Find Contra Costa County Court Records
Contra Costa County court records are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. The county has over 1.1 million residents and covers cities like Concord, Richmond, Antioch, and Walnut Creek. The main court records office is in Martinez at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse. The court runs an online portal where you can look up case information. This page explains how to search, what fees to expect, and where to go for court records in Contra Costa County.
Contra Costa County Court Records Quick Facts
Contra Costa Court Records Online Search
The Contra Costa Superior Court runs an online public portal for case searches. The Contra Costa Public Portal lets you search by name, case number, or date. It covers civil, criminal, family law, probate, and other case types.
Here is a screenshot of the Contra Costa County public portal.
The portal shows case status, hearing dates, party names, and the register of actions. It runs on the Tyler Technologies Odyssey system.
The court has announced it is working on a new case document system that should roll out in the coming year. For now, the current portal handles basic lookups. Copy fees apply if you want document images. The standard rate is $0.50 per page. Certifications are $40.00 plus the per-page copy fee. Divorce judgment certifications cost $15.00.
Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, remote access to criminal and family law case documents is restricted. The portal shows summary data for these case types, but full documents may only be available at a courthouse terminal. Civil records have broader access online for Contra Costa County court records.
In-Person Access at Contra Costa Courts
The Court Records Unit is at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. Go to Room 103. Bring a photo ID. The clerk can look up cases by name or number and pull files for you to review on site. Viewing is free. You only pay for copies.
Contra Costa County has multiple court locations. The Arnason Justice Center in Pittsburg handles some east county cases. The George D. Carroll Courthouse in Richmond covers west county matters. The Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez is where the main records unit sits. If you are not sure which location has your case, call the main number first.
| Court Records Unit | Wakefield Taylor Courthouse 725 Court Street, Room 103 Martinez, CA 94553 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (925) 608-1000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Contra Costa County Court Record Fees
The court charges $0.50 per page for plain copies. That is the statewide rate. Certified copies are $40.00 plus $0.50 per page. Certifications for divorce judgments cost $15.00. Search fees are $15.00 if the clerk needs more than 10 minutes to find a record. Exemplification costs $50.00.
Online portal searches do not have a fee for basic case lookups. Document downloads or images may have charges depending on how the court sets up its system. The court is updating its document access, so check the portal for current pricing.
Fee waivers are available. If your income is low enough, a judge can waive filing and copy fees. The court's self-help resources can walk you through the fee waiver process for Contra Costa County court records.
Note: Always bring a form of payment when visiting the courthouse for copies, as most courts accept cash, checks, and sometimes credit cards.
How to Find Court Records in Contra Costa
Start with the online portal. Enter the person's name or case number. The search results show basic case info. If you need more detail or full documents, plan a visit to the Martinez courthouse.
For criminal background checks through the state, the California DOJ Record Review handles personal criminal history. You submit Live Scan fingerprints and pay $25. That covers statewide records, not just Contra Costa County.
- Use the online portal for name or case number searches
- Check civil case documents online when available
- Visit Martinez for criminal or family law full documents
- Request copies at the clerk's window
- Use DOJ for statewide criminal history checks
The court records page on the Contra Costa Superior Court website has more details about the records process and what is currently available online.
Legal Help in Contra Costa County
Bay Area Legal Aid serves Contra Costa County residents. Call (800) 551-5554 to check eligibility. They help with civil, housing, and family law matters for low-income people. The county also has a self-help center at the courthouse where staff can guide you through forms and basic procedures.
The California Courts Self-Help Center provides statewide resources. Forms, guides, and information about court processes are available online and apply to Contra Costa County. If you need a private lawyer, the Contra Costa County Bar Association runs a referral service.
Cities in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County has 19 incorporated cities. All court cases go through the Contra Costa Superior Court. These major cities have their own court records pages:
Other cities in Contra Costa County include Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, and Danville. All file court cases through the Contra Costa Superior Court system.
Nearby Counties
Contra Costa County sits in the East Bay. These neighboring counties have their own court systems and separate records.