San Mateo County Divorce Records
Divorce records in San Mateo County are kept at the Superior Court in Redwood City. The courthouse sits at 400 County Center. Room A on the first floor handles records requests. You can call 650-261-5100 for questions about divorce documents. The office is open from 8:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon on weekdays. Important: You must make an appointment to visit the records office. Walk-ins are not accepted. Call ahead to schedule a time. The clerk provides certified copies of divorce decrees and other family law documents. San Mateo County has two online portals where you can search for case info. These tools show basic case details but you still need to contact the clerk to get full copies of documents.
San Mateo County Quick Facts
Records Management at Superior Court
The Records Management office is on the first floor in Room A. This office handles all requests for divorce documents. Staff help people get copies of court papers. You cannot walk in without an appointment. Call 650-261-5100 to schedule a time. The office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on weekdays. Plan to call early because appointment slots can fill up fast.
When you make an appointment, the clerk will ask for the case number or party names. Have this info ready when you call. The clerk can check if the file is on-site or stored off-site. Cases filed after 2000 are more likely to be on-site. Older cases may be archived. If your file is off-site, it will take extra time to retrieve it. The clerk will tell you how long the wait will be.
San Mateo County has public computers at the courthouse where you can view cases filed after 2000. This is useful if you want to see case info before ordering copies. The computers are available during courthouse hours. You can search by name or case number. The system shows a register of actions for each case. This is a list of all filings and events. You cannot print documents from the public computers but you can write down the info you need.
Online Case Search Tools
San Mateo County has two online portals for searching cases. The first is MIDX at web.sanmateocourt.org/midx. This portal covers many case types including family law. You can search by party name, case number, attorney, or filing date. The system shows basic case info such as case type, filing date, and current status. Click on a case to see a register of actions.
The second portal is Odyssey at odyportal-ext.sanmateocourt.org. This is a newer system that also covers civil cases including family law. The Odyssey portal has a similar search function. Type in a name or case number and view the results. Both portals are free to use. No account or login is needed. You can search as many times as you want.
The online portals do not show full document images for most family law cases. You can see what was filed but you cannot read the documents online. California court rules restrict remote access to certain divorce papers. For copies of actual documents, you must contact the Records Management office. Use the online portals to find the case number, then call to request copies.
Costs for Divorce Records
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 in San Mateo County. This is the standard fee set by California law. The $15 covers the certification and basic pages. 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 portals first. The online tools are free and help 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 Mateo 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.
How to Get Divorce Documents
Start by searching one of the online portals. 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, call 650-261-5100 to make an appointment. Tell the clerk you need divorce records. Give them the case number. Ask which documents are available. On the day of your appointment, arrive on time at Room A. Bring the case number. Tell the clerk which documents you want and whether you need certified 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 off-site, the clerk will take your contact info and let you know when the documents are ready. You can come back to pick them up 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 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 Mateo Superior Court, Records Management, 400 County Center, 1st Floor, Room A, Redwood City, CA 94063. Wait for the clerk to process your request and mail the documents. Processing time is usually two to four weeks depending on whether the file is on-site or off-site.
Some people prefer to call first before sending a mail request. The clerk can confirm that the case exists and tell you what documents are in the file. This helps you avoid sending a request for records that do not exist or are not available. The clerk can also explain the fees so you send the right amount.
Filing for Divorce
To file for divorce in San Mateo 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 Mateo County for at least three months. If you meet these times, you can file at the Superior Court in Redwood City. 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.
Resources for Divorce Cases
San Mateo 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 sanmateo.courts.ca.gov for hours and services.
If you need a lawyer, the San Mateo 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 Aid Society of San Mateo County provides free legal help to people who qualify based on income. 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 Mateo County
San Mateo County includes several cities. Residents of these cities file divorce cases at the Superior Court in Redwood City. There are no branch courthouses. All cases go through the main courthouse. Major cities in the county include Redwood City, San Mateo, Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Pacifica. Smaller towns and unincorporated areas also fall under the county court jurisdiction.
Nearby Counties
San Mateo County borders other California counties. If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county court for records. Adjacent counties include: