Access Napa County Court Records
Court records in Napa County are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Napa, located in the city of Napa. Napa County is known for its wine region and sits north of San Francisco Bay. The county has a population of about 138,000 people. The court handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic cases. This page explains how to search for Napa County court records online and in person, what fees apply, and where to find legal resources.
Napa County Court Records Quick Facts
Napa County Court Records Online Search
The Napa County Superior Court provides information about accessing records through its Research Records page. This page explains the process for searching court records and what options are available. The court may offer a case index or public portal for basic searches by name and case number.
Below is a screenshot of the Napa County research records page from the court's website.
This page outlines how to look up and request copies of Napa County court records.
California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 sets limits on what can be viewed remotely. Civil case records are the most accessible. Registers of actions, case indexes, and calendars for civil matters can generally be viewed online. Criminal, family law, and juvenile records have tighter restrictions. For those case types, the online system may only show limited information, and full documents need to be viewed at the courthouse.
The California Appellate Courts Case Information System is also available if you need to search for appellate cases from the Napa County area, which fall under the First Appellate District.
Visit the Napa County Courthouse
The Napa County courthouse is in the city of Napa. You can visit during business hours to view court records at no charge. The clerk looks up cases by name or case number. Bring a photo ID. Fees only apply for copies.
Napa County has one main courthouse. All case types are handled at this location. You will not need to visit different branches to find your file. The clerk's office manages civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, and traffic records all in one building.
| Courthouse | Napa County Superior Court 825 Brown Street Napa, CA 94559 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Phone | (707) 299-1100 |
You can also request records by mail. Send a letter with the case name, case number if known, and what you need. Include a check or money order for the fees. The clerk will process the request and mail back copies.
Court Record Fees in Napa County
Napa County follows the California statewide fee schedule for court records. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40.00 per document. Search fees run $15.00 when the clerk spends more than 10 minutes on a lookup. Certified dissolution judgment copies are $15.00. Exemplification costs $50.00.
Pay at the clerk's office with cash, check, or money order. Credit card acceptance may vary. Check before your visit. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Napa County Superior Court.
- Plain copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: $40.00 per document
- Search fee: $15.00 (over 10 minutes)
- Dissolution judgment copy: $15.00
- Exemplification: $50.00
Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford fees. File a request form with the court. A judge reviews it. The California Courts Self-Help Center has the fee waiver forms.
Types of Napa County Court Records
The Napa County Superior Court handles all trial-level case types. Civil records include lawsuits over contracts, property, money, and personal injury. Criminal records cover felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Family law records include divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence restraining orders.
Probate records deal with wills, trusts, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships. Small claims cases cover disputes up to $12,500 for individuals. Traffic cases create their own set of records. Each type has a different retention period under California law. Civil unlimited cases are kept for 10 years. Felonies stay 75 years. Family law records are held for 30 years. Adoption and name change records are permanent.
Juvenile records are confidential. Sealed records need a court order to open. All other Napa County court records are presumed public unless a judge has ordered them sealed or made confidential.
Legal Resources in Napa County
The Napa County Superior Court has a self-help center where staff assist with forms, procedures, and finding records. The service is free.
Bay Area Legal Aid provides free legal services to low-income residents in Napa County. Call (800) 551-5554. They cover housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer matters. Legal Aid of Napa Valley is another local resource for people who need help with legal issues in the area.
The California Courts Self-Help Center website has statewide forms, guides, and step-by-step instructions that work for Napa County court records and all California case types.
Note: Self-help staff can help with forms and procedures but cannot give legal advice or represent you in your Napa County court matter.
Cities in Napa County
Napa County includes the city of Napa, American Canyon, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Yountville. No city in Napa County has a population over 100,000. All court cases in the county go through the Napa County Superior Court system in the city of Napa.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Napa County. Each has its own separate court system and records.