Sonoma County, California Court Records
Sonoma County court records are official records of court proceedings and judicial matters. Court records may also include documents filed during the case proceedings. Commonly filed documents may include vital records, bank statements, arrest reports, and real estate records.
Court records in Sonoma County are vital in legal processes. For example, they provide evidence that a case proceeding adhered to standard and fair procedures. Researchers may also use the records as a reference in subsequent legal cases.
The Sonoma County Superior Court is responsible for generating and maintaining court records heard at the courthouses. In addition, the court may disclose court documents in line with the California Rules of Court. The state law allows public members to request and obtain copies of court documents from designated record custodians.
Are Sonoma County Court Records Public?
Most court records in Sonoma County are publicly accessible. The California Rules of Court allow public access to records generated by the superior court and other designated record custodians. Under this law, the public is generally able to view data, such as the case party names, transcript, number, filing date, and judgment.
Nevertheless, some court information is classified as confidential and non-public. Such records typically contain information whose disclosure is deemed not to be in the public interest. Examples of non-public court records include:
- Court information that was sealed or expunged.
- Crime victims’ reports or witnesses’ statements.
- Personal-identifying information about minors and juveniles.
What Information is Available in Sonoma County Court Records?
Sonoma County court records typically contain the following information:
- Names of the parties involved.
- Case identifiers, like case number, type, and docket number.
- Case transcript
- Court judgments and orders.
- Case filing date and judgment year.
Available information in court records may differ based on the case type and level of access. Depending on the level of access, some court records contain information visible only to authorized parties, such as the record subject and legal representatives. The case type also determines which information you can find in a court record. Case in point: criminal case files may include exhibits, pleas, motions, and sentencing orders.
Sonoma County Court Records Search
Record seekers may search court records in Sonoma County by using any of these options:
Explain how records can be searched and accessed:
- Online Access: The Sonoma County Superior Court maintains an online search database for court cases heard in the courthouse. Interested parties may view and print out court information by providing the case party name or number in the required field.
The court also allows online requests for civil and family records. Record seekers must fill out the required information on the appropriate form and send it to the court. The court may process the request and forward the requested documents to the mail or email address provided by the record seeker.
- In-Person Access: The Records Department of the Sonoma Superior Court allows in-person requests for court documents. Inquirers must submit a completed request form in person to the court at this address:
Superior Court of California
County of Sonoma
600 Administration Drive
Room 110-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 521-6670
- Mail Requests: Interested parties may submit a mail request for court records by following these steps:
- Complete a request form for court records.
- Attach a copy of a valid ID if the request is for a confidential record.
- Attach a blank check for the required fees. Make it payable to the Superior Court of Sonoma County. The check must include a "not to exceed $___" note.
- Submit the files and check to the court at:
Superior Court of California
County of Sonoma
600 Administration Drive
Room 110-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Fees for Court Records in Sonoma County
In Sonoma County, record seekers are required to pay specific fees when requesting copies of court records. For instance, you must pay a $0.5 copy fee for each page of the requested document. Document certification costs $40, except for divorce certificates, which are $15 each. Record searches may also incur a $15 fee if it takes more than 10 minutes to locate the document.
Note: Record seekers may qualify for fee waivers in Sonoma County. To determine your eligibility for a waiver, the court may request your income, household size, and monthly expenses. Eligible persons may get waivers by filing a Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) with the court.
Sonoma County Courthouse Locations
The Sonoma County Superior Court is the only trial-level court in the county. Interested parties may find the superior court at these locations:
Superior Courts in Sonoma County
Sonoma County Superior Court - Civil and Family Law Courthouse
3055 Cleveland Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 521-6630 (Family Law)
Phone: (707) 521-6650 (Probate)
Sonoma County Superior Court - Empire College Annex
3035 Cleveland Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 521-6500
Sonoma County Superior Court - Hall of Justice
600 Administration Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707) 521-6610 (Civil)
Phone: (707) 521-6620 (Criminal)
Phone: (707) 521-6800 (Family Law)
Phone: (707) 521-6700 (Juvenile Delinquency)
Phone: (707) 521-6770 (Juvenile Dependency)
Phone: (707) 521-6681 (Juvenile Traffic)
Phone: (707) 521-6880 (Adult Traffic)
Sonoma County Superior Court - Juvenile Justice Center
7425 Los Guilicos Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Phone: (707) 521-6700
The court has divisions that cater to specific case types. For example, civil cases are heard at the Hall of Justice and Empire College Annex court divisions. The Civil and Family Law courthouse hears only family and probate cases, while the Juvenile Center handles only juvenile delinquency cases.
Criminal Records Access in Sonoma County
The California Department of Justice handles all requests for criminal history records in Sonoma County. The agency allows fingerprint-based requests for criminal history records. In-state record seekers are typically required to submit a complete Live Scan request form in English or Spanish to the nearest Live Scan center.
In contrast, out-of-state record seekers may request criminal history checks by using these steps:
- Visit the nearest law enforcement agency and get fingerprinted on an FD-258 card.
- Fill out the Form BCIA 8705 in English or Spanish.
- Include a $25 processing fee as a check or money order made payable to the Department of Justice.
- Submit the documents to:
California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
PO Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-0207
Local criminal court records are accessible via the Records Office of the Sonoma County Superior Court. Inquirers may submit a request via mail or in person to the agency at this address:
Superior Court of California
County of Sonoma
600 Administration Drive
Room 110-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Sonoma County Probate Records
Sonoma County probate records reveal information on probate-type cases heard at the superior court. Probate-type cases may include the appointment of guardians and the administration of a deceased’s estate and trust.
Probate cases typically include confidential information that is not accessible to the public. For example, estate records, will and probate filings, and personal financial data are usually exempt from public access. Such information is only accessible to concerned parties, like beneficiaries, heirs, guardians, and will executors.
Record seekers may access basic probate records online by using the superior court clerk’s online search platform. To view the records, inquirers must fill in the case party names or case number. For more detailed information about probate cases, you may submit an in-person or mail-in request to the court at:
Superior Court of California
County of Sonoma
600 Administration Drive
Room 110-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
The request must include the following:
- A completed request form.
- The required fees. The court charges $0.5 per page of the copied document.
Sonoma County Family Court Records
Sonoma County family court records reveal information on family-type cases handled in the superior court. Family cases may include divorce, child custody and support, domestic abuse, and juvenile delinquency.
In Sonoma County, the Superior Court is the official record custodian of family court records. The agency allows online and offline requests for the records. Online access may include using an online search database or submitting a request online. For offline access to family records, inquirers must submit a completed request form via mail or in person to:
Superior Court of California
County of Sonoma
600 Administration Drive
Room 110-J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Federal Court Records in Sonoma County
Federal cases in Sonoma County are heard at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The federal court hears cases involving bankruptcy, patent and copyright matters, drug trafficking, and civil rights violations.
Record seekers can access federal court case records by using online or offline resources provided by the federal court. To access the records online, you must conduct searches on the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) platform. Alternatively, you can obtain physical copies of federal case records by visiting the court at these locations:
San Francisco
450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 522-2000
Oakland
Dellums Federal Building
1301 Clay Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 637-3530
San Jose
Peckham Federal Building
280 South 1st Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 535-5363
Eureka-McKinleyville
Eureka-McKinleyville Courthouse
3140 Boeing Avenue
McKinleyville, CA 95519
Phone: (707) 445-3612
