request by mail. Address your letter to Lake County Superior Court, 255 North Forbes St, Lakeport, CA 95453. Include the case number or the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. List the documents you want and include a check for the fees. The clerk will process your request and mail the documents back to you. Processing times vary depending on how busy the office is and whether the file is in storage.

Record Fees

Lake County charges the standard state fees for divorce records. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 under Government Code 70674. This fee covers the certification and the decree itself. If the decree is longer than a few pages, there may be additional copy fees at $0.50 per page. Most divorce decrees are not very long so the total cost is usually just $15.

If you need other documents certified, such as settlement agreements or custody orders, the fee is $40 plus $0.50 per page for copies. Regular copies without certification cost $0.50 per page. Search fees may apply if the clerk has to spend more than ten minutes looking for your case. The search fee is $15 per name. If you have the case number, there is usually no search fee.

Make checks or money orders payable to Lake Superior Court. You can also pay with cash if you visit in person. Do not mail cash. If you send a request by mail, include a check with your letter so the clerk can process your request. The clerk will not start working on your request until payment is received.

Searching for Cases

Lake County does not have a fully public online case search portal like some larger counties. You will need to contact the clerk office to search for divorce records. You can call (707) 263-2374 and ask the clerk to look up a case for you. Give them the names of the parties and any other information you have like the year the divorce was filed. The clerk can tell you if the case exists and what documents are available.

If you visit the courthouse in person, you may be able to search for cases using the clerk's computer system. The clerk can help you search by name or case number. Once you find the case, you can request copies of the documents you need. The clerk will explain the fees and tell you when the documents will be ready.

Because Lake County is a smaller county, the clerk office can often provide more personal service. If you call or visit, the staff can help you locate the case and answer your questions. They can tell you what is in the file and how to get copies. This can be easier than trying to search online in some ways, though it does require you to call or visit during business hours.

California Divorce Law

California law allows for no-fault divorce. You can file for divorce based on irreconcilable differences without proving that anyone did anything wrong. This is set out in Family Code Section 2310. Most divorces in Lake County are filed on this ground.

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

After the divorce judgment is entered, there is a mandatory six-month waiting period before the divorce becomes final. This is required by Family Code Section 2339. The six months start from the date the respondent was served or filed a response. Once the six months are up and all issues are resolved, the judge signs the final judgment and both parties are legally divorced.

Permanent Records

Divorce records in California are kept forever. Government Code Section 68152 requires that divorce judgments be retained permanently. This means Lake County Superior Court will always have your divorce decree on file no matter how old it is. Older records may be stored in archives or on microfilm but they are still available.

If you need a copy of a very old divorce decree, contact the clerk office. The clerk can search the archives and locate the file. It may take extra time to retrieve files that are stored off-site or on microfilm. There may be a retrieval fee for archived records. The clerk can tell you what the fee is and how long it will take to get the records.

Who Can Request Records

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 your request. The clerk will provide copies to anyone who pays the fee.

Some documents may be sealed or confidential. If a case involves issues like domestic violence or child abuse, the court may seal certain records. Sealed records are not available to the public. If you request a sealed document, the clerk will tell you it is not available. Most basic divorce decrees are public and not sealed.

If you are a party to the divorce, you can get copies of your own records at any time. If you are not a party, you can still get copies as long as the records are not sealed. Bring ID if you visit the courthouse in person. The clerk may ask for ID to verify your identity, though this is not always required for public records.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

Lake County Superior Court offers self-help services for people who are representing themselves in a divorce. The court website has forms and instructions. You can also visit the courthouse to get help with forms. The staff can answer questions about procedures but cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case.

Legal aid may be available for people with low income. Contact Legal Services of Northern California to see if you qualify for free legal help. You can also call the State Bar of California lawyer referral service at 1-866-442-2529 to find a family law attorney in Lake County. The California Courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has all the divorce forms and step-by-step instructions for filling them out.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County includes the cities of Lakeport, Clearlake, and several smaller communities. The county seat is Lakeport. All divorce cases for the county are filed at the Superior Court. There are no city courts for divorce. Whether you live in Lakeport, Clearlake, or anywhere else in Lake County, you file and get records at the county courthouse.

Lakeport is the main location for most family law proceedings. Clearlake has a branch courthouse that can handle some matters but most divorce files are kept in Lakeport. Contact the clerk office to find out which location can best help you with your records request.

Neighboring Counties

Lake County is surrounded by several other counties. To the north is Mendocino County. To the east are Glenn County and Colusa County. To the south is Napa County and Yolo County. To the west is Sonoma County. If your divorce was filed in one of these counties instead of Lake County, you need to contact that county's Superior Court to get records. Each county maintains its own records and sets its own fees.

Make sure you know where your divorce was filed before you request records. The county where the divorce petition was filed is the county that has the records. If you are not sure which county, you can call the clerk offices in the counties where you or your spouse lived at the time and ask them to search for the case.