Find Santa Clara Divorce Records
Santa Clara County divorce records are kept by the Superior Court clerk. The main courthouse handles family law cases for the entire county. You can email the family law clerk at familylaw@scscourt.org with questions about divorce records. The county has an online case portal where you can search for divorce cases by name or case number. The portal shows basic case info such as filing date and case type. For copies of divorce decrees and other documents, you must contact the clerk. The clerk provides certified copies of divorce decrees and other family law documents. Effective January 1, 2026, Assembly Bill 1524 lets people photograph court records at the courthouse. This means you can take photos of documents with your phone instead of paying for copies if you visit in person.
Santa Clara County Quick Facts
Santa Clara Superior Court
The Superior Court handles all divorce cases filed in Santa Clara County. Family law cases are managed by the family law clerk office. You can reach the clerk by email at familylaw@scscourt.org. This email address is for questions about divorce records and family law procedures. The clerk can tell you what documents are in a case file and how to get copies.
Santa Clara County has multiple courthouse locations. The main courthouse is in San Jose. Other branches serve different parts of the county. Family law cases may be filed at different locations based on where you live. Each courthouse can access records for cases filed anywhere in the county. You do not have to visit the exact courthouse where your case was filed. Any Santa Clara County courthouse can help you get copies of records.
Effective January 1, 2026, a new law lets people photograph court records at the courthouse. Assembly Bill 1524 permits photographing records you are allowed to see. You can use your phone or camera to take pictures of documents instead of paying for copies. This applies to public records. You cannot photograph sealed or confidential documents. This new law helps people save money on copy fees. Visit the courthouse and ask to see the case file. Take photos of the pages you need. This is free as long as you follow the courthouse rules about photography.
Search Cases Online
Santa Clara County has an online case portal at portal.scscourt.org. This tool lets you search for 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 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 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 clerk or visit the courthouse.
The case search 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 or find the file at the courthouse.
Costs for Divorce Records
A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $15 in Santa Clara 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 case portal 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 Santa Clara Superior Court. Include the total amount for the documents you want. If you are not sure of the exact cost, email the clerk at familylaw@scscourt.org to ask. They can give you an estimate based on what you need.
Photography of court records is free under the new law. If you visit the courthouse and take photos of documents, there is no charge. You just need to follow courthouse rules. Ask the clerk where you can view and photograph the file. They will tell you the rules and where to go. This option can save you money if you need many pages of records.
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 the courthouse. Bring the case number. Ask to see the case file. You can take photos of the documents with your phone under the new law. This is free. If you want official certified copies, tell the clerk which documents you need. Pay the fees. The clerk will give you a receipt and tell you when your copies will be ready. If the file is on-site, you may get your copies within a few days. If the file is stored off-site, it will take longer. The clerk will tell you how long the wait will be.
Mail requests work for people who cannot visit the courthouse. Write a letter or send an email to familylaw@scscourt.org. Include the case number and the names of both parties. State which documents you need. Say if you want certified or plain copies. The clerk will reply with instructions on how to pay and receive the documents. For mail orders, send a check or money order payable to Santa Clara Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the documents back. Processing time for mail orders is usually two to four weeks depending on whether the file is on-site or off-site.
Email is a good way to ask questions before you make a formal request. The clerk can confirm that the case exists and tell you what documents are in the file. This helps you avoid requesting 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County for at least three months. If you meet these times, you can file at the Superior Court. 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
Santa Clara 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. Check the court website at santaclara.courts.ca.gov for hours and services.
If you need a lawyer, the Santa Clara 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. Law Foundation of Silicon Valley 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 Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County includes many cities. Residents of these cities file divorce cases at the Superior Court. The main city with its own page is:
Other cities in the county include Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Milpitas, Cupertino, and Campbell. Smaller towns and unincorporated areas also fall under the county court jurisdiction. All divorce cases go through Santa Clara Superior Court no matter where you live in the county.
Nearby Counties
Santa Clara County borders other California counties. If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county court for records. Adjacent counties include: