Riverside County Court Records Search
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Riverside County, California, is one of the largest counties in the United States by area and the fourth most populous county in California. Its court system reflects that scale — fourteen courthouse locations spread across the county handle thousands of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters each year. All of these proceedings generate court records, which include dockets, motions, pleadings, rulings, judgments, court orders, transcripts, and other documentation created during the course of litigation. The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside is the single trial court serving the entire county, organized across multiple divisions and locations.
Accessing Court Records in California and Riverside County:
Riverside County residents and researchers have several pathways for locating court case information. Records can be searched through the clerk’s offices at courthouse locations, public access terminals on-site at the courts, and online systems maintained by the Superior Court. For those researching California court cases more broadly, the state courts website at CaliforniaCourts.us offers publicly available court case information and resources at the statewide level. The county itself does not maintain court records — all requests must go directly to the Riverside County Superior Court or the appropriate clerk’s office.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Riverside County?
The Riverside County Superior Court provides a public online portal for searching case records without visiting a courthouse. The Public Access web portal allows users to search civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic case information. Registered account holders can search the court index, register of actions, court calendar, and court notes, and can download documents from non-sealed, non-confidential cases.
Online search fee structure:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Case Number search | Free |
| Document download (first 5 pages per document) | $1.00 per page |
| Document download (each additional page per document) | $0.50 per page |
| Maximum cap per document | $50.00 |
| Staff-assisted search exceeding 10 minutes | $15.00 per search |
| Photocopies | $0.50 per page |
| Document certification | $25.00 per document |
For requesting certified copies or conducting a formal records search, the court’s Request for Records Search form (RI-MC002) and the Request for Certified Copies form (RI-MC011) are available on the court’s website. These forms can be submitted in person at any courthouse or mailed to the specific courthouse where the case was filed.
The main phone line for all Riverside County Superior Court departments is (951) 777-3147. Clerk’s Office phone hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, excluding court holidays. Courthouse windows are generally open from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Traffic inquiries can reach a dedicated line at (951) 222-0384.
For a mailed request where the total fee is unknown, requesters may include a check made payable to the Clerk of the Court with the notation “not to exceed” the estimated amount. Payment can also be made by credit card.
Are Court Records Public in Riverside County?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) establishes the framework for public access to court records throughout the state, including in Riverside County. Under the CPRA, court records are presumptively open to private individuals, media organizations, businesses, and other members of the public. Court dockets, judgments, orders, case schedules, and opinions are generally available without restriction.
Record categories subject to restricted access or exemptions include:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
- Mental health proceedings, including conservatorships and commitment hearings
- Adoption case records (restricted to protect the privacy of parties)
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Confidential settlement agreements approved by the court
- Cannabis-related arrest and conviction records subject to destruction under Health and Safety Code § 11361.5
- Records purged by the court pursuant to Government Code § 68152
Where a record contains both public and restricted information, the court may provide a redacted version. Sealed records require a court order to access. The Riverside County Superior Court routinely purges older records from its online database, so the absence of a record online does not always mean it no longer exists — requesters should contact the clerk’s office directly if a record cannot be located. The court’s search records and public access page provides additional information about the court’s search policies and record purging procedures.
Riverside County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Riverside County — ranging from misdemeanor traffic offenses to serious felonies — are heard at several courthouse locations throughout the county. The criminal division of the Riverside County Superior Court has primary jurisdiction over all felony prosecutions, while misdemeanor cases may also be handled at various branch courthouses.
Primary criminal courthouse locations:
Riverside Hall of Justice
Address: 4100 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Cases heard: Criminal
Southwest Justice Center
Address: 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563
Phone: (951) 704-7634
Cases heard: Civil, criminal, juvenile, small claims, traffic
Larson Justice Center
Address: 46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201
Phone: (760) 393-2617
Cases heard: Criminal, family law, probate, traffic
Banning Justice Center
Address: 311 East Ramsey Street, Banning, CA 92220
Phone: (951) 572-5408
Cases heard: Civil, criminal, small claims, traffic
For pre-conviction arrest records and law enforcement records, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office maintains the county’s local summary criminal history information through its Information Services Bureau. The Riverside Police Department handles criminal records for the city of Riverside. Background investigations through the Riverside Police Department cost $45, with an additional $15 for fingerprint processing.
Under California law, full criminal history records — including those spanning multiple counties or jurisdictions — are maintained by the California Department of Justice. Employers and agencies with statutory authority may request statewide background checks through the DOJ. Private individuals may only obtain their own criminal history through the DOJ’s request process.
How to search criminal court cases in Riverside County:
- Visit the Public Access web portal online to search by case number or party name
- Use public access terminals available at the courthouse where the case was heard
- Visit or contact the clerk’s office at the specific courthouse in person or by phone at (951) 777-3147
Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are not publicly accessible through any of these methods.
Riverside County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Riverside County — covering contract disputes, property matters, personal injury claims, debt collection, and small claims — are distributed across multiple courthouse locations based on the type of dispute and the geographic location of the parties. The civil division of the Superior Court serves Riverside, Banning, Blythe, Corona, Moreno Valley, Palm Springs, and other locations throughout the county.
Key civil courthouse locations:
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Cases Heard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Historic Courthouse | 4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501 | (951) 777-3147 | Civil, probate |
| Southwest Justice Center | 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563 | (951) 704-7634 | Civil, criminal, small claims |
| Blythe Court | 265 North Broadway, Blythe, CA 92225 | (760) 775-8500 | Civil, criminal, family law, small claims |
| Hemet Court | 880 North State Street, Hemet, CA 92543 | (951) 306-3561 | Civil, family law, small claims |
| Moreno Valley Court | 13800 Heacock Street, Bldg D, Rm 201, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 | (951) 777-3147 | Evictions, small claims |
| Palm Springs Court | 3255 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262 | (760) 393-2617 | Civil only |
Civil court records can be searched online through the Public Access web portal. For certified or official copies, complete the Request for Certified Copies form (RI-MC011) and submit it in person or by mail to the courthouse where the case was filed. Staff-assisted record searches cost $15 per search; photocopies run $0.50 per page, and certification of a document adds $25 per document. The court’s fee schedule provides a full listing of applicable fees.
Riverside County Family Court Records
The Family Law Division of the Riverside County Superior Court handles dissolution of marriage, legal separation, registered domestic partnership terminations, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support enforcement, paternity establishment, domestic violence restraining orders, and related matters. The family law division page lists current local rules, trial procedures, standing orders, and fee information.
Family law courthouse locations:
Riverside Family Law Courthouse
Address: 4175 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501 (Physical); P.O. Box 431, Riverside, CA 92502 (Mailing)
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Clerk’s phone hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Larson Justice Center (Indio)
Address: 46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201
Phone: (760) 393-2617
Cases heard: Family law, criminal, probate
Blythe Court
Address: 265 North Broadway, Blythe, CA 92225
Phone: (760) 775-8500
Hemet Court
Address: 880 North State Street, Hemet, CA 92543
Phone: (951) 306-3561
Family court records may be accessed through the Public Access web portal, in person at the courthouse where the case was filed, or through a mailed request using the record request form (RI-MC002). Certain family law records, including adoption proceedings and domestic violence case details, may be restricted under the CPRA. Requesters should contact the clerk’s office in advance to confirm whether specific records are available for release.
Divorce records are maintained by the Family Law Division at the courthouse where the divorce was granted. Certified copies of dissolution records may be obtained in person or by mail. Under Government Code § 70674, certified copies of marriage or domestic partnership dissolution records cost $15 for public applicants.
Marriage records (the license and certificate itself, rather than dissolution records) are maintained separately by the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. Marriage record copies cost $19 per copy and can be requested in person, by mail to P.O. Box 751, Riverside, CA 92502-0751, online through the Assessor-Clerk-Recorder’s portal, or via drop box at office locations including Riverside Downtown, Riverside Gateway, Palm Desert, and Blythe. For in-person appointments, applicants should complete the Online Application and keep the SST order number. A 2.28% card processing fee applies to online payments.
Birth and death records in Riverside County are maintained by two agencies depending on the record’s age. The Riverside University Health System Vital Records Office maintains records from the last 24 months. All older records are held by the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder. Birth record copies cost $34 and death record copies cost $26. Records are available in person, by mail, online, or by drop box. Authorized copies require a valid government-issued photo ID and, for mailed requests of authorized copies, a sworn and notarized statement.
Riverside County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Riverside County Superior Court oversees the administration of estates after death, protection of minors and mentally incapacitated individuals, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and will disputes. Probate court laws are designed to protect the interests of all parties involved in these often complex, sensitive proceedings.
Probate courthouse locations:
Riverside Historic Courthouse
Address: 4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Larson Justice Center (Indio)
Address: 46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201
Phone: (760) 393-2617
Temecula Court
Address: 41002 County Center Drive, Room 100, Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 704-7634
To contact the probate clerk’s office directly, call (951) 777-3147 or use the web chat available on the court’s website. As of May 19, 2025, the probate web assistance email has been disabled, and phone and web chat are the preferred contact methods. For probate notes, a dedicated email contact for the Probate Examiner is available through the probate division page.
Accessing Riverside County probate records:
- Search online through the Public Access web portal for non-confidential probate case records
- Visit the courthouse where the probate case was filed in person during business hours (7:30 AM–4:00 PM, Monday–Friday)
- Submit a written request using the Request for Records Search form (RI-MC002) to the appropriate courthouse by mail
Certain probate records involving sensitive personal or financial information about estates, incapacitated individuals, or minors may be restricted from public access. The court’s Self Help Probate events, held at 4129 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501, offer guidance for self-represented parties navigating probate proceedings. The court’s local forms page provides downloadable forms specific to Riverside County probate practice, including the Real Property Sales Overbid form (RI-PR008).