Find Riverside County Court Records

Riverside County court records are held by the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, which serves over 2.4 million people across one of the largest counties in the state by area. The court runs multiple locations from the city of Riverside out to the Coachella Valley. Civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic records can all be searched through the court's public access portal or at any courthouse location. This page covers the online tools, fees, locations, and steps for getting court records in Riverside County.

Riverside County Court Records Online

The Riverside Superior Court offers a public access portal where you can search court records without visiting a courthouse. The Riverside Public Access portal lets you look up cases by name, case number, or other search criteria. It covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims case types. You can view the register of actions, check hearing dates, and see basic case information.

Below is the Riverside County public access portal used for searching court records online.

This portal is the main online tool for finding court records in Riverside County.

The court states that its public access system is meant to help people find case data without having to visit in person. However, not all records are available for remote viewing. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, criminal, family law, and some other case types have restrictions on online document access. You can see the case index and register of actions remotely, but full filings may only be viewable at a courthouse terminal for restricted case types.

Riverside County routinely purges court records based on Government Code Section 68152. That means older cases may no longer be in the system. If you are looking for a very old case and it does not show up online, contact the clerk to ask if the file still exists or has been destroyed.

Visiting Riverside County Courthouses

The Historic Courthouse in downtown Riverside is the main court location. You can visit the clerk's office to view court records in person. Bring a photo ID. The clerk pulls files for you to review on site, and there is no charge just to look. Fees kick in when you need copies.

Riverside County is big. The court operates several locations spread across the county to serve different areas. The Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta handles cases from the Temecula and Murrieta area. The Indio courthouse covers the desert communities and Coachella Valley. The Banning Justice Center serves the pass area. If a case was filed at a particular location, that is where the file is kept. Calling ahead to confirm a record is at the location you plan to visit can save time.

Note: Off-site file retrieval costs $30.00 if the record you need is stored at a warehouse rather than the courthouse.

Riverside County Court Record Fees

Riverside County follows the California statewide fee schedule. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $40.00 per document. A records search fee of $15.00 per name applies when the search takes more than 10 minutes. Certified divorce decrees cost $15.00 per copy. Exemplification of a record is $50.00.

One fee that stands out in Riverside County is the off-site file retrieval charge. If the record you need has been moved to storage, there is a $30.00 fee to have it brought back to the courthouse for viewing. This applies to older cases that are no longer kept on site. The clerk can tell you if a file is in storage before you pay the fee, which is helpful for planning how much your records request will cost.

Fee waivers are available through the court for people who qualify based on income. The self-help center at any Riverside County courthouse location can help you apply. If a judge approves the waiver, some or all fees for copies and filings may be covered.

Types of Riverside County Court Records

The Riverside County Superior Court maintains records across all case categories. Civil cases include lawsuits for money, property disputes, and other civil matters. Criminal records cover felonies and misdemeanors. Family law files hold divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence cases. Probate records deal with wills, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships. Small claims cases and traffic violations also generate records in Riverside County.

Each case type has its own retention period under state law. Civil unlimited case records stay for 10 years. Felony records are kept 75 years. Family law files last 30 years. Adoptions and name changes are permanent. The court purges records that have passed their retention period, which is why some older cases may not appear in searches of Riverside County court records.

Legal Resources in Riverside County

Inland Counties Legal Services provides free legal aid to low-income residents in Riverside County. Call (888) 245-4257 to ask about their services. They cover civil matters, family law, housing, and other legal issues. The Riverside County Superior Court also runs self-help centers at its courthouse locations where staff help people with forms, procedures, and finding court records.

The California Courts Self-Help Center offers online guides for all counties. LawHelpCA can connect you with legal aid providers in Riverside County based on your situation. You do not need a lawyer to search for court records, but legal help can make a difference if you need to understand the records or use them in a legal matter.

Cities in Riverside County

Riverside County has over 25 cities. All court cases go through the Riverside County Superior Court. Which courthouse handles your case depends on location. These major cities have dedicated court records pages:

Other Riverside County cities include Hemet, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Lake Elsinore, and Perris. All cases from these cities file at the Riverside County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Riverside County. Each has its own Superior Court and separate records.