Stanislaus County Court Records Search
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Stanislaus County, located in California’s Central Valley with Modesto as its county seat, operates a unified Superior Court system that handles all criminal, civil, family law, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. The court maintains multiple facilities across Modesto and Turlock, each serving distinct case types. Whether you need to look up a pending case, obtain copies of filed documents, or research historical records, the court provides several channels for public access — including online portals, in-person clerk windows, and mail-based requests.
Residents and legal professionals seeking court case information in California can begin by consulting official court resources, local clerk offices, and statewide online tools. The CaliforniaCourts.us website may also help users locate publicly available case data across the state’s trial courts. For Stanislaus County specifically, the Superior Court website serves as the central hub for case searches, forms, fee schedules, and division-specific contact information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Stanislaus County?
Stanislaus County Superior Court offers several methods for locating case information, depending on what you need and how quickly you need it.
Online Case Search
The court operates two primary online tools:
- Search Case — The court’s general case information and traffic payment portal, accessible from the Superior Court website.
- Public Portal — A searchable database that currently covers civil case records. Searches require a case number (5–16 alphanumeric characters). Documents typically appear three business days after filing.
In-Person Searches
Walk-in visitors may use public-access computer terminals at any courthouse location during business hours. The clerk’s office does not confirm personal or case information by phone or email; in-person verification or a formal written request is required.
Mail and Written Requests
To request records by mail, submit the Research Request Form along with:
- A check or money order payable to “Stanislaus County Superior Court”
- The $15 search fee plus anticipated copy charges
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
- The case number — or, if unknown, the filing year and full name of at least one party
For requests where the total cost is uncertain, include a blank check with a written note specifying the maximum amount not to be exceeded. Large orders exceeding 100 pages require a $50 prepaid deposit.
Copy and Research Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record search | $15 per search |
| Copies | $0.50 per page |
| Certification | $40 per document |
| Off-site retrieval (regular, 1–2 weeks) | $10 |
| Off-site retrieval (urgent, 4 hours) | $55 |
| Off-site retrieval (emergency, 2 hours) | $95 |
Mail requests should be sent to:
Stanislaus County Superior Court
P.O. Box 1098
Modesto, CA 95353
Payments are accepted by check or money order only for mail requests. In person, the clerk’s office accepts additional payment methods.
Are Court Records Public in Stanislaus County?
Under the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.) and California Rules of Court, most documents filed with the Superior Court are considered public records. Any member of the public may inspect or obtain copies of case filings, judgments, motions, and other pleadings unless a specific legal restriction applies.
Restricted and Confidential Records
Certain categories of records are not available for public inspection:
- Sealed records (by court order)
- Juvenile case files (access governed by Welfare and Institutions Code § 827; a petition for access is required)
- Victim-identity information in specified case types
- Personnel and judicial deliberation records
- Mental health proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act
- Adoption records
- Records subject to a confidentiality order
California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, governs electronic public access to court records and establishes which case types and document categories may be viewed remotely versus only at a courthouse terminal.
Public Access Copies
Under Standing Order SSC-6-12 (effective August 1, 2012), civil litigants must provide one additional complete paper copy of each pleading at filing. That extra copy is stamped “Public Access Copy — Not Official Court Document” and placed in the court’s Public Access Bin for two weeks. These copies may be reviewed on site but cannot be removed from the building; visitors may make their own copies at the courthouse at their own expense.
Stanislaus County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Stanislaus County are handled at the Main Courthouse in downtown Modesto. Felony and misdemeanor matters, arraignments, preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing all take place in this facility.
Criminal Division Clerk’s Office
Address: 800 11th Street, Room 140, Modesto, CA 95354
Mailing: P.O. Box 1098, Modesto, CA 95353
Phone: (209) 530-3100
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (phone lines until 3:00 p.m.)
Drop Box: Located at the 1100 I Street entrance; items deposited after 4:00 p.m. are filed the next business day per California Rules of Court 2.210(b).
Criminal case information can be searched online through the court’s case search tool. The Public Portal is currently limited to civil records, so criminal case lookups should be directed to the general search tool or handled in person.
Arrest and Incident Records
For records generated by law enforcement rather than the court, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department maintains a separate Records Division:
Sheriff’s Records Division
Address: 250 E. Hackett Road, Modesto, CA 95358
Phone: (209) 525-7117
Fax: (209) 525-7111
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Sheriff’s office provides arrest record letters, incarceration letters, and records clearance letters at a cost of $25 each. An application and valid identification are required. The inmate search tool on the Sheriff’s website allows the public to look up individuals currently in custody.
Statewide criminal history reports must be obtained through the California Department of Justice, which requires fingerprint-based submissions. The Sheriff’s Records Division does not issue DOJ background checks.
Stanislaus County Civil Court Records
Civil matters — including general civil litigation, unlawful detainer actions, and small claims — are divided among multiple courthouse locations depending on case type and claim amount.
Civil Division Locations
| Facility | Address | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| City Towers Courthouse | 801 10th Street, 4th Floor, Modesto, CA 95354 | General civil, probate estates and trusts |
| Main Courthouse | 800 11th Street, Modesto, CA 95354 | Criminal, family, select civil |
| Turlock Court | 300 Starr Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380 | Unlawful detainer, small claims |
All locations share the main phone line: (209) 530-3100
Clerk office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Phone hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Drop box hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Filing Fees
Civil filing fees in Stanislaus County follow the Statewide Judicial Branch Fee Schedule. The court also publishes a local fee schedule that reflects county-specific costs. Common civil filing fees include initial complaint fees, cross-complaint fees, and motion fees as established by Government Code § 70611 et seq. Jury fees are accepted only when submitted alongside a document filing.
Filing Methods
Civil documents may be filed through three channels:
- In person at the appropriate clerk’s office during business hours
- By mail to P.O. Box 1098, Modesto, CA 95353 (include filing fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope)
- Electronically via the Odyssey eFileCA portal, accessible through the court’s e-Filing page
Forms
California Judicial Council forms for civil cases are available at the California Courts forms page. Stanislaus County local forms — including the Case Management Conference Waiver (CV001), Civil Bench Warrant (CV012), and Civil Harassment Restraining Order packet — are available on the court’s Common Forms & Packets page.
Civil Case Searches
The Public Portal is the primary tool for online civil case searches. In-person searches can be conducted at courthouse computer terminals. Written requests for civil case records follow the same Research Request Form procedure described in the case lookup section above.
Stanislaus County Family Court Records
The Family Law Division handles dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity actions, and related matters. The division is housed at the Main Courthouse complex.
Family Law Clerk’s Office
Address: 1100 I Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Mailing: P.O. Box 1098, Modesto, CA 95353-1098
Phone: (209) 530-3100
Email for requests: FamLaw.Requests@stanct.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Order pickup: 12:00–12:30 p.m. daily at the Family Law lobby, Window #1 (orders submitted in person by 8:45 a.m. are available the next court day)
Self-Help Center
Address: 800 11th Street, Room 220, Modesto, CA 95354
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Stanislaus County Law Library
Address: 1101 13th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
The Self-Help Center and Law Library assist self-represented litigants with form selection and general procedural guidance but cannot provide legal advice. Additional self-help resources include the California Courts Self-Help Center and LawHelpCA.
Requesting Family Law Records
The court will not confirm personal or case information over the phone or by email. Record requests must be made either in person at a courthouse terminal or through the Family Law Research Request Form. An after-hours Emergency Filing Drop Box is available at the 1100 I Street location; document guidelines are posted on the court’s Document Guidelines page.
Family Law Hearings
- Custody and visitation matters: scheduled at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday (mediation conducted by phone)
- Economic issues (child support, family support): 9:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday, typically two weeks after the custody hearing
- Hearing locations include Departments 11, 13, and 14 (basement level) and Department 25 (second floor); lobby monitors display daily assignments
Tentative rulings are issued by 1:30 p.m. the court day before the hearing and posted on the court website, in the clerk’s office lobby, and on courtroom doors.
Marriage Certificates and Divorce Records
Marriage records are maintained by the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder:
Clerk-Recorder’s Office
Address: 1021 I Street, Suite 101, Modesto, CA 95354
Mailing: P.O. Box 1670, Modesto, CA 95353-1670
Phone: (209) 530-3321
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $14 for the first page or title, $14 for each additional title per document, and $3 for each additional page. Online ordering is also available through the Clerk-Recorder’s office.
Divorce record copies cost $15 per search plus $0.50 per page and may be requested by mail to P.O. Box 1098, Modesto, CA 95353 or by contacting the Family Law Division directly.
Birth and Death Records
Birth certificate copies cost $32 each; death certificate copies cost $24 each. Applications are available from the Clerk-Recorder in English and Spanish, and a notarized sworn statement is required for certified copies.
Stanislaus County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division oversees estate administration, trust matters, wills, conservatorships, guardianships, and adoptions. Probate operations are split across two locations depending on case type.
Probate — Estates and Trusts
Address: 801 10th Street, 4th Floor, Modesto, CA 95354
Clerk hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Probate window: Monday–Friday, 8:15–10:00 a.m.
Phone hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Probate Examiner email: probate.examiner@stanct.org
Probate — Guardianships, LPS Conservatorships, and Adoptions
Address: 1100 I Street, 1st Floor, Modesto, CA 95354
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Probate Hearings
Hearings are held Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. and are calendared by the Probate Unit at the 801 10th Street location.
Wills
California law requires that a decedent’s will be delivered to the Superior Court within 30 days of death or discovery of the document. The will must be submitted to the Probate Unit (801 10th Street, 4th Floor) with a cover sheet. A $50 filing fee applies for lodging a will (effective July 1, 2012).
For e-filed petitions for probate of a will, a copy of the will with a coversheet must be submitted and the original will delivered to the clerk’s office at least three weeks before the hearing. Failure to do so may result in a continuance or dismissal.
Conservatorships and Guardianships
Conservatorship petitions appoint a representative for adults unable to manage personal or financial affairs. Temporary conservatorship petitions must be filed together with the regular petition, and hearings are typically scheduled 45–60 days after filing. The Conservator’s Handbook is available for download or may be purchased at the Probate Division office.
Guardianship petitions appoint a caretaker for minors under 18. Temporary guardianship paperwork must accompany the regular guardianship filing. Court investigators interview all parties in conservatorship and guardianship matters and submit reports to the assigned judge.
Adoptions
Adoption proceedings terminate the legal rights of natural parents. Stepparent adoption investigations are conducted by the Department of Social Services, Adoption Division. Adoption hearings are set 15–20 days after filing and after the DSS report is completed. Only one adult adoption may be processed per year unless the adoptees are siblings. Adoption matters are handled through Family Court Services at 1100 I Street, first floor, Modesto.
Probate Forms and Fees
Probate filing fees follow the Statewide Judicial Branch Fee Schedule. Local probate forms — including the Conservatorship Questionnaire (CON02), Attorney Qualification (GC-010), and Annual Certification of Court-Appointed Counsel (PR005) — are available on the court’s forms page. The Probate Examiner reviews all filings and posts examiner’s notes online; the examiner can be reached at probate.examiner@stanct.org.
Probate Case Searches
Probate records may be searched through the Public Portal and at courthouse public-access terminals. The same Research Request Form and fee structure ($15 search, $0.50 per page copies, $40 certification) apply to probate record requests.
Property Records
While not part of the court system, the Stanislaus County Assessor’s Office offers a free online Public Inquiry tool for property ownership and valuation searches. The Clerk-Recorder maintains a Recorder Works database for recorded documents such as deeds, liens, and encumbrances.