Imperial County Court Records Search
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Imperial County sits at California’s southeastern corner, with its county seat in El Centro. The Superior Court of California, County of Imperial, operates as a unified trial court across multiple courthouse locations and handles all criminal, civil, family law, juvenile, probate, and traffic matters within the county. Court records produced over the life of a case — including motions, orders, judgments, affidavits, transcripts, and docket entries — are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court.
In California, court records can be located through several channels: the clerk’s office at each courthouse, public access terminals inside court facilities, electronic case-search tools, and mail-in requests. The Superior Court of California, County of Imperial publishes case-lookup features and downloadable documents through its website. Statewide court information and approved forms are also available through CaliforniaCourts.us, which may help users identify publicly accessible case information across all 58 counties.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Imperial County?
Imperial County Superior Court provides several electronic tools for finding case information, each suited to different levels of detail.
ROA/Case Lookup (by case number)
If the case number is known, the free ROA/Case Lookup tool returns the register of actions, filing dates, hearing dates, and case status. No account is required for this search.
Named Record Searches (by party name)
To search by party name, users must create a free account on the court’s Named Record Searches portal. A non-refundable fee is charged per name search (an unlimited-search plan is also offered). Per California Rule of Court 2.507, date-of-birth and driver’s license information cannot be used as search criteria through the public portal. Those who need a criminal record search by name and date of birth or driver’s license number should submit a request through the court’s Contact Us page.
Electronic Court Records/Documents
Public documents filed from November 2017 forward are available for free download through the Electronic Records portal. A free account is required. Only the most recent 150 documents per case appear online; for older filings, users can submit a request to have the documents made available digitally. Certain case types are excluded from remote access under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, including family law, juvenile, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health, and criminal filings.
In-Person Searches
Walk-in requests are accepted during clerk’s office hours at any courthouse location. At minimum, provide the name of one party involved in the case.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro Courthouse | 939 West Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243 | (760) 482-2200 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| El Centro Criminal Courthouse | 650 Wake Avenue, El Centro, CA 92243 | (760) 482-2245 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Brawley Courthouse | 220 Main Street, Brawley, CA 92227 | (760) 336-3550 | Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Winterhaven Court | 2124 Winterhaven Drive, Winterhaven, CA 92283 | (760) 336-3500 | Tue–Thu, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 11 AM – 12 PM; closed Mon & Fri) |
By Mail
Written requests can be sent to the El Centro Courthouse at the address above. Include full party names, the case number if known, the type of record requested, a return address, and payment for any applicable copy fees.
Copy Fees
Under Government Code § 70627(a), the court charges $0.50 per page for copies of any record on file. Certification of a document is $2.00 per document. Additional fees for exemplification certificates and other court services are listed in the court’s fee schedules.
Are Court Records Public in Imperial County?
California law establishes a strong presumption of public access to court records. The California Public Records Act (Government Code § 7920.530) grants every person the right to inspect and copy records held by a public agency, and court filings generally fall within that right. California Rules of Court, Rules 2.500 through 2.507, further govern electronic access to trial court records and specify how courts must handle public and restricted documents.
Despite this broad presumption, several categories of court records are restricted or sealed by statute or court order. Records that are typically not available for public inspection include:
- Juvenile court proceedings (Welfare & Institutions Code § 827)
- Adoption case files
- Records identifying minors involved in sexual-offense cases
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Sealed or expunged records
- Personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver’s license numbers
- Records subject to a protective order issued by the court
Under Rule 2.503, certain case types are excluded from remote electronic access even when they are available for in-person review at the courthouse. These include family law, juvenile, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health, and criminal case documents. A person who needs to view records in those categories should visit the clerk’s office during business hours.
When a record is restricted, only authorized individuals — such as the parties to the case, their attorneys, and government officials performing official duties — may view or obtain copies. Third parties seeking access to restricted records must obtain a court order and demonstrate that their need outweighs the legal basis for confidentiality.
Imperial County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Imperial County are prosecuted in the Superior Court’s Criminal Division, located at the El Centro Criminal Courthouse. Cases range from felonies (case type CF) heard in the Circuit-level courtrooms to misdemeanors (MM) and criminal traffic offenses (CT) adjudicated at the county level.
El Centro Criminal Courthouse
Address: 650 Wake Avenue, El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: (760) 482-2245
Criminal Fax: (760) 336-3593
Criminal Department Inquiries: (760) 336-3500
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case docket information is available through the ROA/Case Lookup tool using a case number. Named searches for criminal matters can be submitted through the court’s Contact Us page with the party’s name and date of birth or driver’s license number. Note that criminal case documents are generally not available for remote electronic download under Rule 2.503; in-person review at the clerk’s office is typically required.
Arrest Records and the Sheriff’s Office
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Records Division serves as the repository for arrest and booking records, county-wide warrants, and restraining orders. Services include copies of crime/incident reports, local clearance letters, criminal history record checks, Live Scan fingerprinting, and local warrant checks.
Imperial County Sheriff’s Office — Records Division
Address: 328 Applestill Road, El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: (442) 265-2125
Fax: (442) 265-2073
Email: recordsdivision@icso.org
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Key fees at the Sheriff’s Records Division:
- Crime/incident report copy: $22.00
- Local clearance letter: $65.00
- Local criminal history record check: $65.00
- Live Scan rolling fee: $40.00 (additional DOJ and FBI fees may apply)
Crime and incident reports are released in accordance with California Government Code § 6254 and are generally available only to interested parties, or by subpoena or court order. Processing takes approximately 10 business days. Payment is accepted by money order, cashier’s check, or exact cash in person.
Statewide Criminal History
For a comprehensive California criminal history, the Department of Justice maintains the Record Review process. Only record subjects may request their own criminal history; a Live Scan fingerprint submission is required. The DOJ processing fee is $25.00. Results are transmitted to the requesting agency within 3 to 14 business days.
California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
P.O. Box 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207
Phone: (916) 227-3835
Email: recordreview@doj.ca.gov
Seal and Expungement
Eligible individuals may petition to seal or expunge arrest records. The process begins with an application to the FDLE equivalent in California — the DOJ’s Seal and Expunge process. Expungement petitions in California are filed under Penal Code § 1203.4 through the Superior Court where the conviction occurred.
Imperial County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Imperial County — including contract disputes, personal injury actions, real property matters, landlord-tenant evictions, and small claims — are filed in the Superior Court’s Civil Division. The El Centro Courthouse serves as the primary filing location.
El Centro Courthouse (Civil Division)
Address: 939 West Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: (760) 482-2273
Small Claims Info: (760) 482-2238
Traffic Fax: (760) 336-3598
How to Search Civil Records
Civil case information is searchable by case number through the ROA/Case Lookup tool or by party name through the Named Record Searches portal. Civil filings from November 2017 onward may also be downloaded through the Electronic Records portal after creating a free account.
Forms and Filing
The court publishes local forms and provides links to Judicial Council forms for all civil case types. Initial and subsequent filings for civil matters can be submitted electronically through the court’s e-filing portal. Self-represented litigants may visit the court’s Self-Help Access Center at the El Centro Courthouse for walk-in assistance with small claims and certain civil procedures, available Monday through Friday.
Selected Civil Filing Fees
Detailed fee schedules are published on the court’s fee schedules page. Copy fees for civil case documents are $0.50 per page, with certification at $2.00.
Official Records
Recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments are maintained by the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder. The Clerk-Recorder’s online Official Records Search portal allows the public to search recorded instruments by name, document type, or recording date.
Imperial County Clerk-Recorder
Address: 940 West Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: (442) 265-1075
Fax: (442) 265-1091
Property Records
Property ownership and assessment data are available through the Imperial County Assessor’s Office and its ParcelQuest Lite search tool.
Imperial County Assessor
Address: 940 West Main Street, Suite 115, El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: (442) 265-1300
Fax: (442) 265-8030
Email: assessor@co.imperial.ca.us
Imperial County Family Court Records
Family law matters — including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, and name changes — are heard within the Superior Court’s Family Division. The El Centro Courthouse is the primary location for family law filings.
Self-Help Access Center
The court operates a Self-Help Access Center that provides free legal information (not legal advice) for self-represented litigants in family law cases. Services cover divorce, paternity, child support, spousal support, guardianship, conservatorship, and requests for orders. Workshops are offered in English and Spanish on the following schedule:
| Day | Workshop Topic |
|---|---|
| Monday & Tuesday | Dissolution of Marriage |
| Wednesday | Guardianship / Conservatorship |
| Thursday & Friday | Judgment / Letters of Rogatory / Marital Settlement |
Walk-in services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Small claims assistance hours vary by day. The Family Law Self-Help line is (760) 482-2233.
Guided interactive forms are available through the court’s LawHelp Interactive tool, and additional Florida Supreme Court forms can be accessed through the Judicial Council forms page.
Searching Family Court Records
Family court case information appears in the ROA/Case Lookup tool when searched by case number. However, under Rule 2.503, family law documents are not available for remote electronic download. In-person review at the clerk’s office is required for most family law filings.
Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Marriage certificates are issued by the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder. Copies can be obtained in person, by mail using the Vitals Application form, or online through VitalChek (the only vendor authorized by Imperial County). Current fees:
- Marriage certificate: $19.00
- Marriage certificate (government agency): $14.00
Mail applications must include a notarized sworn statement and payment by check or money order payable to “Imperial County Clerk/Recorder”. Processing time is seven to ten business days.
Birth and Death Records
The Clerk-Recorder also maintains birth and death records for events that occurred within Imperial County. Certified copies are available to authorized persons as defined by Health and Safety Code § 103526.
- Birth certificate: $34.00 (government agency rate: $27.00)
- Death certificate: $26.00
For events that did not occur in Imperial County, contact the California Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section (P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410; Phone: (916) 445-2684).
Child Support
The Imperial County Department of Child Support Services assists with establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders. Their office operates independently from the court clerk.
Imperial County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Imperial County Superior Court handles decedent estates, wills, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, and other protective proceedings. Probate cases are heard at the El Centro Courthouse.
Common Probate Matters
Estates valued at $100,000 or less with no real property may qualify for a simplified transfer under the Affidavit Procedure outlined in Probate Code § 13100, potentially avoiding full probate proceedings. Wills must be lodged with the clerk within 30 days of learning of the testator’s death, as required by Probate Code § 8200. There is no fee to file a will for safekeeping.
Summary administration is available for smaller estates, and formal administration applies to larger or more complex matters. Conservatorship proceedings are initiated when an individual is physically or mentally unable to manage personal or financial affairs. All guardianship matters for minors who inherit or receive property exceeding $15,000 must also proceed through the Probate Division.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case docket information is available through the ROA/Case Lookup tool by case number. Probate Examiner’s Notes — summaries prepared after a probate examiner reviews a petition — can be downloaded for free through the Electronic Records portal by selecting “Probate Note Search” after logging in.
Other probate documents from November 2017 forward are available through the same Electronic Records portal using the “Document Search” tab. For cases predating November 2017, users may submit a request to have documents digitized and made available online.
Forms and Resources
Probate forms are accessible through the court’s local forms and Judicial Council forms pages. The Self-Help Access Center offers guardianship and conservatorship workshops on Wednesdays at 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM in both English and Spanish. Legal counsel is recommended for estate matters, and the court’s Law Library in El Centro is available for independent research by appointment.
Appellate Review
Imperial County falls within the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Probate and other trial court decisions may be appealed to one of its three divisions. Appellate case information is searchable through the statewide Appellate Court Case Information system.