Santa Cruz County Court Records

Court records in Santa Cruz County are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz. The court serves a coastal community of roughly 270,000 residents and handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and small claims cases at its main courthouse in the city of Santa Cruz. Whether you need to look up a case filing, get a copy of a judgment, or check a court date, the Santa Cruz Superior Court offers both online and in-person options for public records access. This page explains how to search, what fees apply, and where to go for help with Santa Cruz County court records.

Santa Cruz County Records Online Search

The Santa Cruz Superior Court provides an online public portal for searching court case records. The Santa Cruz Odyssey Portal allows you to look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. The system covers civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic cases. It is free to search the index and view case summaries through this portal.

The following screenshot shows the Santa Cruz County court records search portal where you can look up public case data.

Results will show the case number, parties involved, case type, and filing date. You can also see the register of actions, which lists all events and filings in a case. Full document access varies by case type. Civil case documents are generally available for remote viewing. Criminal, family law, and other sensitive case types are limited to index data online under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.

The court uses the Tyler Technologies Odyssey system for its online portal. If you cannot find a case online, it may be confidential or sealed by court order. Older cases filed before the system was set up may not appear in the digital index. For those records, you will need to visit the courthouse in Santa Cruz County.

In-Person Court Records in Santa Cruz

The main courthouse for Santa Cruz County is at 701 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, California 95060. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. You can visit in person to view court records at no charge. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk will pull files for you to review at the counter. There is no fee to look at records on site. Fees only apply when you want paper copies or certified copies of court records.

If you need a record from a specific case, have the case number ready. That speeds up the search. You can also ask the clerk to search by party name. Searches that take more than 10 minutes may come with a $15 fee. The staff can help you figure out what records are on file and which ones are available to the public in Santa Cruz County.

Note: The court may close early on certain holidays or for judicial events, so call ahead if you plan to visit on a day that might be affected.

Santa Cruz Court Record Fees

Fees for court records in Santa Cruz County follow the statewide schedule set by California Government Code. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. A certified copy of any court document is $40.00 per certification. If you need the clerk to compare a copy with the original, that runs $1.00 per page. Exemplification of a record costs $50.00. A certified copy of a dissolution judgment is $15.00.

Search fees also apply in certain cases. If a clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching for your record, the fee is $15.00. Online searches through the public portal are free for basic case lookups. Document downloads may have additional fees depending on the court's current policies for Santa Cruz County court records.

Fee waivers are available. If your income is low, you can ask the court to waive fees. Fill out the fee waiver request form and submit it to the clerk. A judge will decide if you qualify. The self-help center at the courthouse can help you with the paperwork.

Types of Santa Cruz County Court Records

The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County handles all trial-level cases. Civil cases cover lawsuits, contract disputes, and personal injury claims. Criminal cases range from infractions to felonies. Family law includes divorce, custody, child support, and restraining orders. Probate covers wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. Small claims are for disputes under $12,500. Traffic cases make up a large portion of the court's caseload as well.

Public access rules differ by case type. Civil records are the most open. You can view full case documents for most civil matters both online and at the courthouse. Criminal records show limited info through remote access. You can see the register of actions and case status, but full documents need to be viewed on a courthouse terminal. Family law files are restricted the most. Under Rule 2.503, the court can only let the public view family law documents at the courthouse itself, not online.

Juvenile records are confidential by law. You cannot access them unless you are a party to the case or have a court order. Sealed records are also off limits. A judge must approve any request to unseal a court record in Santa Cruz County.

Legal Resources in Santa Cruz County

The Santa Cruz Superior Court runs a self-help center at the main courthouse. Staff can assist with finding court records, understanding forms, and explaining court procedures. This service is free and open to anyone. You do not need a lawyer to use it. The self-help center cannot give legal advice, but they can point you in the right direction.

For free or low-cost legal help, Bay Area Legal Aid serves Santa Cruz County residents. Call (800) 551-5554 to ask about their programs. They handle housing, family law, public benefits, and other civil legal issues. California Rural Legal Assistance also provides free services to qualifying individuals in the region. The California Courts Self-Help Center has statewide guides that explain court processes and forms used across all 58 counties.

If you need to hire a lawyer, the Santa Cruz County Bar Association can refer you to local attorneys who handle your type of case. Many offer a free first meeting. For court records questions specifically, the clerk's office at the courthouse is usually the best place to start.

Note: Legal aid programs have income limits, so check with the provider to see if you qualify before making the trip.

Cities in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County includes the city of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola. All court cases in these cities are filed at the Santa Cruz Superior Court. None of the cities in Santa Cruz County have a population over 100,000, so all court activity runs through the single county courthouse on Ocean Street. Watsonville is the second largest city in the county with around 54,000 residents.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Santa Cruz County. Each one has its own Superior Court and separate court records system. If you are unsure which county handled a case, check the address where events took place.