San Joaquin County Court Records Search
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San Joaquin County, located in California’s Central Valley with its county seat in Stockton, maintains an extensive archive of legal documents spanning criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. The San Joaquin County Superior Court — the sole trial court serving the county — generates and preserves records from every case filed within its jurisdiction, including docket entries, charges, judgments, transcripts, and party information. These records serve a range of purposes from background screening and legal research to verifying case outcomes and enforcing court orders.
Individuals searching for court records in California can begin by consulting official judicial resources, local clerk offices, public access terminals at courthouses, and online case lookup tools. The California Courts website provides a centralized starting point for locating courts and understanding available services statewide. For broader information about California courts and their records, CaliforniaCourts.us may also help users find publicly available court case information. Within San Joaquin County specifically, the Superior Court operates its own Case Management Search portal, which allows the public to look up cases by party name or case number.
How to Look Up a Court Case in San Joaquin County?
San Joaquin County offers several methods for locating court case information: online searches, in-person visits, and mail requests.
Online Case Search
The Superior Court maintains a public case search portal where users can look up cases by case number. A separate party name search tool is also available. Pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.507, party searches are limited to name-only queries and cannot include dates of birth or driver’s license numbers. Users unfamiliar with the system can access Case Management Video Tutorials on the court’s website.
In-Person Access
Public case number search terminals are located at the Stockton Main Courthouse (180 E. Weber Ave., 2nd floor). Walk-ins are accepted, and appointments can also be scheduled through the Records Management online request form. Researchers may reserve time at public kiosks in the second-floor view room at the Stockton Courthouse by submitting a request through the court’s support portal.
Requesting Copies by Mail
To order copies by mail, complete Form CR-109 (PDF) and mail it with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin
Records Management, Suite 204
180 E. Weber Ave.
Stockton, CA 95202
Mail requests are processed within approximately 20 business days. Payment by mail must be by check, money order, or cashier’s check — no cash.
Copy Fees (effective January 1, 2020)
- Certified dissolution judgment (divorce decree): $15.00
- Certified dissolution judgment for a public agency: $10.00
- Any other certified document (Family Law, Civil, Probate, Criminal, Small Claims, Traffic): $40.00, plus copy fees
- Uncertified copies: $0.50 per page, per side
- Name search exceeding 10 minutes: $15.00
In-person payments accept cash, credit/debit card, cashier’s check, or money order (no personal checks).
Court Hours
Clerk’s offices and phone support are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding judicial holidays. Courtroom clerks may be reached from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Court proceedings generally run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Are Court Records Public in San Joaquin County?
Under the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.) and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, most court records in San Joaquin County are considered public and open to inspection. The public may view docket information, case filings, judgments, and other non-restricted documents either online through the court’s case management system or in person at the courthouse.
However, California law carves out several categories of records that are confidential or sealed:
- Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors in delinquency, abuse, and neglect cases are not accessible to the general public
- Adoption records — sealed by statute and available only to authorized parties
- Mental health records — protected under state health privacy laws
- Records sealed by court order — a judge may seal any record upon a showing of good cause
- Confidential personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and financial account numbers are redacted from publicly accessible documents
The court follows Judicial Council policies regarding consistent public access to records. Under Rule 2.503©, electronic access to certain case types is restricted to courthouse terminals only — meaning some records that are viewable in person may not be accessible through the court’s online portal. The court does not provide copies of records via email.
Individuals who believe a record has been improperly withheld may petition the court or invoke the California Public Records Act to request a review.
San Joaquin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in San Joaquin County — including felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions — are heard by the Superior Court. The court conducts arraignments, preliminary hearings, readiness conferences, trials, sentencing, and probation hearings across its courthouse locations.
Where Criminal Records Are Held
The Superior Court’s Records Management division maintains archived criminal case files dating back to 1850. For more recent cases (2015 to present), limited document requests may also be handled at the Criminal counter at the Stockton Courthouse. Older or larger requests are routed through Records Management.
How to Search Criminal Cases
- Use the court’s online case search to look up cases by case number.
- Use the party name search to find cases by defendant name.
- Visit the Stockton Courthouse in person (180 E. Weber Ave.) to use public search terminals or request file viewing.
- Submit Form CR-109 by mail with applicable fees.
The court does not perform criminal background checks. A name search only locates existing case files — it does not produce a comprehensive criminal history. For a formal criminal history record, contact the California Department of Justice — Record Review at (916) 227-3849.
Arrest and Custody Information
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and operates the county jail. Current custody status can be checked through the Sheriff’s Who is in Custody online lookup tool or by calling (209) 468-4562.
For records from the Sheriff’s Office Records Division, contact:
San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office — Records Division
Address: 7000 Michael Canlis Blvd., French Camp, CA 95231
Phone: (209) 468-4409
Fax: (209) 468-4496
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintains records of individuals who have served or are serving time in state prison.
Uniform Bail Schedule
The court publishes a San Joaquin County Uniform Bail Schedule listing standard bail amounts by offense.
San Joaquin County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the San Joaquin County Superior Court handles lawsuits involving contract disputes, personal injury, property disputes, employment claims, consumer protection, defamation, and other non-criminal matters. Cases are categorized as “Unlimited” (claims exceeding $25,000) or “Limited” (claims of $25,000 or less).
Court Locations Handling Civil Matters
| Court Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton Courthouse | 180 E. Weber Ave., Stockton, CA 95202 | (209) 992-5555 |
| Lodi Courthouse | 315 W. Elm St., Lodi, CA 95240 | (209) 992-5522 (Civil/Small Claims) |
| Manteca Courthouse | 315 E. Center St., Manteca, CA 95336 | (209) 992-5555 |
Per Local Rule 3-101, each civil case is assigned to a specific judicial officer at filing for all purposes, including trial. The clerk generates a Notice of Case Assignment at that time.
Searching Civil Records
Non-confidential civil records may be searched through the court’s Case Management Search. In-person access is available at the Stockton Courthouse, and mail requests follow the same procedures outlined above using Form CR-109. To communicate with the civil courtroom clerk, email civilcourtclerks@sjcourts.org with the department, case number, case name, and party name.
Small Claims
Small Claims Court handles disputes of $12,500 or less. Filing fees range from $30 to $100 depending on the claim amount. Form packets are available through the court’s Small Claims form packets page. Free assistance is available through the San Joaquin County Bar Association’s Small Claims Advisors at (209) 473-6463, and the court also offers Small Claims Online Dispute Resolution.
Filing Fees and Forms
The court publishes a statewide civil fee schedule covering all filing fees. Individuals who cannot afford the fees may download a fee waiver application. Court forms — including both Judicial Council forms and San Joaquin County local forms — are available online.
Tentative Rulings
For law and motion matters at the Stockton Courthouse, tentative rulings are posted electronically by 1:30 p.m. the day before the hearing. They can be viewed on the court’s Tentative Rulings page.
San Joaquin County Family Court Records
The Family Law and Support Division of the San Joaquin County Superior Court handles dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, paternity, adoptions, and domestic violence restraining orders. Family law filings are accepted on the 4th Floor (Suite 413) of the Stockton Courthouse at 180 E. Weber Ave., Stockton, CA 95202.
Family Law Department Contact
Phone: (209) 992-5690
Clerk office phone hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Accessing Family Court Records
Family court records may be ordered through Records Management. The same request methods apply — online request, in-person appointment, or mail using Form CR-109. Case docket information is available through the court’s case search system.
Many family court records carry confidentiality protections under California law. Financial declarations, child custody evaluations, and details about domestic violence allegations are generally restricted to the parties, their attorneys, and other authorized individuals. Dissolution judgments (divorce decrees), however, are available to the general public. Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15.00.
Self-Help Resources
The court’s Self-Help Center offers free workshops:
- Dissolution and Separation (Divorce): Tuesdays at 8:00 a.m.
- Custody and Visitation: Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m.
An Online Family Law and Guardianship Workshop is also available, providing video-guided form completion at the participant’s own pace. The Self-Help Center is located at 180 E. Weber Ave., Suite 105, Stockton, CA 95202, and can be reached at (209) 992-5283.
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
Restraining order packets may be obtained at any court branch, online through the court’s Form Packets page, or from the California Courts forms website. If submitted to the clerk by 10:00 a.m. and completed correctly, orders may be ready for pickup by 3:30 p.m. the same day. Filers are not required to disclose their home address or phone number — they may write “Confidential” instead.
Community resources for domestic violence include:
- PREVAIL: (209) 941-2611
- Battered Women’s Crisis Line: (209) 465-4878
- San Joaquin County Family Justice Center: (209) 468-2500
Mediation
The court provides no-cost mediation for custody and visitation disputes. All parties filing their first custody or visitation matter must complete a mandatory mediation orientation, available as an online video.
Marriage Records
The Recorder-County Clerk’s Office maintains marriage records for San Joaquin County. The office is located at 44 N. San Joaquin Street, Second Floor, Suite 260, Stockton, CA 95202; Phone: (209) 468-3939 Marriage license services are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth and death records are restricted to authorized individuals under California Health and Safety Code Section 103526. The Recorder-County Clerk’s Office holds vital records from 1851 to present. Birth certificate copies cost $34 by mail; in-person fees and procedures are available at the office. Current-year and prior-year records are also available through San Joaquin County Public Health Services Vital Records at 1601 E. Hazelton Avenue, Stockton; Phone: (209) 468-3404
San Joaquin County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the San Joaquin County Superior Court administers matters involving decedents’ estates, wills, trusts, guardianships of minors, and conservatorships of adults. As of February 2025, probate hearings are conducted at the Lodi Courthouse:
San Joaquin County Superior Court — Probate Division (Department L2)
Address: 315 W. Elm St., Lodi, CA 95240
Court Investigator: (209) 992-5696
Probate Examiners review all filings for legal sufficiency before matters are heard. Court Investigators interview proposed conservatees and investigate guardianship petitions. The division also processes creditors’ claims, reviews attorney-prepared orders, and manages probate calendars.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information is available through the court’s Case Management System. Most probate records — including wills admitted to probate, inventories, and accountings — are public unless sealed by court order. Adoption records processed through the probate division are confidential.
Requesting Copies
Copies of probate documents follow the same procedures as other case types:
- Search for the case online to confirm the case number.
- Submit a request through the online request form, visit in person, or mail Form CR-109 to Records Management.
- Pay applicable fees: $40.00 for a certified copy (plus per-page fees), or $0.50 per page for uncertified copies.
Probate Forms and Resources
The court provides required form packets for probate of decedents’ estates, including petition forms, notices, and orders. Local probate forms specific to San Joaquin County are also available, and local rules for probate govern procedures and filing requirements. Filing fees for probate cases follow the statewide fee schedule. Fee waiver forms are available for those who qualify.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Guardianship petitions involve court-appointed custody or property management for a minor. Conservatorship petitions address care for adults unable to manage their personal or financial needs. Both case types require investigation by court staff or Child Protective Services and are subject to periodic review. The Self-Help Center can assist with guardianship of the person and conservatorship of the person petitions, as well as CARE Act filings.