El Dorado County Court Records Search
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El Dorado County stretches from the Sacramento Valley foothills through the Sierra Nevada to the shore of Lake Tahoe, and its court system reflects this geography with multiple branch locations. The Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado, is the sole trial court in the county, handling criminal, civil, family law, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. The court operates branches in Placerville, Cameron Park, and South Lake Tahoe. The Superior Court Clerk’s Office serves as the custodian of court records across all divisions, while the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk maintains vital records, property documents, and official records separately from the court system.
Those looking to locate court records in California can draw on a range of official resources. The El Dorado County Superior Court provides its own online case index, and the clerk’s offices at each branch courthouse accept in-person search requests and maintain public access terminals. Statewide judicial information, including court directories, self-help resources, and links to California’s rules of court, is available through CaliforniaCourts.us. Between these tools, the clerk’s office counters, and mail-based request options, members of the public have several pathways to access publicly available court case information in El Dorado County.
How to Look Up a Court Case in El Dorado County?
El Dorado County offers online, in-person, and mail-based methods for searching court records. Which approach works best depends on the age of the case, whether you have a case number, and whether you need certified copies.
Online Case Index
The Superior Court’s Online Case Index provides free access to case information for civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic matters. Users can create a free account and search by name, case number, or filing date through the court’s public portal. The online index only includes cases filed after 2000. Digitization of older records is ongoing, so not all files are available electronically.
In-Person Searches
Members of the public can inspect court records and request copies at any clerk’s office branch during business hours. For cases filed before 2000, manual index books are available at each branch location. A public terminal at the courthouse can also be used for electronic searches.
All clerk’s offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with after-hours drop boxes available.
Forms for Record Requests
The court uses specific local forms depending on whether you have a case number:
- With a case number: Complete Local Form M-5 and submit by mail or in person
- Without a case number: Complete Local Form M-6 and submit by mail or in person (covers cases from 2000 to present)
- Criminal record research: Complete Local Form M-55 and submit by mail or in person
Requests for more than three name searches will be left at the court for processing and completed within approximately 15 business days on a first-come, first-served basis.
Record Search and Copy Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record search (over 10 minutes) | $15.00 per search |
| Standard file retrieval | $10.00 per file |
| Document copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copy | $40.00 per document plus $0.50 per page |
| Certified copy of dissolution record | $15.00 |
All fees are payable by check made out to the El Dorado Superior Court.
Are Court Records Public in El Dorado County?
California law establishes a broad right of public access to government records, including court records. The California Public Records Act (CPRA) defines public records as writings containing information about the conduct of public business maintained by any state or local agency. Rule 10.500 of the California Rules of Court extends this principle to non-deliberative and non-adjudicative judicial administrative records, such as court budgets and management information.
Under these provisions, most El Dorado County court records — including complaints, motions, dockets, judgments, orders, and transcripts — are available for public inspection and copying regardless of whether they are stored in paper or electronic form.
Records Exempt from Public Disclosure
Custodians retain discretion to withhold records where disclosure would result in an unwarranted invasion of privacy or compromise safety. Categories of restricted records include:
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption files
- Sealed records under court order
- Medical information contained in case files
- Personnel information such as home addresses, phone numbers, private emails, and Social Security numbers
- Records related to ongoing investigations by the Attorney General, DOJ, or law enforcement
- Confidential commercial and financial information
- Records exempted under specific state or federal statutes
When requesting records, the clerk may redact personal identifiers or deny access to documents that fall within these exemptions. If access is denied, the custodian must cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon.
El Dorado County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in El Dorado County — felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions — are prosecuted in the Superior Court. The Placerville Main Street Branch handles most criminal matters, while the South Lake Tahoe Branch serves the eastern portion of the county.
Court Locations for Criminal Matters
El Dorado County Superior Court — Placerville Main Street Branch
Address: 495 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-5047
Fax: (530) 622-9774
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
El Dorado County Superior Court — South Lake Tahoe Branch
Address: 1354 Johnson Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: (530) 573-3075
Fax: (530) 544-6532
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case information can be looked up online through the Superior Court’s website and its Online Case Index. To request copies of specific criminal court documents — such as charging documents, dispositions, sentencing orders, registers of action, or dismissal orders — complete Local Form M-55. The form requires the applicant’s name, address, phone, email, case number, party name, defendant’s date of birth, and filing date. Submit the form in person or by mail along with a check payable to the El Dorado Superior Court.
Note that certain criminal records involving juveniles are exempt from public disclosure under California law.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and inmate information separately from court records.
| Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Placerville Office | 200 Industrial Drive, Placerville, CA 95667 | (530) 621-5655 |
| South Lake Tahoe Office | 1360 Johnson Blvd. #100, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | (530) 573-3000 |
Current inmate information, crime mapping, and media bulletins are available on the Sheriff’s Office website.
California DOJ Criminal History
For a statewide criminal history check, the California Department of Justice processes requests through the Live Scan fingerprinting system. This is separate from court records and is typically used for employment and licensing background checks.
El Dorado County Civil Court Records
The El Dorado County Superior Court handles civil litigation including contract disputes, personal injury, torts, professional negligence, trespass, unlawful detainer (evictions), and small claims. Civil cases are heard at both the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe branches.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case information can be accessed through the court’s case index, where users search by name, case number, or filing date. For copies of specific civil filings, the court provides a dedicated Request for Copies form (Local Form M-62) for civil, family law, and probate records. Submit the form by mail or in person at the clerk’s office.
Filing and eFiling
The El Dorado County Superior Court offers eFiling for civil, family law, probate, and small claims matters. Additional local forms required by the court are posted on its website, and statewide Judicial Council forms are available through the California Courts self-help center.
Key Branch Locations for Civil Filings
Cameron Park Branch
Address: 3321 Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682
Phone: (530) 621-5867
Fax: (530) 672-2413
Placerville Building C Branch
Address: 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 120, Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: (530) 621-5047
Fax: (530) 626-0656
Copy Fees Recap
Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40.00 per document plus per-page charges. Searches requiring more than 10 minutes of clerk time are billed at $15.00 per search.
El Dorado County Family Court Records
Family law matters in El Dorado County are adjudicated by the Superior Court across its Placerville and South Lake Tahoe branches. The court handles a broad range of proceedings including divorce and legal separation, child custody, visitation, child and spousal support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence restraining orders, and child neglect and abandonment cases.
Accessing Family Court Records
Family law case information can be searched through the Online Case Index. Copies of family law documents can be requested using Local Form M-62, which covers civil, family law, and probate matters. Submit the completed form in person or by mail to the appropriate clerk’s office.
Given the sensitive nature of family proceedings, some records — particularly those involving juveniles, adoption, and domestic violence — may be partially or fully sealed. Information that could identify minor children or endanger the safety of victims is subject to redaction or restriction.
Self-Help Resources
The Family Law Facilitator/Self-Help Center provides procedural assistance to self-represented litigants in family court. The facilitator is an attorney who can help with forms and procedures, though they cannot provide legal advice. The court also offers interactive online forms for guardianship petitions, conservatorship petitions, and name changes.
Family Law Facilitator Contact
Phone: (530) 621-5098 (Placerville)
Marriage Records
Marriage certificates are maintained by the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk, not the court. There are two types of certified copies available: an authorized certified copy (requires a sworn, notarized statement from an eligible applicant) and an informational certified copy (available to anyone, but not valid for identity purposes).
Copies can be obtained three ways:
- In person: Complete the Vital Record Application and schedule an appointment at the Placerville or South Lake Tahoe office
- By mail: Download the Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Record, complete it, and mail with a $19.00 fee to: El Dorado County Recorder, 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667
- Online: Order through VitalChek.com (additional fees apply; electronic identity verification available)
Current vital record fees through the Recorder-Clerk:
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $34.00 |
| Death certificate | $26.00 |
| Marriage certificate | $19.00 |
For general questions, contact the Recorder-Clerk’s office at (530) 621-5490 or email recorderclerk@edcgov.us.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are available for events that occurred in El Dorado County. Mail requests require the appropriate application form — for birth or death — along with a money order or cashier’s check sent to the Recorder-Clerk office at 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. Personal checks are accepted but result in a 15-business-day hold before mailing.
El Dorado County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the El Dorado County Superior Court handles decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust disputes, mental health proceedings, and other protective proceedings. Probate matters are heard in Departments 4, 8, and 9 of the court.
Probate Filing Locations
Probate cases can be filed at three branch locations:
| Branch | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Park | 2927 Meder Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682 | (530) 621-5047 |
| Placerville Building C | 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 120, Placerville, CA 95667 | (530) 621-5047 |
| South Lake Tahoe | 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | (530) 573-3075 |
All offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Types of Probate Records
Probate court records include petitions for probate, wills lodged with the court, letters testamentary or of administration, inventories and appraisals, accountings, distribution orders, guardianship petitions and orders, conservatorship petitions and investigation reports, and trust-related filings. Under Probate Code Section 8200, a custodian of a will must present the original to the court clerk within 30 days of learning of the testator’s death, unless a petition for probate has already been filed.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information is accessible through the Online Case Index. Copies of probate documents can be requested using Local Form M-62, submitted in person or by mail. Standard copy and certification fees apply ($0.50 per page for copies; $40.00 per document for certified copies).
Self-Help Forms
The court provides interactive online forms for guardianship and conservatorship petitions. Additional local forms and statewide Judicial Council forms for probate filings are available through the court’s website. The El Dorado County Law Library can assist with probate research for those representing themselves.
Property Records
While not part of the court system, property records such as deeds, liens, mortgages, and reconveyances are maintained by the Recorder-Clerk and can be searched through the county’s Official Records Search portal. The El Dorado County Assessor also provides an Online Property Information Search Tool for property tax and ownership data.