Marin County Court Records

Court records in Marin County are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Marin, located in San Rafael. Marin County sits just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. The county has a population of roughly 260,000 people. The court handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic matters at one main courthouse location. This page explains how to search Marin County court records online, visit the courthouse in person, and find legal resources in the area.

Marin County Court Records Online

The Marin County Superior Court offers online case searches through its ePortal. The Marin County ePortal lets you search by name, case number, or other criteria. It covers civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, and traffic cases. The register of actions and hearing dates are available through this tool.

Below is a view of the Marin County ePortal from the court's public portal page.

This is the main tool for looking up Marin County court records from outside the courthouse.

Rule 2.503 of the California Rules of Court governs what is available online. Civil case records are the most open. You can see full registers of actions and case indexes for civil matters remotely. Criminal, family law, and juvenile records are more restricted. For these case types, the online portal shows limited data. Full documents may only be viewable at the courthouse on a public access terminal.

Visit the Marin County Courthouse

The Marin County courthouse is in San Rafael. Walk in during office hours to view court records. The clerk can look up cases by name or number. Bring a valid photo ID. Viewing records is free. You only pay when you need copies.

Marin County has one main courthouse, which makes it straightforward. All records are at the same location. You do not need to figure out which branch has your file. The clerk handles every case type at this building.

Note: The Marin County Civic Center building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, also houses the courthouse, so look for courtroom signage once inside.

Marin County Court Record Fees

Marin County follows the California statewide fee schedule. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40.00 per document. A clerk search lasting more than 10 minutes costs $15.00. Certified copies of dissolution judgments are $15.00. Exemplification of a record is $50.00.

You can pay at the clerk's office with cash, check, or money order. Credit cards may also be accepted. Check with the clerk when you visit. For requests by mail, include a check or money order payable to the Marin County Superior Court.

Fee waivers are available for those who qualify based on income. File the fee waiver request form with the court. A judge reviews and decides. The California Courts Self-Help Center has the forms and instructions you need to apply for a waiver.

Types of Marin County Court Records

The Marin County Superior Court handles all trial-level cases. Civil records include lawsuits for money, contract disputes, real property claims, and construction defect cases. Criminal records cover felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Family law records include divorce, legal separation, custody, support, and domestic violence restraining orders.

Probate records in Marin County deal with wills, trusts, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships. Small claims cases cover disputes up to $12,500 for individuals. Traffic violations produce their own court records. Each record type has a different retention period under California Government Code Section 68152.

• Civil unlimited cases: retained 10 years
• Felony criminal cases: retained 75 years
• Family law cases: retained 30 years
• Adoption records: retained permanently
• Small claims: retained 10 years

Juvenile records are confidential. Sealed records require a court order to access. All other Marin County court records are presumed public.

Legal Help in Marin County

The Marin County Superior Court provides a self-help center where staff assist with forms, procedures, and finding records. The service is free and open to everyone.

Bay Area Legal Aid provides free legal services to low-income residents in Marin County. Call (800) 551-5554 for information. They handle housing, family law, public benefits, and other civil matters. Legal Aid of Marin also serves the local community with free and low-cost legal help.

The California Courts Self-Help Center website has forms, guides, and tools for handling court matters statewide. All of these resources apply to Marin County court records and procedures.

Cities in Marin County

Marin County includes San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Sausalito, and Fairfax. No city in Marin County has a population over 100,000. All court cases in the county go through the Marin County Superior Court in San Rafael.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Marin County. Each has a separate court system and records.