San Joaquin County Divorce Records
Divorce records in San Joaquin County are kept by the Superior Court clerk. The courthouse sits at 180 East Weber Avenue in Stockton. Suite 204 handles records requests. You can call 209-992-5697 for questions about divorce documents. The office is open from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon on weekdays. San Joaquin County has divorce records dating back to 1850. This makes it one of the older record collections in California. The clerk can help you find cases from any year. Many recent cases are searchable online through the county case portal. For older records, you may need to contact the clerk directly. The clerk provides certified copies of divorce decrees and other family law documents.
San Joaquin County Quick Facts
Records Management at Superior Court
The Records Management Division handles all requests for divorce documents. This office is in Suite 204 at the courthouse. Staff help people get copies of divorce decrees and other case papers. You can visit in person during business hours or send a mail request. The phone number is 209-992-5697. If you call, be ready to give the case number or the names of both parties and the year of the divorce.
San Joaquin County keeps records going back to 1850. This includes some of the oldest divorce cases in California. Early records may be on microfilm or in archives. The clerk can search these old files but it may take extra time. More recent cases are stored in digital systems and are easier to retrieve. If your case is very old, call ahead to ask about availability and processing time. The clerk will tell you if the file needs special handling.
Processing time for record requests is about 20 business days. Business days do not include weekends or court holidays. If you need documents faster, ask the clerk if expedited service is available. Some urgent requests can be handled sooner for an extra fee. Plan ahead if you have a deadline. Mail your request early or visit in person to speed things up.
Search Cases Online
San Joaquin County has an online case search portal at cms.sjcourts.org. This tool lets you look up civil cases including family law matters. You can search by party name, case number, attorney, 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 a register of actions. This is a list of all filings and events in the case. The register shows when documents were filed and when hearings happened. You can see the timeline of the case from start to finish. The online portal does not show full document images for most family law cases. You see what was filed but you cannot read the documents online. For copies of actual documents, you must contact the Records Management Division.
The case search is free. No account or login is needed. You can search as many times as you want. The tool works best when you know at least one party name. Common names may return many results. Adding 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 Joaquin County. This is the standard fee set by California law. The fee covers the certification and basic pages. Public agencies can get certified copies for $10 instead of $15. Plain copies without certification cost $0.50 per page. If you need certification for other documents besides the divorce decree, the fee is $40 plus copy charges.
Search fees apply when you do not have a case number. If the clerk has to search for your case by name and it takes extra time, they can charge $15. Having the case number avoids this fee. That is why most people use the online case search first. The online tool is free and helps you find the case number before you contact the clerk.
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 Joaquin Superior Court. Include the total amount for the documents you want. If you are not sure of the exact cost, call the clerk to ask. They can give you an estimate based on what you need. Send a bit extra if you are unsure and they will refund the difference.
How to Get Divorce Documents
Start by searching the online case portal. Look up the case by party name or case number. Write down the case number and the filing date. 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 ask for other documents such as the petition, response, settlement agreement, or financial disclosures.
For in-person requests, visit Suite 204 at the courthouse. Bring the case number. Tell the clerk which documents you want and whether you need certified copies. Pay the fees. The clerk will give you a receipt and a date to come back for your copies. Most in-person orders take about 20 business days to process. If you cannot come back, you can ask them to mail the documents to you. Provide a mailing address and they will send the copies when ready.
Mail requests require a written letter. Include the case number and the names of both parties. State which documents you need. Say if you want certified or plain copies. Enclose payment by check or money order. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the documents back. Send your request to San Joaquin Superior Court, Records Management, 180 E Weber Ave., Suite 204, Stockton, CA 95202. Wait for the clerk to process your request. Total time for mail orders is usually 20 business days plus mailing time on both ends.
If your case is very old, mention the year in your request. The clerk may need extra time to find archived files. Some records from the 1800s or early 1900s are on microfilm. These files take longer to retrieve and copy. Call ahead if you need documents from before 1950. The clerk can tell you if the records are available and how long it will take.
Filing for Divorce
To file for divorce in San Joaquin County, you must meet California residency rules. One spouse must have lived in California for at least six months. That same person must have lived in San Joaquin County for at least three months. If you meet these times, you can file at the Superior Court in Stockton. The filing fee is $435. This fee starts the case. If you cannot afford the fee, 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 for free filing.
To start a divorce, you file form FL-100, 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 you 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 has 30 days to file a response. If they agree with everything, you may be able to do an uncontested divorce. If they disagree, the case may go to hearings or trial.
California has a six-month waiting period. The divorce cannot be finalized until at least six months pass from the date your spouse was served. This is a state law requirement. During the wait, you can work out issues like property division, child custody, and support. If you agree on all terms, you file a settlement agreement. The judge reviews the agreement and signs the final judgment after the six months are up. If you cannot agree, the court holds hearings to decide the issues.
Help with Divorce Cases
San Joaquin County 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 sjcourts.org for hours and services.
If you need a lawyer, the San Joaquin County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a family law attorney in the area. Legal aid organizations serve low-income residents. Legal Services of Northern California provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income. Their office is in Stockton. They handle family law cases including divorce, custody, and domestic violence matters. Call them to ask if you qualify for free legal help.
Cities in San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County includes several cities. Residents of these cities file divorce cases at the Superior Court in Stockton. The main city with its own page is:
Smaller towns and unincorporated areas also fall under San Joaquin County jurisdiction. All divorce cases go through the same courthouse in Stockton no matter where you live in the county.
Nearby Counties
San Joaquin County borders other California counties. If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county court for records. Adjacent counties include: