Kern County Court Records Search

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    Kern County, California spans a vast geographic area in the southern Central Valley and encompasses more than a dozen courthouse locations operated by the Kern County Superior Court. Court records generated across these locations — from felony criminal filings in Bakersfield to small claims actions in Ridgecrest — are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office and, depending on the record type, by other county departments such as the Assessor-Recorder and the Office of Vital Records. Whether you need a copy of a judgment, a case docket, or a certified document for legal proceedings, knowing which office holds the record and how to submit your request will save considerable time.

    Residents and attorneys searching for Kern County court information can start with the Superior Court’s own online tools, the clerk’s office at any staffed courthouse, or public-access terminals available during business hours. California’s statewide judicial branch website and resources compiled at CaliforniaCourts.us may also help locate publicly available case information, court forms, fee schedules, and procedural guides applicable across all 58 counties. For records that fall outside the court system — property documents, vital records, or law-enforcement reports — separate county departments maintain their own search portals and request procedures, each described in the sections that follow.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Kern County?

    Kern County Superior Court offers several paths for locating case information. The method you choose depends on the type of case, the level of detail you need, and whether you require official copies.

    Online Case Search

    The court operates two browser-based lookup tools:

    1. Criminal Case Search — The Criminal Case Information Search allows the public to look up criminal matters by defendant name or case number. Results include the case number, charges, court dates, and disposition information. No registration is required.
    2. Non-Criminal Case Search — Civil, family law, probate, and other non-criminal matters can be searched through the Odyssey Portal. Users may search by party name, case number, or hearing calendar. Registration may be required for certain search functions.

    Tips for online searches:

    • When searching by case number, add an asterisk (*) after the number to capture all related sub-cases.
    • The portal displays basic docket information; it does not provide downloadable copies of filed documents.
    • Municipal or city court records predating court unification may not appear in the online system.

    In-Person Search

    You may visit any staffed courthouse during business hours and request a case-file search at the clerk’s counter. Public-access computer terminals are also available at the clerk’s office for self-service lookups.

    By Mail

    Written requests for case information or document copies should include the case number (if known), party names, document title, your contact information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include the applicable fee by check or money order payable to the Superior Court of Kern County.

    Kern County Courthouse Locations

    CourthouseAddress
    Metropolitan Division1415 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
    Metropolitan Trial Courts1215 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
    Jury Division1661 L St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
    Juvenile Justice Center2100 College Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
    Traffic Division3131 Arrow St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
    Delano Superior Court1122 Jefferson St, Delano, CA 93215
    Lamont Superior Court12022 Main St, Lamont, CA 93241
    Mojave Superior Court1773 State Hwy 58 Business, Mojave, CA 93501
    Ridgecrest Superior Court132 E Coso Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
    Shafter Superior Court325 Central Valley Hwy, Shafter, CA 93263

    Confirm hours and department assignments for a specific case type by consulting the Kern County Superior Court website before visiting.

    Are Court Records Public in Kern County?

    California law establishes a strong presumption of public access to court records. Under the California Public Records Act and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.502, a “court record” includes any document — paper, electronic, micrographic, or photographic — filed with or maintained by the court in connection with a judicial proceeding. The general rule is that any member of the public may inspect or obtain copies of these records unless a specific statute, rule, or court order restricts access.

    Records that are generally public include:

    • Criminal complaints, informations, and indictments
    • Civil petitions, complaints, and answers
    • Judgments and orders
    • Calendars, registers of actions, and indexes
    • Probate petitions and inventories (with some exceptions)

    Categories commonly sealed or confidential:

    The Trial Court Records Manual published by the Judicial Council identifies numerous categories of restricted records. These include, among others:

    • Juvenile court records (Welfare & Institutions Code § 827)
    • Adoption records
    • Mental health and psychiatric evaluation records
    • Financial records filed under seal
    • Identities of victims in certain sex-offense cases
    • Records subject to a court-issued sealing or protective order
    • Juror identifying information (Code of Civil Procedure § 237)

    When a record falls into a confidential category, the clerk will deny the request and cite the applicable authority. If you believe a sealed record should be made available, you may file a motion to unseal under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550–2.551.

    Obtaining Copies

    The court provides both general (uncertified) and certified copies of public records. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or — for certain documents — by email. The court filing fee and fee schedule lists current copy charges. As a general benchmark:

    • Standard copies: $0.50 per page
    • Certified copies: $0.50 per page plus a certification fee
    • Record search fee (mail requests): $15.00 per name or case searched

    Payment is accepted by cash, money order, cashier’s check, or attorney trust-account check. Credit cards are accepted at some locations. Verify accepted payment methods with the specific division before visiting.

    Kern County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Kern County are heard by the Superior Court, with felony matters typically assigned to the Metropolitan Division in Bakersfield and misdemeanor or infraction cases distributed across branch courthouses depending on where the offense occurred. The clerk’s office at the division handling the case maintains the official file.

    Searching Criminal Records

    The fastest public method is the Criminal Case Information Search, which returns basic case data such as the case number (Cause #), scheduled court dates, charges, and disposition. No account or fee is required for a basic search.

    For certified copies or documents not available online, you may:

    1. Visit the criminal division clerk counter at the appropriate courthouse during business hours.
    2. Submit a written request by mail to the clerk of the division where the case was filed, including the case number, defendant name, document description, applicable fee, and a stamped self-addressed envelope.
    3. Request emailed copies for informational (non-filing) purposes by contacting the clerk; emailed copies carry no certification and cannot be filed in court.

    Arrest and Booking Records

    Arrest records and booking information are maintained by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, not the court. The Sheriff’s Office publishes a searchable jail roster on its website. Incident reports and arrest records may be requested through the Sheriff’s Records Division. Charges filed by the Kern County District Attorney become part of the court record once a complaint or information is filed with the clerk.

    Criminal History Reports

    Statewide criminal history records in California are administered by the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Members of the public may request their own criminal history through the DOJ’s Live Scan fingerprinting process. Court-level records, by contrast, reflect only cases filed in that particular court.

    Relevant restrictions: Sealed arrest records (Penal Code § 851.87), expunged convictions (Penal Code § 1203.4), and records of diversion programs may not appear in public search results or may be redacted from copies provided by the clerk.

    Kern County Civil Court Records

    The Kern County Superior Court handles all civil matters, from complex litigation and personal-injury lawsuits to unlawful-detainer actions and small claims disputes. Civil case files are maintained by the clerk’s office at the courthouse where the case was filed or transferred.

    Types of Civil Records

    Civil court records encompass complaints, cross-complaints, answers, motions, declarations, deposition notices, discovery-related filings, judgments, abstracts of judgment, writs, and post-judgment orders. Small claims matters — filed in cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed the statutory limit — are also part of the civil records archive.

    Online Searches

    Non-criminal cases, including civil matters, can be searched through the Odyssey Portal. Select the appropriate case category and search by party name or case number. Calendar information for upcoming hearings is also accessible through this system.

    Requesting Copies

    Copies of civil documents may be obtained through several methods:

    • In person: Visit the civil clerk’s counter at the courthouse where the case is pending; request specific documents by case number and document title.
    • By mail: Send a written request to the Superior Court clerk at the appropriate courthouse. Include the case number, document title or filing date, your name and mailing address, a stamped self-addressed envelope, and payment (check or money order payable to the Superior Court of Kern County).
    • Transcript requests: Trial transcripts are prepared by the court reporter, not the clerk. A separate request and fee apply; contact the court reporter’s office or use the court’s transcript request procedure for instructions.

    Applicable Fees

    ServiceFee
    Copy (per page)$0.50
    Certified copy (per page + certification)$0.50/page + certification fee
    Search fee (mail)$15.00

    Fees are subject to change; consult the current fee schedule before submitting payment.

    Forms

    Self-represented litigants can access standardized Judicial Council civil forms — including small claims forms, fee-waiver applications, and motions templates — through the California Courts self-help website. Kern-specific local forms, if any, are posted on the Superior Court’s forms page.

    Kern County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Kern County — including dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity actions, and adoptions — are adjudicated by the Family Law Division of the Superior Court. The clerk’s office at the Metropolitan Division in Bakersfield generally processes family law filings, although certain matters may be handled at branch locations.

    Searching Family Court Records

    Active family law cases can be looked up on the Odyssey Portal by selecting the family law case category. Basic docket information — case number, party names, hearing dates, and case status — is publicly viewable online. Full documents, however, typically require an in-person visit or a formal copy request.

    Confidentiality Considerations

    Family law records carry particular sensitivity. While the case docket itself is generally public, certain filed documents are confidential by statute or court rule:

    • Income and expense declarations filed in support proceedings may contain financial data subject to restricted access.
    • Adoption records are confidential under Family Code § 9200 and may only be accessed by court order or by parties specifically authorized by statute.
    • Juvenile dependency records (Welfare & Institutions Code § 827) are sealed from public inspection.
    • Domestic violence restraining order applications may contain protected addresses under the Safe at Home program (Government Code § 6205–6215).

    Marriage Records

    Marriage licenses in Kern County are issued by the Kern County Clerk’s Office, not the Superior Court. Both public and confidential marriage licenses are available. Public marriage records can be searched and ordered through the Clerk’s Office; confidential marriage records are accessible only to the parties named on the license or their authorized representatives.

    Certified copies of marriage certificates may be requested in person, by mail, or online through the Clerk’s Office. The fee for a certified copy is approximately $17.00 (verify current pricing with the Clerk). Mail requests should include a completed application form, acceptable identification information, and payment.

    Divorce Records

    To obtain a copy of a divorce decree (judgment of dissolution), contact the Superior Court clerk at the courthouse where the dissolution was filed. You may also search for the case on the Odyssey Portal and then submit a copy request. Alternatively, the California Department of Public Health maintains an index of divorce records and can issue certified copies for vital-records purposes.

    California recognizes both standard dissolution and summary dissolution for couples who meet specific eligibility requirements. Both types of judgments are maintained in court files.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death certificates are not court records but are frequently needed alongside family court filings. In Kern County, vital records are maintained by the Office of Vital Records:

    Kern County Office of Vital Records
    Address: 1800 Mt Vernon Ave, 1st Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93306-3302
    Phone: (661) 321-3000

    • Birth certificates (1960–present): $29.00 per certified copy. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail using the birth certificate application form, or online.
    • Death certificates (1993–present): $24.00 per certified copy; fetal death certificates cost $21.00.
    • Records predating these dates are held by the Kern County Recorder’s Office and may require a separate request.

    California Health and Safety Code §§ 103525–103526 restrict who may obtain authorized (certified) copies of birth and death certificates. Informational copies, which are not valid for legal identification purposes, are available to any requester.

    Kern County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Kern County — estates of decedents, wills, trusts (to the extent they come before the court), conservatorships, and guardianships — are handled by the Probate Division of the Superior Court. The Metropolitan Division courthouse in Bakersfield serves as the primary location for probate filings and hearings.

    What Probate Records Include

    A probate case file typically contains the petition for probate, the decedent’s will (if one exists), letters testamentary or letters of administration, inventories and appraisals, accountings, petitions for distribution, and the final order of distribution. Guardianship and conservatorship files include the petition, investigation reports, orders of appointment, and periodic status-review documents.

    Searching Probate Cases

    The Odyssey Portal supports searches of probate cases by party name, case number, or hearing calendar. Registered users may also access Probate Notes for pending matters, which provide information about upcoming hearings and required documents.

    For in-person searches, visit the probate clerk’s counter at the Metropolitan Division during regular business hours. Public-access terminals in the clerk’s office allow self-service lookups of case index information.

    Requesting Copies of Probate Documents

    To obtain copies by mail, send a written request to:

    Superior Court of Kern County — Probate Division
    1415 Truxtun Ave
    Bakersfield, CA 93301

    Your letter must include:

    • Case number
    • Document title and filing date (if known)
    • Your name, address, and daytime phone number
    • A stamped self-addressed envelope
    • Payment (check or money order payable to the Superior Court of Kern County)

    Standard copy fees apply ($0.50 per page for uncertified copies). If you need a certified copy of a will that has been admitted to probate, a court order may be required before the clerk can issue it.

    Guardianship and Conservatorship Records

    Guardianship petitions involving minors and conservatorship petitions involving adults are public records, but court investigator reports and certain medical or psychological evaluations filed in these cases may be sealed or confidential. If you are a party to the proceeding or an interested person, you may request access to restricted documents through a noticed motion.

    Property Records Related to Probate

    Probate proceedings often involve real property transfers. Deeds, affidavits of death of trustee, and other recorded instruments are maintained by the Kern County Assessor-Recorder’s Office, not the court. The Recorder’s Office offers online search tools, including the Assessor Property Search by address or assessor’s parcel number and a Parcelquest document search for recorded instruments. These resources can help verify whether a property transfer ordered by the probate court has been recorded.

    For questions about court filing requirements, local rules, or available forms, the Kern County Superior Court website provides current information on each division’s procedures, and the California Courts self-help center offers statewide guides to common probate, family, civil, and criminal court processes.