Tulare County Divorce Records Search

Tulare County Superior Court maintains divorce records at two main locations: the Visalia courthouse at 221 South Mooney Boulevard and the Porterville courthouse at 300 East Olive Avenue. The Visalia location handles most family law matters and serves as the primary site for record requests, with office hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and phone access at 559-730-5000. You can search for divorce cases online through the court portal at online.tulare.courts.ca.gov, and certified copies of divorce decrees cost fifteen dollars for public requests or ten dollars for government agencies, with mail orders typically processed within fifteen business days and copy orders ready in seven to ten working days when the file is available on-site.

Tulare Superior Court Locations

The main courthouse is in Visalia at 221 South Mooney Boulevard. This is the primary location for family law matters and record requests. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 559-730-5000 for general information. The Porterville courthouse at 300 East Olive Avenue also handles some family law matters, but most divorce record requests go through Visalia.

Visalia is the county seat and the main location for court records. All divorce cases filed in Tulare County are stored in the court system and accessible from either courthouse. If you live in the northern part of the county near Visalia, go to the Mooney Boulevard courthouse. If you're in the southern part near Porterville, you can contact that courthouse for assistance.

When you visit or call, have your case number ready if possible. If you don't have it, provide both party names and the year the divorce was filed. The clerk will search for your case and tell you what records are available and how much copies will cost.

Search Cases Online

Tulare County has an online case portal at online.tulare.courts.ca.gov. You can search for divorce cases by party name or case number. The portal shows basic case information like filing dates, case status, and hearing schedules. It's free to use and you don't need to register.

To search, enter a party name or case number. The system returns matching cases. Click on a case to see details. Some documents may be viewable online, but not all files are fully digitized. If you need official certified copies, you must request them from the clerk's office and pay the copy fees.

The online portal is useful for finding your case number and checking case status. If your case doesn't appear online, it may be too old or not yet entered into the system. Call the clerk's office at 559-730-5000 and they can search manually.

How to Get Divorce Decrees

Start by using the online portal to find your case number. Once you have it, you can request a certified copy of the divorce decree. In person, go to the Visalia courthouse at 221 South Mooney Boulevard during office hours. Fill out a request form at the clerk's window. Pay the fee. Copy orders are usually ready in seven to ten working days if the file is on-site.

By mail, send a written request with the case number, a check for fifteen dollars plus fifty cents per page, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Make the check payable to Tulare Superior Court. Address your request to Tulare County Superior Court, 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93291. Processing time for mail requests is typically fifteen business days.

If you don't have the case number, include both party names and the year the divorce was filed. The clerk may charge a fifteen-dollar search fee if it takes over ten minutes to find your case. To avoid this fee, use the online portal first to get the case number.

Certified copies have an official court stamp and signature. You need certification for legal purposes like changing your name, remarrying, or proving marital status. Regular copies are fine for personal use but won't work for official transactions.

Divorce Record Fees

Tulare County charges standard California fees for divorce records:

• Certified divorce decree: $15.00
• Public agency rate: $10.00
• Other certified documents: $40.00
• Copies: $0.50 per page
• Search fee: $15.00 if over 10 minutes

The fifteen-dollar fee for certified divorce decrees comes from Government Code Section 70674. The fifty-cent per page copy fee is in Government Code Section 70627.

Payment can be by check, money order, or credit card in person. Make checks payable to Tulare Superior Court. Write the case number on the memo line. Do not mail cash. If you're unsure of the total cost, call 559-730-5000 and ask. The clerk can estimate the cost based on how many pages the decree has.

California Divorce Laws

California is a no-fault divorce state. The only grounds are irreconcilable differences or incurable insanity, as stated in Family Code Section 2310. Nearly all divorces cite irreconcilable differences. You don't have to prove wrongdoing by either spouse.

Residency requirements come from Family Code Section 2320. One spouse must live in California for six months and in Tulare County for three months before filing. Once you file and serve papers, there's a mandatory six-month waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. That's under Family Code Section 2339.

Divorce judgments are permanent public records. Government Code Section 68152 requires courts to keep divorce decrees forever. Anyone can request a copy unless the case is sealed by court order, which is rare.

Help with Divorce Matters

Tulare County Superior Court offers a Family Law Facilitator who provides free assistance to self-represented parties. Contact the clerk's office at 559-730-5000 to ask about the Facilitator's schedule and services. They can help with forms, answer procedural questions, and explain divorce requirements.

The California Courts website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov has guides on filing for divorce, responding to a petition, and handling custody and support issues. You can download forms and read step-by-step instructions.

Legal aid organizations may offer free or low-cost help to low-income residents. Contact legal services in Tulare County to see if you qualify for assistance with family law matters.

If you need a private attorney, the State Bar of California has a lawyer referral service at calbar.ca.gov. You can search for licensed attorneys who practice family law in Tulare County.