Find San Diego Divorce Records
Divorce records in San Diego County are kept by the Superior Court clerk. The main courthouse sits at 1100 Union Street in downtown San Diego. Family law cases get handled on the fourth floor in the Family Business Office. You can call them at 619-450-7888 for basic questions. If you need records from an older case, the clerk office on the 14th floor keeps archived files. The clerk helps people get copies of divorce decrees and other documents from family law cases. San Diego County also has online search tools that let you look up case info from home. Most people start with an online search to find the case number, then they request copies from the clerk.
San Diego County Quick Facts
San Diego Superior Court Records
The Central Courthouse on Union Street handles most family law matters in San Diego County. Room 450 on the fourth floor is the Family Business Office. This is where you go for help with divorce case records. The office is open from 8:30 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon on weekdays. You can walk in and ask about your case. Bring the case number if you have it. If you do not know the case number, give them the names of both spouses and the approximate year of the divorce.
Older records are kept on the 14th floor. If your case is from many years ago, the clerk may need to pull the file from storage. For general records questions, call the Central Records line at 619-450-7361. They can tell you if a case file is on-site or stored elsewhere. They also answer questions about fees and how long it takes to get copies.
San Diego County has other courthouses too. The East County Regional Center in El Cajon serves residents in the eastern part of the county. Their phone number is 619-456-4100. The North County Regional Center in Vista handles cases for people in the northern region. Call them at 760-201-8600. The South County Regional Center covers the southern area and their number is 619-746-6200. Each location keeps files only for cases filed there. Make sure you know which courthouse handled your divorce before you request records.
Online Case Search
San Diego County offers two main online tools for searching divorce records. The first is the Family ROA portal at roasearch.sdcourt.ca.gov. ROA stands for Register of Actions. This tool shows a list of all filings and events in a family law case. You search by party name or case number. The results show when documents were filed and when court hearings took place.
The second tool is the Court Index at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov. This database covers all case types including family law. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or date. The Court Index gives you basic info about the case such as the case type, filing date, and current status. Both tools are free to use. No account or login is needed. The online portals do not show full document images for most family law papers. You can see what was filed but not always read the documents. For copies of actual documents, you must contact the clerk.
San Diego County started offering online document purchase for some cases. If your case was filed on or after August 24, 2015, you may be able to buy copies of certain documents online. Check the Family ROA portal to see if online purchase is available for your case. Older cases require a trip to the courthouse or a mail request to get copies.
Divorce Record Fees
The cost for a certified copy of a divorce decree is $15. This is the set fee under California law for all counties. The $15 fee includes the certification seal and the pages of the decree. If you want plain copies without certification, the fee is $0.50 per page. Other documents that need certification cost $40 plus the copy charges.
If you order copies in person at the courthouse, you pay when you pick them up. Cash, check, money order, and credit cards are accepted. Mail orders need a check or money order made out to San Diego Superior Court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request. Some people also include extra postage if they expect a large file. Online document purchases use a credit card. The online system tells you the total cost before you complete the order.
Search fees apply when the clerk has to look for your case without a case number. If you give them only names and the search takes more than 10 minutes, they can charge $15. Having the case number avoids this fee. That is why most people use the online portals first to find the case number. Once you have the number, you can ask for specific documents without a search fee.
How to Get Divorce Documents
The easiest way to start is by using the online search tools. Go to the Family ROA portal or Court Index and search for the case. Write down the case number and the courthouse location. This info helps the clerk find your file fast. Next, decide which documents you need. The divorce decree is the most common request. This is the final judgment that ends the marriage. You can also get copies of other papers such as the petition, the settlement agreement, or financial disclosures.
For in-person requests, visit the Family Business Office at the courthouse that handled your case. Bring the case number. Ask the clerk for the documents you want. Tell them if you need certified or plain copies. Pay the fees. If the file is on-site, you may get your copies the same day or within a few days. If the file is stored off-site, the clerk will take your contact info and let you know when the file is available. You can come back to pick up copies or ask them to mail the documents to you.
Mail requests work for people who cannot visit the courthouse. Write a letter with the case number and the names of both parties. State which documents you want and whether you need certified copies. Include payment by check or money order. Add a stamped return envelope. Mail your request to San Diego Superior Court, Central Records, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Processing time for mail orders is usually two to four weeks. Older files stored off-site can take longer.
Online purchase is available for some newer cases. Log in to the Family ROA portal and search for your case. If online purchase is offered, you will see a link to buy documents. Follow the prompts to select the documents you want and pay by credit card. The system lets you download the files right away after payment.
Help with Divorce Cases
San Diego County Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator program. The facilitator helps people who do not have a lawyer. They can explain court forms and procedures. They cannot give you legal advice or represent you in court. The facilitator office is free. You can visit them at the courthouse or call to ask questions. They help with issues like child support, custody, and filing the right forms.
The court also has a self-help center. The center provides forms and instructions for divorce and other family law matters. Staff can show you how to fill out forms but they cannot tell you what to do in your case. The self-help center is on the fourth floor of the Central Courthouse. Hours and services may vary, so call ahead before you visit.
If you need a lawyer, the San Diego County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call 619-231-8585 to get connected with a family law attorney. Legal aid groups also serve low-income residents. Legal Aid Society of San Diego helps people who qualify based on income. Their phone number is 877-534-2524. They handle family law cases including divorce, custody, and domestic violence matters.
Filing for Divorce in San Diego County
To file for divorce here, you must meet residency rules. One spouse must have lived in California for six months before filing. That same person must have lived in San Diego County for three months. These are minimum times set by state law. If you just moved to the county, you have to wait until you meet the three-month rule.
The filing fee is $435. This fee starts the case. If you cannot afford it, you can ask for a fee waiver by filling out form FW-001. The court reviews your income and expenses to decide if you qualify. To start a divorce, you file a petition on form FL-100. The petition tells the court what you want. You also file a summons on form FL-110. The summons notifies your spouse that you filed for divorce. After filing, you must have someone over 18 serve the papers on your spouse. This is called service of process. Your spouse then has 30 days to file a response.
California has a six-month waiting period. The divorce cannot be final until at least six months pass from the date your spouse was served. During the wait, you can work out issues like property division, child custody, and support. If you agree on everything, you can file for an uncontested divorce. If you disagree, the court will hold hearings to decide the issues. Either way, the final judgment cannot be signed until the six months are up.
Major Cities in San Diego County
San Diego County has several large cities. Residents of these cities file divorce cases at the Superior Court location that serves their area. Cities with their own detailed pages include:
Smaller towns and unincorporated areas also fall under San Diego County jurisdiction. Check the city page for local details if your city is listed. Otherwise, contact the courthouse nearest to you.
Nearby Counties
San Diego County shares borders with other California counties. If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county court. Adjacent counties include: