Yolo County Court Records Search

Yolo County is located in the Sacramento Valley region of northern California, with its county seat in the city of Woodland. The county’s trial-level judicial body is the Superior Court of California, County of Yolo, which exercises jurisdiction over all criminal, civil, family, juvenile, probate, and small claims matters filed within the county. Whether you are an attorney conducting case research, a journalist reviewing public filings, or an individual checking the status of your own matter, understanding how the court system organizes and provides access to its records is essential to an efficient search.

Court records throughout California can be located through a combination of local clerk’s offices, in-person public-access terminals, and digital tools maintained at both the county and state level. The California Judicial Branch website serves as a central directory for every superior court in the state, linking to local court homepages, self-help resources, and statewide fee schedules. For Yolo County specifically, the court maintains its own online case portal, and additional record sets—vital records, property filings, and law-enforcement reports—are held by other county departments. The statewide courts directory at CaliforniaCourts.us may also help users identify the correct court and jurisdiction when beginning a records search.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Yolo County?

The most direct way to search Yolo County court records is through the court’s Smart Search portal, a free, browser-based tool that covers cases filed in the Superior Court. Users can query the system by party name, case number, or filing date range. The portal returns basic index information—case type, filing date, party names, and scheduled hearing dates—though the availability of attached documents varies by case category.

For records that predate the online system or require certified copies, the Clerk’s Office at the Woodland courthouse is the primary point of contact.

Yolo County Superior Court – Main Courthouse
Address: 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 406-6700
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Step-by-step process for an in-person search:

Visit the courthouse during business hours and proceed to the Clerk’s Office window.
Provide the case number or full legal name of a party involved in the matter.
A clerk will locate the file and allow you to review non-confidential documents at a public-access terminal or counter.
Request photocopies or certified copies as needed. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page; a certified copy carries a $40 fee per document.

Mail requests should be directed to:

Yolo County Superior Court
Attn: Research
1000 Main Street, Room 1511
Woodland, CA 95695

Include a written description of the records sought (case number if known, party names, approximate filing dates), the applicable fees by check or money order payable to “Yolo County Superior Court”, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. A $15 processing fee applies to mail-request research in addition to per-page copy charges. Allow two to three weeks for fulfillment.

Are Court Records Public in Yolo County?

California has one of the most transparent court-record frameworks in the nation. Under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503(a), court records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statute, rule, or court order restricts access. The companion provision, Rule 2.502, defines “court records” broadly to encompass all filed documents, exhibits, orders, judgments, and minute entries regardless of whether they are maintained electronically or on paper.

Categories of records generally open to the public include:

Complaints, petitions, and responsive pleadings in civil and criminal cases
Motions, memoranda of points and authorities, and supporting declarations
Court orders and judgments
Case indexes, calendars, and register-of-actions data
Sentencing information in criminal matters

Records that are restricted or confidential include:

Sealed records (by court order under Code of Civil Procedure § 367.3 or Penal Code provisions)
Juvenile case files (Welfare and Institutions Code § 827)
Mental health proceedings (Lanterman-Petris-Short Act filings)
Adoption records
Documents containing unredacted Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or dates of birth of minors
Records subject to a valid protective order
Expunged criminal records (Penal Code § 1203.4 et seq.)

When a record contains both public and confidential information, the court may redact the protected portions and release the remainder. Requests for sealed or confidential records typically require a noticed motion demonstrating a legal basis for access. The clerk will not release restricted materials without an authorizing court order.

Yolo County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Yolo County—felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions—are handled by the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. Felony matters often originate from complaints filed by the Yolo County District Attorney, while misdemeanor and infraction citations may be issued by local law-enforcement agencies.

Yolo County Superior Court – Criminal Division
Address: 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 406-6705
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Criminal case records available to the public typically include the charging document (complaint or information), minute orders, plea and sentencing records, and final dispositions. Ongoing cases can be tracked through the Smart Search portal using either the defendant’s name or the case number.

Arrest and booking records are maintained separately by the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office rather than by the court. To obtain an incident or arrest report, submit the office’s crime report request form along with a $5 fee to:

Yolo County Sheriff’s Office – Records Unit
Address: 140 Tony Diaz Drive, Woodland, CA 95776
Phone: (530) 668-5280
Fax: (530) 668-5238
Email: records@yolocounty.org

Criminal history restrictions: Complete criminal history records (known as “rap sheets”) are not available to the general public in California. Under Penal Code §§ 13300–13326, access to state-level criminal history is limited to the subject of the record, authorized agencies, and certain employers and licensing bodies. Members of the public may request their own record from the California Department of Justice by submitting a Live Scan fingerprint form through an authorized service provider.

Individuals who have successfully completed probation or other sentencing terms may petition the court for dismissal of the conviction under Penal Code § 1203.4, after which the record is updated to reflect the dismissal. Separate petition procedures exist for sealing arrest records under Penal Code § 851.87 and for certificates of rehabilitation under Penal Code § 4852.01.

Yolo County Civil Court Records

The Civil Division of the Yolo County Superior Court adjudicates general civil disputes, contract claims, personal injury actions, real property disputes, and a broad range of other non-criminal matters. The Small Claims Division, a subset of civil operations, handles monetary-only disputes up to $12,500 for individuals (or $6,250 for businesses and governmental entities).

Yolo County Superior Court – Civil Division
Address: 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 406-6704
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Small Claims Division
Phone: (530) 406-6704

Civil case filings, including complaints, cross-complaints, motions, and judgments, are searchable through the Smart Search portal. In-person review of physical files is available at the Clerk’s Office during regular business hours.

Filing fees for civil matters in California are set by statute and published in the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule. Key fee amounts (subject to periodic legislative adjustment) include:

Action	Approximate Fee
Unlimited civil complaint (amount over $25,000)	$435
Limited civil complaint (amount $25,000 or less)	$240
Small claims filing (up to $1,500)	$30
Small claims filing ($1,501–$5,000)	$50
Small claims filing ($5,001–$12,500)	$75
Motion fee	$60
First appearance by respondent	$435 (unlimited) / $240 (limited)

Standard forms for initiating civil actions—such as the Summons (Form SUM-100), Civil Case Cover Sheet (Form CM-010), and various small claims forms—are available on the California Courts self-help forms page. Copies of filed documents can be obtained from the Clerk’s Office at the standard rates of $0.50 per page for plain copies and $40 per certified copy.

Yolo County Family Court Records

Family law cases in Yolo County—including dissolutions of marriage, legal separations, child custody and visitation disputes, child and spousal support orders, domestic violence restraining orders, and parentage (paternity) actions—are adjudicated by the Family Division of the Superior Court.

Yolo County Superior Court – Family Division
Address: 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 406-6704
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Family law records are generally accessible to parties and their attorneys through the Clerk’s Office. However, several categories carry access restrictions. Financial declarations filed under Family Code § 2104, child custody evaluations, and documents relating to domestic violence risk assessments may be sealed or restricted to authorized parties. Juvenile dependency files (abuse, neglect, or welfare proceedings) are confidential under Welfare and Institutions Code § 827 and require a court order for third-party access.

Marriage records in Yolo County are maintained by the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, not the court. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $17 each and may be ordered online, in person, or by mail using the marriage certificate request form.

Yolo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office
Address: 625 Court Street, P.O. Box 1130, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 666-8130

Divorce records (specifically the decree or judgment of dissolution) are part of the court case file and can be obtained from the Superior Court Clerk’s Office using the standard copy procedures described above. The California Department of Public Health also maintains statewide indexes of marriages and divorces; certified copies for certain purposes may be ordered through that agency.

Birth and death certificates are issued by the Clerk-Recorder’s Office. Current fees are $31 per certified birth certificate and $26 per certified death certificate. Application forms are available on the Yolo County vital records page:

Applicants must provide valid identification and, for birth certificates, a notarized sworn statement establishing their eligibility to receive a certified copy under Health and Safety Code § 103526.

Domestic violence restraining orders may be requested without a filing fee under Family Code § 6222. The Yolo County Superior Court’s self-help center can assist individuals in completing the necessary Judicial Council forms (Form DV-100 series).

Yolo County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Yolo County—estate administration, wills, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships—fall under the Civil Division of the Superior Court. There is no separate probate court; rather, designated judicial officers hear probate calendars within the existing divisional structure.

Yolo County Superior Court – Civil/Probate Division
Address: 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 406-6704
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Probate case files that have been indexed in the court’s electronic system are searchable through the Smart Search portal. Older probate records may require an in-person search at the Clerk’s Office or a staff-assisted research request by mail.

Common probate record types include:

Petitions for probate of will and letters testamentary
Petitions for letters of administration (intestate estates)
Inventories and appraisals
Accountings (interim and final)
Petitions for appointment of guardian or conservator
Orders approving sale of estate property
Orders for final distribution and discharge

Filing fees for probate matters follow the statewide schedule. A petition for probate of a will or for letters of administration carries a filing fee in the range of $435 (unlimited jurisdiction). Petitions for appointment of a guardian or conservator of the person or estate are filed at the same rate. Fee waivers are available for individuals who meet the income thresholds set forth in Government Code § 68631.

Probate proceedings in California are governed primarily by the Probate Code, which addresses estate administration (Division 7), guardianships (Division 4, Part 2), conservatorships (Division 4, Part 3), and trust matters (Division 9). Court forms specific to probate—such as the Petition for Probate (Form DE-111), Inventory and Appraisal (Form DE-160), and Petition for Appointment of Guardian (Form GC-210)—can be downloaded from the Judicial Council forms library.

Property records relevant to estate administration, including deeds, liens, and assessor valuations, are managed by the Yolo County Assessor’s Office. The assessor maintains an online property search tool where users can look up parcel data, assessed values, and ownership history.

Yolo County Assessor’s Office
Address: 625 Court Street, Room 104, Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 666-8135
Fax: (530) 666-8213
Email: assessor@yolocounty.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Conservatorship and guardianship files are generally public records, though the court may restrict access to sensitive medical or psychological evaluations attached to the petition. Investigators’ reports filed under Probate Code § 1826 (conservatorships) or § 1513 (guardianships) may be treated as confidential at the discretion of the judicial officer. Parties seeking access to restricted portions of a probate file should file a written request or motion with the court, citing the specific legal authority that supports disclosure.