San Diego County Divorce Records

San Diego County divorce records contain information about cases of dissolved marriages. Such records typically include details such as court location, judgment and filing dates, names of the parties, and more. They may be helpful to persons doing genealogy research or for legal matters such as remarriage, immigration, or visa applications, as well as enforcement of support orders. Generally, divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court.

Are Divorce Records Public in San Diego County?

Yes. According to the California Public Records Act, divorce records are publicly accessible in San Diego. As such, almost anyone may obtain these documents through the available methods. Anyone with some basic information about the divorce, such as the parties' names or filing date, may access them through the Clerk of the San Diego Superior Court. However, there are publicly accessible details and restricted records. Some examples of generally accessible information include case details like the parties' names, filing date, docket sheet, final judgment, or non-sensitive court orders such as custody arrangements or property division rulings.

However, some records may be restricted from public access and may only be obtained by the parties themselves, their lawyer or law firm, or anyone acting under the authority of a court order. These restrictions often apply to financial records, minors' medical information, domestic abuse records, or confidential agreements filed under protective orders.

How to Find Divorce Records in San Diego County

San Diego County divorce records are publicly accessible documents maintained by the office of the Superior Court Clerk. This office handles records requests from the public on weekdays, excluding public holidays. They receive and process records requests submitted in person or by mail. Requesters may access these records online through the court's Accessing Court Records website. The County Clerk also maintains the San Diego County Public Records for online searches. Here are the steps to look up divorce records in San Bernardino County:

In-Person Access

Members of the public may physically go to the courthouse to request divorce records using these steps:

• Approach the court clerk at the court where the divorce was filed
• Provide the relevant facts about the case, such as the case number or name, or file a request as directed by the clerk
• The clerk will run a case search to retrieve the records
• If sensitive records are involved, a government-issued ID or court order will be requested to gain access or obtain copies.

Mail-in Access

• Prepare your request in the required format and attach all supporting documents.
• Seal the documents in an envelope and include a self-addressed stamped envelope as directed.
• Approach your preferred mail service to submit the request.
• Wait for the clerk's office to process the request and send copies of the divorce records back. This may take weeks.

Online Access

Online access to San Diego County divorce records is available through the courts and the County Clerk's records website. Both offices maintain online search portals for San Diego County court divorce searches. For the Courts;

• Load the Accessing Court Records Website
• Click on Search Now to access the search portal
• Select the search function you prefer, which is DA Number, Case Number, or Party Name Search.
• Provide the corresponding case information you have selected and click search.

Overview of the San Diego County Court System

San Diego divorce records are available through the Superior Court, which exercises jurisdiction over all family law cases. This court handles divorce cases and stores records of the hearings and the divorce decree or certificate. There is a Family Law Division where San Diego County family court divorce filings are done, and other related matters, such as custody disputes, support orders, and annulments, are handled. There are various branches in the county aside from the Central Courthouse, such as the Vista, El Cajon, and Chula Vista branches. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains and handles San Diego Superior Court records.

Online Access to San Diego County Divorce Records

Members of the public may find San Diego County divorce records online through websites like the court's Accessing Court Records platform. The county court maintains a website for free online divorce lookup in San Bernardino County. Simply load the website and click on Search Now under the Online Case Search tab. It will link to a search portal where you may conduct a DA Number search, Case Number search, or Party Name search. The County Clerk's website is also simple to use, as it lists search parameters such as date, name, document type, number, and more. However, it does not provide access to divorce records. The court's website will provide access to publicly accessible divorce records, while sensitive or restricted details are available on the provision of a government-issued ID or attorney access.

What's Typically Included in a San Diego County Divorce Record

In San Diego County, publicly accessible divorce records contain general details about the parties and the hearing. Restricted records contain inaccessible information about sensitive parts of a divorce, such as domestic violence details, victims' or minors' information, as well as financial records. The content of the divorce records you obtain depends on the level of access you have and the source. For example, the California Department of Public Health may only provide a Certificate of Record for a Divorce, while the court clerk will provide all the details of the divorce. Some publicly accessible information includes filing date, case number, the order for a marital status change, court details, names of the parties, while restricted details include tax returns, child custody reports, minors' identifiable details, restraining orders or domestic violence records, as well as income and expense declarations.

How to Get Certified Copies of San Diego County Divorce Records

Divorce records may be obtained from the court clerk for various purposes. The type of records obtained will also determine the use of the records. Informational copies are divorce records that have no binding authority. While they contain divorce details, they are not endorsed for any legal or official use. Certified divorce records refer to a court-issued document with the clerk's signature and the court's official seal. It is an official reproduction of the original divorce documents with sufficient legal weight for any official use. Members of the public may obtain divorce records through the clerk of the San Diego Superior Court or the County Clerk's Office. Members of the public may easily obtain informational copies of divorce records, while they may need further verification, such as the provision of a valid ID, to get official divorce record copies. The cost for certified copies is also higher than for informational copies.

Why People Request San Diego County Divorce Records

Requesters have various reasons for requesting divorce records in San Diego County. These reasons include personal purposes and legal uses. They are:

• Child or spousal support enforcement
• To verify name changes
• Proof of marital status
• For inheritance claims
• For property settlement disputes
• Insurance claims
• To prove eligibility to remarry
• For adoption proceedings
• Immigration or visa purposes
• Genealogical research
• Tax filings

San Diego County Divorce Records Summary