Lake County Court Records Search

    Please enter a valid first name
    Please enter a valid last name

    CaliforniaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on CaliforniaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    Lake County, California, is a largely rural county in the North Bay region of Northern California, with Lakeport serving as its county seat. The county’s judicial functions are handled entirely through the Lake County Superior Court, which manages every category of case from traffic infractions and small claims to felony prosecutions, family law proceedings, and estate matters. Court records produced through these proceedings — including transcripts, motions, pleadings, orders, and judgments — follow the disclosure framework established under Rule 2.550 of the California Rules of Court, which requires court records to be publicly accessible unless specific statutory or judicial protections apply.

    Locating court case information in California starts with knowing where to look. The Lake County Superior Court maintains an online case search portal and accepts filings electronically, making it possible to find many records without a courthouse visit. For a broader starting point across California’s judicial system, KansasCourts.us — wait, this article covers California. Court records in California can be located through the CaliforniaCourts.us resources directory, official clerk offices, public access terminals at each courthouse, and the court’s own online case management portal. These tools, along with in-person requests at the clerk’s counter, cover the main pathways for accessing publicly available case information.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Lake County?

    Lake County Superior Court operates two courthouse locations. Each handles different categories of cases, so it is important to identify the correct venue before visiting or submitting a request.

    Lake County Superior Court — Lakeport Courthouse (Main)

    Address: 255 North Forbes Street, 4th Floor, Lakeport, CA 95453
    Phone: (707) 263-2374
    Fax: (707) 262-1327
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Case types: Probate, guardianship, family law, eminent domain, equity, real property, domestic violence, civil cases, juvenile delinquency and dependency, mental health, criminal felony cases, appeals, and habeas corpus.

    Lake County Superior Court — Clearlake Branch

    Address: 7000 A South Center Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422
    Phone: (707) 994-6598
    Fax: (707) 994-1625
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Case types: Infraction traffic, infraction non-traffic, small claims, civil limited unlawful detainers, and Department of Child Support matters.

    Online Case Search

    The most efficient starting point for any records search is the Lake County Superior Court public case portal. This portal allows searches by:

    • Last name and first name
    • Last name and initial of first name
    • Company name
    • Case number

    The portal provides basic case information, docket entries, and hearing dates. It does not display dates of birth. If date-of-birth verification is needed after checking the portal, requesters must complete a DOB Verification Form available through the Clerk’s office.

    In-Person Records Requests

    To request copies at the courthouse:

    1. Visit the Clerk’s office at 255 N. Forbes Street, 4th Floor, Lakeport, during business hours.
    2. Provide a case number or party name to identify the file.
    3. Pay the applicable fee before copies are released.
    4. Note that some closed case files are held at an off-site retention facility and require approximately five business days for delivery to the courthouse.

    Mail and Fax Requests

    Complete a Research and Copy Request Form and mail it to: Lake County Superior Court, 255 N. Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453. Fax requests to: (707) 262-1327. Research fees and copy fees must be paid before records are released.

    Electronic Filing

    The court accepts eFiled documents in adoptions, civil, family law, probate, and small claims matters 24 hours a day. Filings go through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP). The EFSP charges a $9.45 service fee plus 2.75% of any applicable court filing fee per submission. All documents must be submitted as text-searchable PDF files and must not be password-protected.

    Are Court Records Public in Lake County?

    Court records in Lake County are generally open to the public under California law. Rule 2.550 of the California Rules of Court requires that court records remain accessible unless confidentiality is mandated by statute or court order. The California Public Records Act (CPRA) further governs access to judicial administrative records, which fall under California Rules of Court, Rule 10.500, rather than the CPRA’s executive-branch framework.

    Records Restricted from Public Access

    The California Trial Court Records Manual (TCRM) identifies the following categories as confidential or restricted:

    • Juvenile dependency and delinquency records
    • Subpoenaed records
    • Documents filed under seal by court order
    • Arrest records for defendants found factually not guilty
    • Court-ordered reports on a defendant’s mental competence
    • Family conciliation court records
    • Records sealed under Rule 2.551 following a sealing motion

    Fees for Copies and Research

    ServiceFee
    Plain copies (per page)$0.50
    Most certification fees$40.00 per document + copy fees
    Certification of dissolution judgment$15.00 + copy fees
    Research exceeding 10 minutes$15.00 per search

    All fees must be paid before research is conducted or copies are released. For judicial administrative records requests (not case records), written requests should be directed to: Court Executive Officer, Superior Court, County of Lake, 255 N. Forbes Street, 4th Floor, Lakeport, CA 95453.

    Lake County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal case records — including felony and misdemeanor prosecutions, DUI matters, and traffic infractions — are maintained by the Lake County Superior Court. The Lakeport Courthouse handles criminal felony cases and appeals; the Clearlake Branch handles infraction traffic and non-traffic matters.

    Searching Criminal Case Records Online

    Use the Lake County Superior Court case search portal to look up criminal case dockets by defendant name or case number. The portal returns basic docket information and hearing dates for cases in the court’s case management system.

    Statewide Criminal History Records

    The California Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains statewide criminal history records. Individuals may request their own criminal record through the DOJ’s record review program using a fingerprint-based submission. The DOJ processing fee for a personal record review is $25, with an additional Live Scan rolling fee charged by the fingerprinting service provider. Fee waiver options may be available for qualifying applicants.

    Arrest Records — Lake County Sheriff’s Office

    The Lake County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records for incidents within the county’s unincorporated areas. Arrest booking logs are published through the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrests portal, updated with public booking information.

    Lake County Sheriff’s Office — Records Division

    Address: 1220 Martin Street, P.O. Box 489, Lakeport, CA 95453

    Reports are available to victims, authorized representatives of victims, insurance carriers, and persons suffering bodily injury or property damage. Arrest reports are not released to the arrested person directly from the Sheriff’s Office — those are provided through the courts or defense counsel. Report requests can be submitted by mail to the Records Unit or via the online request form on the county website. Turnaround is seven to ten business days. Email delivery is free; paper copies require payment of applicable fees per the Sheriff’s fee schedule before release.

    Local Criminal Court Forms

    The Superior Court maintains several local criminal division forms, including:

    • LK-914: Findings and Protective Order Sealing Documents in Support of Application for Mental Health Diversion (effective 3/13/2025)
    • LK-905: Application for Mental Health Diversion, Advisement of Rights & Waiver
    • LK-902: Petition to Terminate Probation (per AB 1950)
    • LK-910: Trial Readiness Checklist

    These and additional local criminal forms are available on the court’s Forms & Filings page.

    Lake County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Lake County — including general civil cases, small claims, unlawful detainers, and civil limited jurisdiction cases — are handled by the Superior Court. Cases involving more than $35,000 are heard at the Lakeport Courthouse; small claims and limited civil unlawful detainers are heard at the Clearlake Branch.

    Searching Civil Records

    Start with the online case portal to locate a case by party name or case number. For cases not appearing online, or for document copies, contact the clerk’s office directly or submit a written copy request.

    In-Person Access

    Computers and kiosks are available at the courthouse for self-directed searches. Staff assistance is also available during counter hours. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page, payable before release.

    Civil E-Filing

    All civil case types accepted by the court may be filed electronically through the court’s EFSP portal. The statewide civil fee schedule, effective January 1, 2024, governs filing fees for civil matters. Local court rules effective January 1, 2026 are posted on the Forms & Filings page.

    Fee Waivers

    Litigants who cannot afford filing fees may request a waiver by filing Judicial Council Forms FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) and FW-003 (proposed order) simultaneously with the initiating document through the eFiling system. In-person filing remains available for those unable to use the electronic system.

    Self-Help Center

    The court’s Self-Help Center, located at the Clearlake Branch (Phone: (707) 994-4612, Fax: (707) 995-2507, Email: self.help@lake.courts.ca.gov), provides free assistance with small claims filings, unlawful detainer matters, and other civil proceedings for self-represented litigants.

    Lake County Family Court Records

    Family law matters — including divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, guardianship, paternity, and adoption — are heard at the Lakeport Courthouse. The Self-Help Center at the Clearlake Branch also assists with many family law procedures for parties without attorneys.

    Divorce and Dissolution Records

    Dissolution of marriage cases are filed, finalized, and maintained by the Lake County Superior Court. To request divorce records, visit the Clerk’s office at the Lakeport Courthouse or submit a written copy request by mail or fax. Provide the case number or the names of the parties and the approximate filing date. Certification of a dissolution judgment costs $15.00 plus copy fees at $0.50 per page.

    Searching Family Law Cases Online

    The case search portal covers family law dockets. Because family law files may contain sensitive personal information, some documents within a case file may be restricted even when the docket itself is publicly visible. Contact the Clerk’s office at (707) 263-2374 for guidance on specific document access.

    Local Family Law Forms

    The court uses local form LK-100 (Family Law Case Status Report) and requires a Mandatory Settlement Conference Statement (LK-101) in applicable cases. These are available on the Forms & Filings page. Statewide Judicial Council forms for family law matters are available through the California Courts forms library.

    Marriage Records

    The Lake County Clerk-Recorder’s Office maintains marriage certificates — both public and confidential.

    Address: 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453
    Phone: (public records): (707) 263-2293
    Phone: (confidential records): (707) 263-2311

    The fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $17. Mail-in requests require completing the application for a certified copy of marriage record and mailing it with payment to the same address. Pursuant to state proclamations, fees for certified copies of marriage records are suspended for any party who lost the record as a result of certain wildfires. Eligible applicants must include a Sworn Statement when submitting the request to qualify for the free certified copy.

    Birth and Death Records

    The Lake County Health Services Department, Office of Vital Records and Registration, registers all births and deaths occurring within the county for the current and prior year only.

    Address: 922 Bevins Court, Lakeport, CA 95453
    Email: vitalstats@lakecountyca.gov

    Older birth and death records are held by the Lake County Recorder’s Office at 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, CA 95453. Only authorized persons may request certified copies. Fees are $29 for birth certificates and $24 for death certificates, payable by check, cash, or money order. Office hours for vital records requests are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

    Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders

    Domestic violence restraining order cases are heard at the Lakeport Courthouse. The Self-Help Center provides free assistance preparing restraining order paperwork. There is no monetary first appearance fee for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders when filing electronically through the eFiling system.

    Lake County Probate Court Records

    Probate jurisdiction in Lake County rests with the Superior Court at the Lakeport Courthouse. The court handles the full range of probate matters, including estate administration, will filings, contested will proceedings, guardianships, and conservatorships.

    What Probate Records Cover

    Probate filings maintained by the Clerk’s office include:

    • Petitions for probate of will and appointment of executor or administrator
    • Letters testamentary and letters of administration
    • Inventories and appraisals of estate assets
    • Creditor claims and court orders on those claims
    • Guardianship petitions and orders (for minors and adults)
    • Conservatorship petitions and accountings
    • Final distribution orders

    Searching Probate Case Records

    The Lake County Superior Court public portal indexes probate cases. Search by the decedent’s name, ward’s name, or case number. Cases predating the online index may require an in-person or mail request.

    Requesting Probate Documents

    Visit the Clerk’s office at 255 N. Forbes Street, 4th Floor, Lakeport, CA 95453 during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), or submit a written Research and Copy Request Form by mail or fax. Provide the case number or the name of the decedent/ward, the date of filing, and the specific documents required. Pay copy fees — $0.50 per page for plain copies and $40.00 per document plus copy fees for most certifications — before records are released. Closed probate files stored off-site require approximately five business days to retrieve.

    Probate E-Filing

    Probate documents may be submitted electronically through the court’s EFSP portal, available 24 hours a day. Documents must be in text-searchable PDF format. The standard EFSP service fee of $9.45 plus 2.75% of applicable court filing fees applies to each electronic submission. Fee waiver forms FW-001 and FW-003 can be submitted simultaneously with the initiating probate petition if the petitioner qualifies for a waiver.

    Property Records Related to Probate

    When estate administration involves real property transactions, related deeds and ownership records are held by the Lake County Assessor-Recorder’s Office.

    Address: 255 North Forbes Street, Room 223, Lakeport, CA 95453
    Phone: (707) 263-2303
    Fax: (707) 263-3703