San Francisco County Court Records
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San Francisco operates as both a city and a county under a single consolidated government, which makes its court system a little different from most jurisdictions in California. The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, is the only trial court here—it handles criminal, civil, family law, and probate matters for the entire county. All records produced by this court, including complaints, motions, orders, transcripts, and judgments, are maintained by the Clerk of the Court and are subject to state law and local rules on public access.
If you need court case information in California, a good starting point is CaliforniaCourts.us for statewide resources. For San Francisco specifically, the Superior Court runs its own online portals, maintains records viewing rooms at each major courthouse, and accepts records requests in person, by mail, and online.
How to Look Up a Court Case in San Francisco County?
The San Francisco Superior Court operates four locations, each handling specific case types. Records are kept at the courthouse where the case was filed.
| Court Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Center Courthouse | 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 | (415) 551-4000 |
| Hall of Justice | 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 | (415) 551-0651 (Records) |
| Juvenile Justice Center | 375 Woodside Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 | (415) 551-4000 |
| Polk Street Annex | 575 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 | (415) 551-4000 |
Clerk's office hours at the Civic Center Courthouse and the Hall of Justice are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a lunch closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both locations are closed on weekends and court holidays.
Online searches are available through several portals on the court's website:
- Civil Case Query covers Unlimited and Limited Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims cases filed from 1987 to the present. You can search by case number or party name.
- Criminal Case Portal lets you search by case number, defendant name, or attorney name through a dedicated criminal search tool.
- Cumulative Criminal Index is updated weekly and offers a broader search of criminal case records.
- Unlawful Detainer Query handles limited unlawful detainer cases at ud.sftc.org; you'll need the access code from the Notice to Defendants or a payment receipt.
- Case Calendar shows upcoming hearing dates up to 120 days out, searchable by case type and date.
In-person searches are available in the records viewing rooms at Room 103 of the Civic Center Courthouse (civil, family, probate, small claims) and Room 101 of the Hall of Justice (criminal). Self-service computer terminals are free to use. If you want to view a physical file, bring a valid government-issued photo ID—the clerk will hold it while you review the records.
Walk-in viewing runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. For afternoon access (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), call (415) 551-0651 to schedule an appointment.
Mail requests require a completed records request form—either the Civil Records Request Form or the Criminal Records Request Form—along with a check payable to San Francisco Superior Court and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send criminal records requests to: Attn: Records Dept., 850 Bryant St., Room 101, San Francisco, CA 94103. Civil mail request instructions are printed on the form itself.
The court also accepts online requests through its GovQA Records Request Portal, which simplifies the digital submission process. Keep in mind that criminal records submitted through GovQA still need to be picked up at the Hall of Justice or received by mail—they won't be delivered electronically.
Key copy and retrieval fees set by the court and California Government Code:
| Service | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Copies of any record on file (per page) | $0.50 | GC 70627(a) |
| Comparison of copy with original (per page) | $1.00 | GC 70627(b) |
| Certifying a copy of a record | $25.00 | GC 70626(a)(4) |
| Searching records (each search over 10 min.) | $15.00 | GC 70627 |
| Exemplification of record | $20.00 | GC 70628 |
| Off-site 3-day standard retrieval | $10.00 | Local Rule 2.2C |
| Off-site next-day retrieval | $20.00 | Local Rule 2.2C |
| Off-site same-day rush retrieval | $30.00 | Local Rule 2.2C |
| Certificate of the Record (criminal) | $40.00 per court number |
Files stored off-site—typically those at least two years old—require a retrieval fee and a minimum of 15 business days to process. Copy requests of five pages or fewer for on-site files are handled while you wait; requests over five pages may take 12 to 15 court days.
Are Court Records Public in San Francisco County?
Most court records in San Francisco are open to public inspection under California law. The California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 7920 et seq.) and Government Code Section 68150 both establish a general right of access to court records, including those kept in electronic form.
That said, several categories of records are restricted from public view:
- Sealed records — any case file or document sealed by court order under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550, is not available for inspection. A party seeking to seal records must show an overriding interest that outweighs the public's right of access.
- Confidential records by statute — juvenile delinquency and dependency files, adoption records, mental health proceedings, and certain protective order information are closed to the public by law.
- Limited electronic access — under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, electronic records in family law, probate, civil harassment, guardianship, conservatorship, and certain other case types may only be viewed at the courthouse and are not available remotely online.
- Personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive data are subject to redaction requirements.
Judicial administrative records—separate from case records—are subject to their own rules under California Rules of Court, Rule 10.500. Requests for those records must be submitted through the court's administrative records page.
The San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance adds further transparency requirements on top of state law, though it applies primarily to executive-branch government documents rather than court files.
San Francisco County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in San Francisco County are heard at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street. The Superior Court's criminal division handles everything from infractions and misdemeanors to serious felonies under the California Penal Code.
How to obtain criminal records:
- Identify the case number. If you don't have it, visit the San Francisco Police Department's Identification Bureau in Room 475 (4th floor) of the Hall of Justice to request a local RAP sheet.
- Complete the Criminal Records Request Form. Download the form as a PDF from the court's website.
- Submit the request. In person, bring the completed form to Window 7 or 8 in Room 101 at the Hall of Justice. By mail, send the form with a check payable to San Francisco Superior Court (write "Not to Exceed $50" on the memo line) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Attn: Records Dept., 850 Bryant St., Room 101, San Francisco, CA 94103. Online requests go through the GovQA portal.
- Receive the records. For view-only mail requests, a clerk will contact you when the file is ready.
A Certificate of the Record—a document certifying a defendant's conviction and sentencing disposition—costs $40 per court number.
Criminal case records are not available for online viewing or downloading. The online Criminal Case Portal and Cumulative Criminal Index show case index information such as party names, case numbers, and hearing dates, but they don't display the underlying documents.
For statewide criminal history, individuals can request records through the California Department of Justice. Orders of nondisclosure and record sealing are governed by applicable Penal Code provisions; the court's criminal division page has additional guidance.
San Francisco County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division is the largest branch of the San Francisco Superior Court. It handles litigation between individuals and entities—contract disputes, personal injury, unlawful detainers, civil harassment restraining orders, defaults, small claims appeals, and asbestos cases, among others.
Civil records are maintained at the Civic Center Courthouse:
Civil Clerk's Office
400 McAllister Street, Room 103
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 551-3808
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Accessing civil records online: The Civil Case Query tool covers cases from 1987 to the present, including imaged documents from 2001 forward and Registers of Actions. You can search by case number or party name. Note that under Rule 2.503, certain civil case types—such as civil harassment—may only be viewed at the courthouse and are not remotely accessible.
Filing fees for civil cases in San Francisco include a local courthouse construction surcharge:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Unlimited civil (over $25,000) first paper | $410 |
| Limited civil (over $10,000, up to $25,000) first paper | $370 |
| Limited civil ($10,000 or less) first paper | $225 |
| Motion for summary judgment | $500 |
| Small claims ($1,500 or less) | $30 |
| Small claims (over $1,500, up to $5,000) | $50 |
| Small claims (over $5,000, up to $7,500) | $75 |
Judicial Council forms and local forms are free to download from the court's Forms & Fees page. Printed forms purchased at the courthouse cost $0.50 per page, and the Small Claims packet is $11.00 per Local Rule 2.10.
The court's Media Access Portal gives registered media professionals remote access to certain civil case documents. Registration requires a signed Memorandum of Understanding, a government-issued ID, and either a professional copier ID or company bond documentation. Send inquiries to MAPrecordsrequest@sftc.org.
San Francisco County Family Court Records
Family law matters in San Francisco are heard by the Unified Family Court, which operates as part of the Superior Court out of the Civic Center Courthouse. The division covers dissolution of marriage and domestic partnerships, legal separations, annulments, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, domestic violence restraining orders, adoptions, and juvenile dependency proceedings.
Key contact information:
Unified Family Court – Family Law
Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
General Information: (415) 551-3900
Family Law Department Clerk: (415) 551-3912
Restraining Order Information: (415) 551-3912
Filing for dissolution and other family matters takes place in Room 402 of the Civic Center Courthouse. The filing fee for a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Partnership, Legal Separation, or Nullity is $410 (Government Code Section 70670). Respondents pay the same amount. If you qualify as low-income, you can apply for a fee waiver using Form FW-001.
Family law case information can be searched online through the Civil Case Query portal using the case number. However, under Rule 2.503, family law electronic records are restricted to courthouse-only viewing and cannot be accessed remotely.
Family court records access:
- Records for family law, divorce, child support, custody, and domestic violence cases are available in the records viewing room in Room 103 at the Civic Center Courthouse.
- Adoption record requests require the Adoption Records Request Form, which must be brought to Room 402 along with supporting documentation described in the Adoption Instructions.
- Juvenile dependency requests follow a separate procedure explained on the court's Juvenile Dependency page.
Marriage records and vital records are not held by the court. Marriage licenses ($127 for either public or confidential), birth certificates, and death certificates are issued by the Office of the County Clerk:
Office of the County Clerk
City Hall, Room 160
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-4950
Processing Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fees effective January 1, 2026, include $31 per certified birth certificate search, $26 per certified death certificate search, and $19 per confidential marriage record search. Public (non-confidential) marriage records are handled by the Assessor-Recorder's Office at City Hall, Room 190, where copies cost $17 each. The County Clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and all major credit and debit cards.
San Francisco County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the San Francisco Superior Court handles decedents' estates, trusts, guardianships of minors, conservatorships of adults, mental health conservatorships, and elder abuse matters. Most hearings take place in Department 204 at the Civic Center Courthouse.
Probate Department
Civic Center Courthouse
400 McAllister Street, Department 204
San Francisco, CA 94102
Probate Department Investigators: (415) 551-3657
Law and Motion Scheduling: (415) 551-3702
Tentative Rulings: (415) 551-4000
Hearing schedule:
- Appearance hearings for probate matters (excluding guardian/conservator appointments and motions): 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Department 204
- Petitions for appointment of guardian: 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Department 204
- Petitions for appointment of conservator: 9:00 a.m. on Thursday in Department 204
- Mental health conservatorship matters: 9:00 a.m. on Thursday in Department 622 (closed hearings)
- Ex parte appearances: 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday in Department 202
- Law and motion: Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, and Fridays, in Department 204
Accessing probate records is more restricted than most other case types. Only parties to a case may view probate files. Non-parties who need access to confidential probate documents must get advance approval from the Probate Department in Room 103 of the Civic Center Courthouse, or by calling (415) 551-3650. Pre-granted orders are available at Room 103, Windows 23–25, after 9:30 a.m. on or after the hearing date.
Probate tentative rulings can be checked online or by phone, typically one to three days before the hearing. Rulings on motions are generally posted by 3:00 p.m. the court day before the motion.
Probate filing fees follow the statewide schedule with San Francisco's local surcharge:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| First petition for letters of administration or letters testamentary | $410 |
| Petition for appointment of conservator or guardian of estate | $410 |
| Petition for appointment of guardian of person only | $225 |
| Petition for order setting aside estate of small value | $225 |
| Petition after issuance of letters (sale, account settlement, etc.) | $395 |
| Temporary letters of conservatorship or guardianship | $40 |
| Deposit of estate planning documents | $20 |
| Search for estate documents (over 10 min.) | $15 |
Effective July 1, 2024, the court expanded its mandatory electronic filing program to include probate guardianship and conservatorship cases. E-filing is handled through the court's approved electronic filing service providers listed on the e-filing page. New petitions for appointment of a probate conservator (Form GC-310) must be filed with the mandatory Judicial Council form GC-325, Confidential Declaration on Medical Ability to Attend Hearing.
Probate forms—including local court packets for guardianship, conservatorship, wills, and trusts—can be printed free of charge from the court's Forms & Fees page or purchased in person at Room 103. The court also publishes a checklist of common problems and reasons for delay in probate filings, which is worth reviewing before you submit anything if you're representing yourself.