Oakland Court Records
Court records in Oakland are managed by the Alameda County Superior Court. Oakland is the county seat of Alameda County with a population around 433,000. Two major courthouses in Oakland handle the bulk of cases for the city. You can search for civil, criminal, family, and probate records online or visit one of the courthouses in person. This page covers the key steps for finding and accessing court records in Oakland.
Oakland Court Records Quick Facts
Where Oakland Court Records Are Filed
Oakland has two main courthouses. The Rene C. Davidson Courthouse sits at 1225 Fallon Street. It handles criminal cases. The Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse at 661 Washington Street covers civil and other matters. Both are in downtown Oakland and both are part of the Alameda County Superior Court.
Oakland is the county seat, so many county-wide court functions run through these buildings. All cases filed in Oakland go through the county system. The city does not have a separate court. Criminal arraignments, trials, civil lawsuits, family law hearings, and probate matters all happen at these two locations.
If you are not sure which courthouse holds your case, contact the court at (510) 891-6009 for criminal matters. For civil cases, the Wiley Manuel courthouse handles inquiries. The Hayward Hall of Justice at (510) 690-2703 also serves parts of Alameda County if your case was filed there instead.
| Criminal Court | Rene C. Davidson Courthouse 1225 Fallon Street Oakland, CA 94612 |
|---|---|
| Civil Court | Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse 661 Washington Street Oakland, CA 94607 |
| Phone (Criminal) | (510) 891-6009 |
Search Oakland Court Records Online
Alameda County has two online portals for case searches. The eCourt Public Portal covers many case types. The Odyssey Portal also offers case search tools. Both let you look up cases by name or case number. These systems cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Oakland.
For criminal record requests specifically, the court has a Criminal Record Requests Portal. This lets you submit requests for criminal case information online. You can also go in person. The court says that in-person research is free of charge.
The Oakland city website shown here provides links to city services and local resources.
While the city site does not host court records directly, it can point you to related services and community resources in Oakland.
Remote access has limits. Under California Rule of Court 2.503, criminal and family law documents cannot be viewed remotely. The online tools show the register of actions and basic case data, but full documents for those case types are only available on courthouse terminals. Civil case records have the fewest restrictions for Oakland court record searches.
Oakland Court Records Fees
Alameda County follows the statewide fee schedule. The first 5 pages of a document download cost $1.00 per page. Each page after that is $0.50, with a cap of $50 per document. Certified copies cost $40.00. Immigration letters are $1.00 each. Search fees are $15.00 if the clerk spends more than 10 minutes looking.
In-person research is free. You can go to the courthouse, sit down, and look through case files at no cost. Copies are where the fees come in. If you just need to view a record and take notes, there is no charge for that at the Oakland courthouses.
Fee waivers exist for people who cannot afford these costs. Ask the clerk for a fee waiver form, or download one from the court's website. A judge will review your financial situation.
Legal Help in Oakland
Bay Area Legal Aid is the main free legal services provider for Oakland. Call (800) 551-5554. They handle housing, public benefits, and family law. If you need help understanding court records or filing paperwork, this is a good starting point.
Centro Legal de la Raza at (510) 437-1554 offers legal help in Oakland too. They focus on immigration, housing, and workers' rights. The California Courts Self-Help Center has statewide guides for all case types. You can use these guides to figure out which court records you need and how to request them.
The Alameda County Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service. For a small fee, they connect you with a local attorney who practices in the area of law related to your case. This can be helpful if your court records involve a complex legal situation in Oakland.
Types of Court Records in Oakland
The Alameda County Superior Court keeps records for all case types in Oakland. Civil unlimited cases are kept for 10 years. Felony records stay for 75 years. Family law records are kept for 30 years. Adoption and parentage records are permanent. Small claims files last 10 years. These rules come from Government Code Section 68152.
Civil records include lawsuits, evictions, and contract disputes. Criminal records cover everything from minor offenses to serious felonies. Family law files hold divorce decrees, custody orders, and support agreements. Probate records deal with wills, trusts, and estate administration. Each type has different access rules.
- Civil records: most accessible, available online and in person
- Criminal records: basic info online, full files at courthouse only
- Family law: courthouse viewing only under Rule 2.503
- Juvenile: fully confidential by state law
- Probate: available online and in person
If a case has been sealed by court order, those records are not available to the public regardless of case type. Most Oakland court records, though, are open for public inspection.
Alameda County Court Records
Oakland is in Alameda County. All court filings for Oakland go through the Alameda County Superior Court. The county covers several cities and has multiple courthouse locations. For full details on the county court system, search portals, and resources, visit the Alameda County court records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are in Alameda County or the surrounding Bay Area. Court records for each go through their respective county court.