Del Norte County Court Records
Del Norte County court records are held by the Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte. This is California's northernmost coastal county, sitting right on the Oregon border. About 28,000 people live here. The county seat is Crescent City, where the single courthouse operates. Del Norte County has an online portal for case searches, which makes it possible to look up records without driving to the courthouse. This page covers how to search, fees, and how to get copies of court records in Del Norte County.
Del Norte County Court Records Quick Facts
Search Del Norte Court Records Online
Del Norte County offers an online portal for case lookups. The Del Norte Public Portal lets you search by name or case number. It covers civil, criminal, family law, small claims, and traffic cases. The system runs on the Journal Technologies platform.
Below is a screenshot of the Del Norte County court portal.
The portal displays case status, party names, hearing dates, and register of actions data for cases in Del Norte County.
No registration is needed to search the portal. Basic lookups are free. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, criminal and family law case documents have restrictions on remote access. You can see summaries and status info online, but full documents for those case types may need a courthouse visit. Civil case records are the most accessible online.
The California Appellate Courts Case Information System covers any cases from Del Norte County that were appealed to a higher court. For statewide criminal history checks, the California DOJ Record Review handles personal record requests through the Live Scan process.
Visit Del Norte County Courthouse
Crescent City has the only courthouse in Del Norte County. You can walk in and ask the clerk to pull a case file for you to view. Viewing is free. Bring a photo ID. The clerk searches by name or case number.
Del Norte County is far from major cities. Crescent City is about 85 miles north of Eureka and sits close to the Oregon border. If you live nearby, visiting the courthouse is straightforward. For people further away, the online portal or a mail request may be the better option. The court handles a relatively low volume of cases, so in-person service tends to be quick.
| Courthouse | Del Norte County Superior Court 450 H Street Crescent City, CA 95531 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (707) 464-8115 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Del Norte County Court Record Fees
Del Norte County follows the California statewide fee schedule for court records. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40.00 per document. If the clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching, there is a $15.00 search fee. Exemplification runs $50.00.
Certified copies of dissolution judgments are $15.00. This is the same in every California county. You can pay at the clerk's window when you get your copies. Online portal searches are free for basic case info.
Fee waivers help people with low income. You file a form, and a judge looks at your situation. If approved, the court waives some or all fees for copies and filings of Del Norte County court records.
Types of Del Norte County Court Records
The Del Norte Superior Court handles all trial-level case types. Civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, family law matters, probate, small claims, and traffic cases all go through this one courthouse. Each case type has different rules about public access.
Civil records are the easiest to access. You can view case details and documents for most civil matters through the online portal. Criminal cases show basic info but limit full document access. Family law records follow the same restriction under Rule 2.503. Juvenile records are confidential. Sealed records never show up in public searches, online or in person.
- Civil and small claims disputes
- Criminal felonies and misdemeanors
- Family law cases including divorce and custody
- Probate, estates, and conservatorships
- Traffic and infraction cases
Note: The court keeps civil records for 10 years, felonies for 75 years, and family law records for 30 years under state retention rules.
Legal Resources in Del Norte County
Legal Services of Northern California covers Del Norte County. Call (916) 551-2150 to check eligibility. California Rural Legal Assistance is another option at (800) 337-0690. Both serve low-income residents with civil legal matters.
The California Courts Self-Help Center has forms, guides, and plain-language explanations of court procedures. These apply to Del Norte County and all other California counties. The clerk at the Crescent City courthouse can help with basic questions about finding court records.
Cities in Del Norte County
Del Norte County has one incorporated city: Crescent City, which is also the county seat. Other communities include Klamath, Smith River, and Gasquet. None have a population over 100,000, so there are no separate city court records pages. All court cases go through the Del Norte Superior Court in Crescent City.
Nearby Counties
Del Norte County is in the far northwest corner of California. Only two other California counties border it. Cases from across the state line go through Oregon courts, not California.