Mendocino County Court Records
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Mendocino County covers a large rural stretch of northern California's coast and interior, with its county seat in Ukiah. The Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino, is the sole trial court in the county and handles the full range of case types — criminal, civil, family law, probate, juvenile, small claims, and traffic. All case files are now maintained electronically, and the court no longer keeps paper records.
If you're looking for court records in California, you can search through the clerks' offices directly, use public access kiosks at the courthouse, or go through the court's online tools. CaliforniaCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available case data across the state. The Mendocino County Superior Court website gives you direct access to its case information portal, local forms, fee schedules, and division contact details.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Mendocino County?
Mendocino County court cases can be searched online, at courthouse kiosks, or through written requests to the clerk's office. Because all records are electronic, the court offers several access points depending on the case type and your relationship to it.
Online case search re:SearchCA:
The court's main electronic search tool is re:SearchCA, accessible through the court's Case Information portal. Through re:SearchCA, you can view case information, party details, hearing schedules, case events, and some filed documents. Parties and attorneys of record can view their own cases and documents remotely. All publicly available civil cases can also be viewed remotely by non-parties.
Under California Rules of Court, rule 2.503, members of the public who are not parties or attorneys may not remotely view certain case types. Restricted categories include criminal, family law, juvenile, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health, and restraining order cases. To view those records, non-parties must visit the courthouse kiosks in person.
For older cases not yet available on re:SearchCA, the court maintains a separate public case index of imaged records.
In-person access — courthouse kiosks:
Public access kiosks are available at both the Ukiah and Fort Bragg courthouses, located adjacent to the clerks' offices. Posted instructions at each kiosk walk you through the search process. These terminals let you look up non-confidential criminal, family law, restraining order, conservatorship, and guardianship records that cannot be viewed remotely.
Courthouse locations and clerks' office contacts:
| Location | Address | Public Counter Hours | Key Phone Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukiah — Mendocino County Courthouse | 100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah, CA 95482 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Civil: (707) 468-2003; Criminal: (707) 463-4661; Family Law: (707) 468-2001; Probate: (707) 468-2005; Small Claims: (707) 468-2002; Traffic: (707) 463-4660 |
| Fort Bragg — Ten Mile Branch | 700 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 | 8:30 a.m. – noon, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | (707) 964-3192 |
Additional court locations include the Arena Branch (VFW Hall, 24000 South Highway One, Point Arena, CA 95468) and the Willits Courthouse (101 South Main Street, Willits, CA 95490; Phone: (707) 463-7000). The court's main administrative line is (707) 463-4664.
Requesting copies by mail:
If you need documents that aren't available through re:SearchCA, submit the Research Request form (MMC-900). Include the case number, full party names, date of birth, hearing dates, and a description of the documents you need. Mail the completed form with payment to:
Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino
100 North State Street, Room 108
Ukiah, CA 95482
Allow 30 days for processing. The clerk accepts checks and money orders payable to the Mendocino County Superior Court — do not mail cash. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.
Court record fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record search (per name, when case number is unknown) | $15.00 (per Government Code 70627) |
| Copy fee | $0.50 per page |
| Certification with court seal | $40.00 per document (plus copy fees) |
If the total can't be calculated in advance, you may submit a check marked "not to exceed $75.00" and the clerk will fill in the actual amount. Documents available through re:SearchCA can be purchased and downloaded at $0.50 per page using a credit card.
Are Court Records Public in Mendocino County?
Mendocino County court records are generally presumed public under the California Public Records Act and the California Rules of Court. Any person may inspect or obtain copies of publicly available records maintained by the court.
Civil case documents are broadly available for remote viewing through re:SearchCA. That said, certain case categories are restricted to in-courthouse viewing only for non-parties, and some records are closed to the public entirely.
Records not accessible to the public include:
- Juvenile court proceedings
- Sealed or expunged cases
- Grand jury proceedings
- Information protected by state or federal privacy laws
- Confidential financial information filed under seal
- Medical and mental health records
- Domestic violence case details protected by statute
- Victim and witness identifying information
- Cases made confidential by court order or a change in law
Remote viewing restrictions under rule 2.503:
Non-parties cannot remotely view criminal cases, family law cases, juvenile matters, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, mental health cases, or any type of restraining order. These records must be accessed at the courthouse kiosks during business hours. Parties to a case and their attorneys of record retain full remote access to their own cases.
Any time a publicly available case is made confidential by court order or by a change in law, it is automatically removed from public view on re:SearchCA.
For questions about access or ADA accommodations for courthouse visits, contact the Court Administration office at (707) 468-2056 or by email at court.administration@mendocino.courts.ca.gov.
Mendocino County Criminal Court Records
All criminal matters in Mendocino County — felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions — go through the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. The Criminal Clerk's Office maintains all related case files.
Criminal Division contact:
Ukiah Courthouse
100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 463-4661
Public Counter: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ten Mile Branch
700 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Public Counter: 8:30 a.m. – noon, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Searching criminal court records:
Because non-parties cannot view criminal case records remotely through re:SearchCA, criminal record searches require a visit to the public access kiosks at the Ukiah or Fort Bragg courthouse. Parties and their attorneys can view their criminal cases remotely after signing in to re:SearchCA.
To request copies by mail, use the MMC-900 form and include applicable fees. Standard fees apply: $0.50 per page for copies, $40.00 for certification per document, and $15.00 for a name search.
Bail schedules:
The court publishes approved bail amounts for criminal offenses. Both the felony bail schedule and the misdemeanor bail schedule are available for download from the court's website.
Criminal fines and fees:
Payments on criminal cases can be made online through the court's online payment portal using Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. A convenience fee applies. Payment plans with a minimum monthly installment of $50.00 may be available for qualifying individuals — the court provides a payment plan request form online.
Sheriff's Office and arrest records:
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports. Direct record requests to:
Mendocino County Sheriff's Office
951 Low Gap Road
Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 463-4411
Email: records@mendocinosheriff.org
The Sheriff's Office also operates a Jail Inmate Locator where you can search current booking information by name, subject number, or booking number. For state prison records, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintains the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search (CIRIS) portal.
Restricted criminal records:
Sealed or expunged cases, juvenile criminal matters, active investigation files, sexual assault victim information, confidential informant identities, and details from confidential plea agreements are not available for public inspection.
Mendocino County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Mendocino County Superior Court handles all non-criminal litigation, organized into three tiers based on the dollar amount in dispute.
Civil case jurisdiction:
- Small Claims — Disputes of $10,000 or less. Attorneys are generally not permitted, and parties present their cases directly to a judge. The Small Claims division provides detailed filing information, with fees tiered by claim amount: up to $1,500 costs $30.00; $1,500.01–$5,000 costs $50.00; $5,000.01–$10,000 costs $75.00. Filing more than 12 claims in a year raises the fee to $100.00 per claim. Contact: (707) 468-2002.
- Limited Civil — Claims of $25,000 or less.
- Unlimited Civil — Claims exceeding $25,000, as well as family law, probate, guardianship, conservatorship, juvenile dependency, name changes, and adoption.
Civil Division contact:
Phone: (707) 468-2003
Ukiah Courthouse: 100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah, CA 95482
Public Counter: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Accessing civil records:
All publicly available civil cases can be viewed remotely through re:SearchCA, including by non-parties. Search by case number or party name to view filed documents, hearing dates, and case events. Documents can be purchased and downloaded at $0.50 per page.
For documents not available on re:SearchCA, submit the Research Request form (MMC-900) with applicable fees.
Filing fees and forms:
The court publishes a fee schedule covering filing and appearance fees for all civil case types. If you can't afford court fees, you can submit a fee waiver application at no charge — forms are available in the forms packets section. Standard Judicial Council forms can be downloaded from the California Courts forms website, and Mendocino-specific local forms are published separately.
Tentative rulings:
The court posts tentative rulings on certain civil matters by 3:00 p.m. the court day before the scheduled hearing.
Property records:
Real property records in Mendocino County are not held by the courts. They're maintained by the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office. Recorded documents including deeds, liens, and encumbrances can be searched through the Parcel Map Lookup Portal. Property tax information is available through the Tax Collector's Public Access Portal.
Mendocino County Family Court Records
Family law matters — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence restraining orders, and related proceedings — are handled by the Family Law Division of the Mendocino County Superior Court.
Family Law Division contact:
Phone: (707) 468-2001
Ukiah Courthouse: 100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah, CA 95482
Public Counter: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The court also operates a Self Help Center and Family Law Facilitator office at (707) 468-2020, which provides procedural assistance — though not legal advice — to self-represented litigants in family law matters, including child custody and visitation.
Viewing family law records:
Family law cases are restricted from remote public viewing under California Rules of Court, rule 2.503. Non-parties must visit the courthouse kiosks to look up family law records. Parties and their attorneys retain full remote access through re:SearchCA.
Divorce records:
Divorce cases are filed and maintained through the Family Law Division. Certified copies of dissolution judgments can be obtained from the clerk's office using the MMC-900 form and paying the applicable fees: $40.00 certification per document plus $0.50 per page. Divorce records are generally public, though certain information within the case file — such as financial declarations, child-related details, and domestic violence allegations — may carry confidentiality protections.
Marriage licenses and records:
Marriage licenses are issued by the Mendocino County Clerk's Office, not by the courts. Key details:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular marriage license | $95.00 |
| Confidential marriage license | $97.00 |
| Marriage ceremony (in Clerk's office) | $50.00 |
| Witness fee | $10.00 |
Both parties must appear in person with a current photo ID. Appointments are encouraged — call (707) 234-6822. If a prior dissolution occurred within the last 90 days, bring a certified copy of the final judgment. Confidential marriages are not part of the public record, and certified copies require an in-person appearance by a spouse with identification.
Certified copies of vital records:
Certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates are issued by the County Recorder's Office:
Mendocino County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020
Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: (707) 234-6823
Email: acr@mendocinocounty.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (in-person orders until 4:45 p.m.)
| Record | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $31.00 |
| Death certificate | $26.00 |
| Marriage certificate | $19.00 |
Requests can be made in person (photo ID required), by mail with a notarized application and payment, by fax, or by email to acr@mendocinocounty.gov. A Vital Records Application Form is available for download. Online orders can also be placed through VitalChek, which charges an additional service fee.
Certified copies of birth records are restricted to the registrant, parents, legal guardians, legal representatives, or individuals with a court order. Informational (non-certified) copies are available to any person. Certified death certificates are similarly restricted to immediate family, legal representatives, or those with a demonstrated legal interest.
Mendocino County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Mendocino County Superior Court handles estate administration, will contests, trust litigation, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, and related matters.
Probate Division contact:
Phone: (707) 468-2005
Ukiah Courthouse: 100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah, CA 95482
Public Counter: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Probate Court Investigation Office, located at Room 212 of the Ukiah Courthouse, can be reached at (707) 468-2066. This office conducts investigations in conservatorship and guardianship proceedings as required by law.
Types of probate records:
Probate records in Mendocino County include filings related to the probate of wills, intestate succession, estate accounting, trust administration disputes, petitions for appointment of guardians and conservators, partition actions, and escheat proceedings.
Searching probate records:
Probate cases involving guardianship or conservatorship are restricted from remote public viewing under rule 2.503 — non-parties must use the courthouse kiosks for those. Other probate matters, such as standard estate administrations, may be viewable remotely through re:SearchCA.
If you don't have a case number, the court will conduct a search for a $15.00 fee. You can avoid that charge by searching the court's online case index beforehand to find the case number.
Copies and tentative rulings:
Probate documents can be purchased through re:SearchCA at $0.50 per page, or you can request them by mail using the MMC-900 form. Certification costs $40.00 per document plus page fees. The court also issues tentative rulings on certain probate matters, posted by 3:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing.
Forms:
Standard probate forms are available on the Judicial Council website. Local forms specific to Mendocino County can be found on the court's local forms page. Forms may also be obtained in person at the clerk's office or printed at the Mendocino County Law Library. The court's fee schedule for probate filings is published on the fee schedule page. Fee waiver applications are available at no charge for qualifying individuals.