Find Divorce Records in Plumas County

Divorce records in Plumas County are maintained at the Superior Court in Quincy. The courthouse sits at 520 Main Street, Room 104. If you need to search for a divorce case or get copies of divorce papers, you contact the court clerk office. Plumas County is a small county with fewer divorce filings than larger urban counties, so the clerk staff can often locate files quickly. The court handles criminal, traffic, and civil matters including all family law cases. You can request divorce records in person, by phone, or by mail. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $15 plus copy fees. Processing time for mail requests is usually five to seven court business days.

Plumas County Superior Court

The Plumas County Superior Court is at 520 Main Street, Room 104, Quincy, California 95971. The court has two main phone numbers. For criminal and traffic matters, call (530) 283-6232. For civil matters, which include family law and divorce cases, call (530) 283-6305. The clerk office handles all record requests. You can visit in person during business hours or send a written request by mail to the same address.

The courthouse is small and staff are usually able to help you right away if you walk in. Bring photo ID when you visit. If you know the case number, tell the clerk. If not, provide the names of both parties and the approximate year the divorce was filed. The clerk will search the court database and locate the file. Most files are kept on-site, so retrieval is quick. Very old files may be stored elsewhere, which could add time to your request.

Plumas County does not have a full online case portal like some larger counties, but the court does offer some online services. You can check the court website for basic information about how to request records. The site is at plumas.courts.ca.gov/online-services/record-searches. The page explains the process for ordering copies and lists the fees you need to pay. For a full search of case details, you still need to contact the clerk directly.

How Much It Costs

Plumas County follows standard California court fees. A certified copy of a divorce decree is $15. This is the fee set by Government Code Section 70674. Regular photocopies without certification cost $0.50 per page. If you need other documents from the divorce file certified, the fee is $40 plus $0.50 per page under Government Code Section 70626.

If the clerk has to spend more than 10 minutes searching for your case, there may be a research fee of $15. This usually only applies when you do not have a case number and the clerk must do a manual search by name. Providing as much detail as you can helps avoid this fee. Make checks payable to Plumas Superior Court. Send the payment with your written request if ordering by mail. If you visit in person, you can pay by check, money order, or cash at the clerk window.

Processing time for mail requests is five to seven court business days according to the court website. This is faster than many counties. If you need copies urgently, calling ahead or visiting in person may be the quickest option. The clerk can tell you if the file is available and how long it will take to prepare your copies. Some requests may be completed the same day if the file is on hand and not too large.

Requesting Divorce Records by Mail

To request divorce records by mail, write a letter to the Plumas County Superior Court Clerk. The address is 520 Main Street, Room 104, Quincy, CA 95971. In your letter, state that you want a certified copy of a divorce decree or other divorce documents. Include the case number if you have it. If not, provide the full names of both parties and the year the divorce was filed. The more details you give, the easier it is for the clerk to find the right case.

Include a check or money order for the fees. If you are ordering a certified divorce decree, send $15 plus $0.50 for each additional page beyond the first. If you do not know how many pages the decree is, you can send an estimated amount and the clerk will let you know if more is needed. Also include your return address and a phone number in case the clerk needs to reach you. Some people include a self-addressed stamped envelope to make it easier for the clerk to send the copies back.

Once the court receives your request, the clerk will search for the case and prepare the copies. The process takes about five to seven court business days. Court business days do not include weekends or court holidays. If the clerk cannot find the case or if there is a problem, they will contact you by phone or mail. Make sure your contact information is clear in your letter.

California Divorce Rules

To file for divorce in California, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months and in the county where you file for three months. This residency rule is in Family Code Section 2320. If you lived in Plumas County for three months before filing, you can file your divorce case at the Plumas County Superior Court.

California is a no-fault state. You do not have to prove your spouse did anything wrong. The legal grounds for divorce are irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity. Almost all cases use irreconcilable differences as the reason. This is set out in Family Code Section 2310. After you file and serve your spouse, California law requires a six-month waiting period before the divorce can become final. This is required by Family Code Section 2339. The six months start when the other party is served with the divorce papers.

Divorce judgments are public records in California. Anyone can ask for a copy. Government Code Section 68152 says courts must keep these records permanently. This means even old divorce cases should still be on file. However, some documents in a divorce case may be sealed or confidential, such as child custody evaluations. The clerk can tell you what is available to the public and what is not.

Divorce Forms

All California courts use the same divorce forms. These forms are created by the Judicial Council. The main forms you need to start a divorce are form FL-100 (Petition), form FL-110 (Summons), and form FL-120 (Response). You can download these for free from the California Courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-forms. Each form comes with instructions.

The filing fee in Plumas County is the same as the rest of California. It costs $435 to $450 to file a divorce petition depending on whether you have minor children. If you cannot pay the fee, you can apply for a fee waiver using form FW-001. The court will review your income and decide if you qualify. Plumas County is a small county so there may not be a full-time family law facilitator, but the clerk can point you to self-help resources or legal aid if you need help filling out forms.

Other Counties Near Plumas

Plumas County is in the northern Sierra Nevada region. It borders several other counties. To the west is Butte County. To the south is Sierra County. To the east is Lassen County. To the north is the state line with Nevada. If your divorce was filed in one of these counties, you need to contact that county court directly. Each county keeps its own divorce records. Plumas County cannot provide records from another county.