Sonoma County Court
Sonoma County Divorce Records

Sonoma County, California Divorce Records

Sonoma County divorce records are official files regarding divorce cases heard in the Superior Court’s Family Division. Such records may reveal the case parties’ personal information, case identifiers, transcripts, and judgments.

Divorce records play a crucial role in various legal processes. Concerned parties may use them to revert to their maiden name or as proof of dissolved union when applying for a new marriage license. The records are also important in tax and financial matters, such as the transfer of property titles and tax readjustments.

Sonoma County Divorce Rate: An estimated 11.3% of Sonoma County residents were divorced as of December 31, 2024. Based on gender, female residents had a higher divorce rate at 13.75%, while males had an 8.7% divorce rate.

Are Divorce Records Public in Sonoma County?

Yes, most divorce information in Sonoma County is accessible to the public. The California Rules of Court and the Public Records Act govern public access to government records, including divorce case files and certificates. Under the law, all interested parties may inspect and obtain copies of divorce records from specific public agencies. The agencies are required to maintain resources and tools via which the public can obtain divorce records.

The state laws, however, restrict public access to specific divorce information. Divorce records may be exempted if they contain information that may jeopardize the safety of concerned parties. For example, personal information of minors is typically exempt from publicly accessible divorce records. Divorce case parties may also petition the court to remove certain information from public files. For example, parties may ask the court to remove financial or custody agreements from publicly accessible domains.

How to Find Divorce Records in Sonoma County

Record seekers may find Sonoma divorce records by following these general steps:

Identify the names of the parties involved: The case parties' names are necessary for looking up divorce records in Sonoma County. In addition, the case number and the divorce year may help record seekers to fine-tune their search. For example, you must provide the case party name or number to view divorce records on the Sonoma County Superior Court case search portal.
Identify the agencies in charge of maintaining the records: Sonoma County divorce records are obtainable via state and local agencies. At the state level, the California Department of Public Health maintains records of divorce cases from 1962 to 1984. In contrast, the Sonoma Superior Court’s Records Department is the local-level custodian of divorce records.
Choose a preferred option for obtaining the records: Record custodians allow online and offline access to records in their custody. For online access to divorce records, record seekers must follow these simple steps:
Visit the Sonoma County Superior Court’s online case search platform.
Select the “Smart Search” option.
Fill in the case party name or number in the allocated search field.
Click on “Submit” to view relevant case information.
Note: Online searches may only bring up informational copies and there are no required fees for viewing records on the platform.
In contrast, the Sonoma County Superior Court allows online and offline requests for divorce records. To use the online request option, record seekers must provide relevant data in the online form. Upon receiving the form, the court will process the request and forward the document to the requester’s mail address. For offline access to divorce records, record seekers may submit the required documents via mail or 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

The request must include the following:

A completed request form.
A copy of valid ID, if the record contains confidential information.
The required fees in the preferred payment option. Mail-based payments must be in the form of money orders or checks made payable to the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma.
Note: If unsure about the required fees, record seekers may send a blank check that contains the subject line “not to exceed this specified amount”. The superior court charges $15 per name searched and $0.50 per copy of the requested document.

The CDPH-VR allows mail-in inquiries for divorce records at this address:

California Department of Public Health

Vital Records - MS 5103

P.O. Box 997410

Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

The mail request must include the following:
An application for a divorce certificate in English or Spanish.
An $18 check or money order payable to CDPH-VR.

Method	Where to Go	Info Needed	Cost	Processing Time
Online	Sonoma County Superior Court’s online case search platform	Full name, case number	Free	Instant
In Person	Sonoma County Superior Court	Request form, Valid ID, payment	Varies	Same day
By Mail	Sonoma County Superior Court, CDPH-VR	Request form, payment	$18	5 to 7 weeks.

Overview of the Sonoma County Court System

The Sonoma County Superior Court oversees all family and domestic relations cases, including divorce cases. More so, the Superior Court’s Family Division specifically handles divorce cases. Public members may locate the courthouse at this address:

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)

The Sonoma County Superior Court’s Record Department maintains records of divorce case filings and proceedings. Record seekers may submit an in-person request for such records by visiting this address:

Superior Court of California

County of Sonoma

600 Administration Drive

Room 110-J

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Online Access to Sonoma County Divorce Records

Record seekers can find Sonoma divorce records online via the superior court’s case search platform. To view records on the platform, record seekers must fill in the case party name or number. The online search may only reveal informational and public court records.

Alternatively, record seekers may look up free Sonoma County divorce records via third-party search websites. These websites are generally easy to navigate and may allow name-based searches for divorce records. Despite these perks, third-party websites are not government regulated and may not include updated divorce information.

What’s Typically Included in a Sonoma Divorce Record

Sonoma County divorce records typically include the following information:

The case parties’ names and their personal information.
Names and contact information of legal representatives.
Filed court documents, such as the petition for the dissolution of marriage, police reports, and marriage certificates.
Divorce date.
Court summons.
Case information statement, including financial declaration.
Court orders, including divorce decrees and child support agreements.

Publicly accessible divorce records may not contain statutorily exempt information. For example, the state laws generally restrict access to sensitive information, such as bank statements and personal information about minors. The law also exempts the personal information of abused parties, be they a partner or minor.

Information	Available to the Public?
Names of spouses	Yes
Divorce date	Yes
Case number	Yes
Custody arrangements	Sometimes restricted
Financial disclosures	No

How to Get Certified Copies of Sonoma Divorce Records

Record seekers may obtain certified Sonoma divorce records from the Records Department of the Superior Court. The department allows mail or in-person inquiries for certified records at this address:

Superior Court of California

County of Sonoma

600 Administration Drive

Room 110-J

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

The request must include a completed request form, required request fees, and valid IDs.

Note: Certified divorce records are quite different from informational copies in terms of their use and content. For example, certified copies contain an official seal and are important for most legal procedures. Divorce parties may use certified divorce records when applying for a new marriage license.

Type of Copy	Use Case	Who Can Request	Legally Valid?
Certified Copy	Remarriage, legal proceedings	Spouse, attorney, court	Yes
Informational Copy	Genealogy, general info	Anyone (if public)	No

Sonoma Divorce Records Summary

Custodian	Available Record Type	Access Method	Fees & Notes
Superior Court (Court Records)	Full case files, judgments	Public Portal / Mail / In person	$0.50/page; $15 certified judgment; $40 + $0.50/page for other cert.
CDPH (Vital Records)	Certificate of Record (1962–1984 only)	Mail-in via form	$18 per copy; includes only summary info (names, date, case number)
County Clerk-Recorder	Informational or certified vital records	In person / Mail / Third-party	Fees vary; informational copies open, and certified require eligibility
Third-Party Websites	Aggregated records	Online search (paid)	Convenience at cost; accuracy may vary