Santa Cruz County Divorce Records
Santa Cruz County keeps divorce records at the Superior Court. The Family Law division is at 1 Second Street, Room 300, in Watsonville. You can call 831-420-2200 for general questions or email courtrecords@santacruzcourt.org for record requests. The clerk provides certified copies of divorce decrees and other family law documents. Cases filed after June 1985 are available through the online case portal. Older cases from before June 1985 are on microfiche. You must contact the clerk directly to get copies of these older records. Processing time for record requests is about four weeks. The county has an online portal where you can search for divorce cases by name or case number. The portal shows basic case info but you still need to contact the clerk to get certified copies of documents.
Santa Cruz County Quick Facts
Superior Court Records Office
The records office handles all requests for divorce documents. You can reach them by phone at 831-420-2200 or by email at courtrecords@santacruzcourt.org. The Family Law division is located at 1 Second Street, Room 300, in Watsonville. This is where family law cases are filed and maintained. Staff help people get copies of divorce decrees and other court documents from family law cases.
Cases filed after June 1985 are in the computer system. These cases are searchable online through the county case portal. Older cases from before June 1985 are stored on microfiche. The clerk can search microfiche records but it takes more time. If your case is very old, mention the year when you contact the clerk. They will tell you if the records are available and how long it will take to find them.
Standard processing time for record requests is four weeks. This is the time it takes for the clerk to pull the file, make copies, and send them to you. If you need records faster, ask the clerk if expedited service is available. Some urgent requests can be handled sooner for an extra fee. Most people use standard processing because it is cheaper and still reasonably fast. Plan ahead if you have a deadline.
Search Cases Online
Santa Cruz County has an online case portal at portal.santacruzcourt.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 covers cases filed after June 1985. Earlier cases are not in the online system. You must contact the clerk to search for cases before 1985.
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. The case search is free. No account or login is needed. You can search as many times as you want at no charge. 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 Santa Cruz County. This is the standard fee set by California law. The $15 covers the certification and pages of the decree. 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. For cases before 1985, the clerk will have to search microfiche. This may trigger the search fee even if you have party names.
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 Cruz Superior Court. Include the total amount for the documents you want. If you are not sure of the exact cost, email courtrecords@santacruzcourt.org to ask. The clerk can give you an estimate based on what you need. Send your payment with your request and the clerk will process it.
How to Get Divorce Documents
Start by searching the online case portal. Look up the case by party name or case number if you have it. Write down the case number and the filing date. This info helps the clerk find your file fast. If your case is before June 1985, you will not find it online. Skip the online search and contact the clerk directly. 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 Family Law office at 1 Second Street, Room 300, in Watsonville. 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 tell you when your copies will be ready. Standard processing is four weeks. The clerk will let you know if your file is on-site or stored off-site. Off-site files may take longer to retrieve. You can come back to pick up copies or ask the clerk to mail them 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 Santa Cruz Superior Court, Family Law, 1 Second Street, Room 300, Watsonville, CA 95076. Wait for the clerk to process your request and mail the documents. Total time for mail orders is usually four weeks for processing plus mailing time on both ends.
Email requests are accepted at courtrecords@santacruzcourt.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. Some people prefer email for questions before sending a formal mail 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.
Filing for Divorce
To file for divorce in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz 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 santacruz.courts.ca.gov for hours and services.
If you need a lawyer, the Santa Cruz 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 Central Coast 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 Cruz County
Santa Cruz County includes several cities and towns. All residents file divorce cases at the Superior Court. The Family Law division is in Watsonville but serves the entire county. Major cities in the county include Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, and Scotts Valley. Smaller towns and unincorporated areas also fall under the county court jurisdiction. No matter where you live in the county, your divorce case goes through Santa Cruz Superior Court.
Nearby Counties
Santa Cruz County borders other California counties. If your divorce was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county court for records. Adjacent counties include: