San Francisco Divorce Records
San Francisco County keeps all divorce records at the Superior Court. The Civil Clerk office at 400 McAllister Street handles requests for divorce documents. Room 103 is where you go for civil records including family law cases. You can call 415-551-3802 with questions. The office hours are 8:30 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon on weekdays. The office closes from noon to 1:00 for lunch. San Francisco is both a city and a county, so there is just one courthouse that handles all divorce cases. The clerk can provide copies of divorce decrees and other court documents from family law cases. Many people search online first using the court case search tool. Once you find the case number, you can request copies from the clerk office.
San Francisco County Quick Facts
Civil Clerk Records Department
The Records Department sits in Room 103 on the first floor of the courthouse. This office handles all civil records including divorce cases. Staff help people request copies of court documents. You can visit in person or send a mail request. The email address is CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org. When you contact them, provide the case number if you have it. If not, give them the names of both parties and the year of the divorce.
Processing times depend on how many pages you need. Small orders with fewer than five pages often get done the same day if you come in person. Orders of six or more pages take 12 to 15 court days. Court days do not include weekends or holidays. If your file is stored off-site, the wait is about 15 business days. The clerk will tell you if your case is off-site when you make the request. Older cases are more likely to be in storage away from the courthouse.
You can mail requests to San Francisco Superior Court, Civil Records Department, 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102. Include the case number or party names. State which documents you need. Say whether you want certified or plain copies. Send a check or money order for the fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the documents back to you. Processing for mail requests usually takes the same time as in-person orders, plus mailing time on both ends.
Search Cases Online
San Francisco County has an online case search tool at webapps.sftc.org. This database lets you look up civil cases including family law matters. You can search by party name, case number, attorney name, or filing date. Type in a name and the system shows matching cases. Each result displays the case number, case type, filing date, and current status.
Click on a case to see more details. The system shows a register of actions. This is a list of all filings and events in the case. You can see when documents were filed and when hearings took place. The register gives you a timeline of the case from start to finish. The online tool does not show full document images. You see what was filed but you cannot read the documents online. For copies of actual documents, you must contact the Civil Records Department.
The case search tool is free. No account or login is needed. You can search as many times as you want at no charge. The tool works best if you know at least one party name. Common names may return many results. Having the year or case type helps narrow the search. Once you find the right case, write down the case number. This makes it easier to request copies from the clerk.
Costs for Divorce Records
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 in San Francisco County. This follows the standard California fee. The $15 covers the certification and basic pages. Plain copies without certification cost $0.50 per page. If the clerk has to get your file from off-site storage, there is a $6 retrieval fee. This fee applies only to files stored away from the courthouse.
Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card if you visit in person. Mail orders need a check or money order payable to San Francisco Superior Court. Make sure your payment covers the fees for the documents you want plus any retrieval fee if the file is off-site. The clerk will contact you if more money is needed. If you pay too much, they will refund the difference or let you know the extra amount.
Search fees do not usually apply if you provide a case number. If the clerk has to search for your case by name only and it takes more than 10 minutes, they can charge $15. Using the online case search tool first helps you find the case number so you avoid this fee. The online search is free and easy to use from home.
How to Get Divorce Documents
Start by searching online for the case. Go to the case search tool and look up the case by party name. Write down the case number. This saves time when you contact the clerk. Next, decide what you need. Most people want a certified copy of the divorce decree. This is the final judgment that ends the marriage. You can also ask for other documents such as the petition, response, or settlement agreement.
For in-person requests, visit Room 103 at the courthouse. Bring the case number. Tell the clerk which documents you want and whether you need certified copies. Pay the fees. If your order is small and the file is on-site, you may get your copies the same day. Larger orders or off-site files take longer. The clerk will give you a date to come back or offer to mail the documents to you.
Mail requests require a written letter. Include the case number and the names of both parties. List the documents you want. State if you need certified or plain copies. Enclose payment by check or money order. Add a stamped return envelope. Send everything to the Civil Records Department at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102. Wait for the clerk to process your request and mail the documents back to you. Total time for mail orders is usually three to five weeks including both legs of mailing.
Email requests are accepted at CCCRecordsDepartment@sftc.org. Send an email with the case number and your request details. The clerk will reply with instructions on how to pay and receive the documents. Email can speed up communication but you still need to pay before they send copies. Most clerks prefer mail or in-person requests but email works for simple questions.
Filing for Divorce
To file for divorce in San Francisco, you must meet California residency requirements. One spouse must have lived in the state for at least six months. That same person must have lived in San Francisco County for at least three months. San Francisco is both a city and a county, so living in the city meets the county rule. If you meet these times, you can file at San Francisco Superior Court.
The filing fee is $435. This fee starts the case. If you cannot pay, you can ask for a fee waiver. Fill out form FW-001 and explain your income and expenses. The court reviews the form and decides if you qualify for free filing. To start a divorce, you file form FL-100, which is the petition. The petition tells the court what you want from the divorce. You also file form FL-110, the summons. The summons notifies your spouse that the case has been filed.
After filing, someone over 18 who is not you must 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 mandatory six-month waiting period. The divorce cannot be finalized until at least six months pass from the date your spouse was served. During this time, you and your spouse 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 resolve disputes.
Resources for Divorce Cases
San Francisco Superior Court has a Family Law Facilitator program. The facilitator helps people who do not have a lawyer. They can explain court procedures and help with forms. They cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. The facilitator office is free. You can visit them at the courthouse or call for help. They assist with issues like child support, custody, and filing the correct forms.
The court also has a self-help center. The center provides forms and instructions for divorce and other family law matters. Staff show you how to fill out forms but they cannot tell you what to do in your case. The self-help center is at the courthouse. Check the court website at sf.courts.ca.gov for hours and services.
If you need a lawyer, the Bar Association of San Francisco runs a lawyer referral service. Call 415-989-1616 to get connected with a family law attorney. Legal aid organizations serve low-income residents. Legal Assistance to the Elderly helps older adults with legal issues including divorce. Bay Area Legal Aid provides free legal help to low-income people. Their phone number is 800-551-5554. They handle family law cases including divorce, custody, and domestic violence matters.
San Francisco City and County
San Francisco is unique because it is both a city and a county. This means there is one government and one court system for the entire area. All residents file divorce cases at the Superior Court on McAllister Street. There are no branch courthouses. Everything happens at the main courthouse downtown.
For more details about divorce records in the city of San Francisco, visit the San Francisco city page. That page has info specific to city residents and local resources.
Nearby Counties
San Francisco County is surrounded by other counties. If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county court for records. Adjacent counties include: