Search San Diego Court Records

San Diego County court records are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, which serves over 3.3 million residents across one of the most populated counties in the state. The court runs multiple locations from downtown San Diego to the North County and East County areas. Several online search tools let you look up civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims cases from any device. This page walks through how to search court records in San Diego County, what fees apply, and where to find help when you need it.

San Diego Court Records Online Search

The San Diego Superior Court provides multiple online tools for searching court records. The SD Court Records Access page is your starting point. It links to the specific search portals for different case types. The Court Index at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov lets you search across case types by name or case number.

Here is the San Diego County court records access page with links to all search tools.

This page lays out the different search options available for San Diego County court records.

For family law cases, the Register of Actions search tool at roasearch.sdcourt.ca.gov covers divorce, custody, and support matters. Civil, small claims, and probate records have their own Register of Actions tool at odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov. Each tool shows case index data, hearing dates, and the register of actions. Full document viewing for family law and criminal matters is restricted to courthouse terminals under Rule 2.503.

The court website notes that all juvenile court records are confidential. Traffic driving records are not kept by the court at all. For those, you need to contact the DMV directly. San Diego County court records go back different amounts depending on the case type and when data was digitized.

Visiting San Diego County Courthouses

The Central Courthouse downtown at 1100 Union Street is the main hub for court records in San Diego County. The Hall of Justice at 330 West Broadway handles criminal matters. You can visit either location to view records in person. Bring a photo ID. A picture ID card is required to view case files. The clerk will pull up to 10 cases per request.

San Diego County runs several branch courthouses around the region. The North County Division in Vista, South County in Chula Vista, and East County in El Cajon each handle cases from their areas. If a case was filed at a branch location, the file is kept there. For older records, some files may have been moved to the archives. Infraction records are destroyed after 3 years and misdemeanor traffic records after 5 years, so do not wait too long if you need those types of records in San Diego County.

Note: DUI misdemeanor records are kept for 10 years in San Diego County, longer than standard misdemeanor traffic records.

San Diego County Court Record Fees

San Diego County follows the statewide fee schedule. Copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40.00 per document. The search fee is $15.00 when the clerk needs more than 10 minutes to find your record. Exemplification runs $50.00 per document. Certified dissolution judgment copies are $15.00 each.

Comparing a copy with the original is $1.00 per page. Document authentication under court order costs $15.00. These fees are set by California Government Code and apply at all San Diego court locations. Online case index searches are free. Fees only apply when you request copies of documents or ask the clerk to do a time-consuming search.

Fee waivers are available for people with low income. The self-help center at any San Diego courthouse can help with the application. If approved, the court waives some or all fees for copies, filings, and other court costs.

Types of San Diego County Court Records

The San Diego Superior Court handles all trial-level cases in the county. Civil records include lawsuits, personal injury, contract disputes, and property cases. Criminal records cover felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Family law files hold divorce, custody, support, and restraining order cases. Probate deals with estates, wills, and conservatorships. Small claims and traffic violations also create court records in San Diego County.

Retention periods matter in San Diego County. Infractions are destroyed after 3 years. Misdemeanor traffic records go after 5 years. DUI misdemeanors last 10 years. Civil unlimited cases are kept 10 years. Felonies stay for 75 years. Family law files last 30 years. Adoptions and name changes are permanent. The court actively purges records past their retention period, so check sooner rather than later if you need older records.

Legal Help in San Diego County

The Legal Aid Society of San Diego provides free legal services to low-income residents. Call (877) 534-2524 for information about their programs. They handle civil, family law, housing, and immigration matters. The San Diego Superior Court runs self-help centers at its courthouse locations where staff help with forms, court procedures, and finding records.

The California Courts Self-Help Center has statewide guides that apply to San Diego County court records. LawHelpCA can connect you with legal aid providers based on your needs. The San Diego County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service for people looking for a private attorney. You do not need a lawyer to look up or request copies of court records in San Diego County.

Cities in San Diego County

San Diego County has 18 incorporated cities. All court cases file through the San Diego Superior Court. These major cities have their own court records pages:

Other San Diego County cities include Encinitas, San Marcos, National City, Santee, and Poway. All cases from these cities go through the San Diego County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

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