Requesting Court Records
Court Records
California Rules of Court provide the public with reasonable access to court records for viewing and copying. Court records are presumed to be open, unless they are considered confidential by statute or are sealed by a judge. Access to confidential cases is limited to parties to that case, and a government- issued picture identification must be shown.
The easiest way to find a court record is with the case number. If case number is unknown, please click on the link below for the Case Records Search on the court's website.
An online Criminal index is not available at this time. If you are interested in viewing a file please visit the Records window during normal business hours. There are public access terminals available in the lobbies of Figueroa, Miller, and Lompoc Divisions.
PLEASE NOTE: The court does not confirm personal information about a party's identity over the phone or email. Personal information includes details such as date of birth, last four digits of a Social Security Number, address, or driver's license number. Individuals seeking personal information about a party may visit the courthouse to look up information on a court provided computer or submit a Copy Request Form (en Español). Review the instructions on how to complete the Copy Request Form.
Requesting Court Records
For accessing, copying, and requesting court records, use the information and forms listed below.
Certification of a court document, which includes affixing the Court's certification stamp and court seal, declares the document to be a true copy of the original. Additional fees apply. Please refer to the Copy Request Form for details.
South County Records
If you are interested in viewing a court file please visit the Records window during normal business hours. There are public access terminals available in the Records lobby of the Figueroa Division located on the lower level.
The South County Records Department is open: Monday – Friday from 8am – 12pm.
Copies of court records requests can be made in-person, by postal mail, or by email. Requests will be processed in the order received. You may request the copies be held for pickup, mailed to you, or emailed to you. Please note that if you are requesting a certified copy of a court document, it cannot be sent to you via email.
Copy rates are as follows:
- $0.50 per page (Gov. Code §70627(a))
- $15.00 for a certified copy of a divorce judgment + $0.50 per page copy fees (Gov. Code §70674)
- $40.00 certification fee plus $0.50 per page for each document (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)) (certified copies must be mailed)
- $15.00 for a search for records of files over 10 minutes (Gov. Code §70627(c))
- $1.00 Invoice – Cost Recovery Fee (Gov. Code §68150(l) and CRC 2.506)
- Credit card surcharge: 2.9% + $.30 per transaction for Visa, Mastercard, Discover (surcharge imposed is not greater than our cost of acceptance)
- Please note: Beginning May 29, 2022, 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction for Visa, Mastercard and Discover
- Envelope/Postage/Shipping – see Copy Request Form
We do NOT accept credit card information over the phone.
Fill out the Copy Request Form (en Español). Submit the completed form to the Records Division. Review the instructions on how to complete the Copy Request Form. The Copy Request Form may be submitted in-person, by postal mail, or by email. Requests will be processed in the order received. Government agencies ONLY may submit fax requests for criminal case records.
| In-person: | Bring the form to the Figueroa Division courthouse location, 118 E. Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara between 8:00am and 12:00pm. Please allow up to 14 business days for us to process your request. Cases that are off-site or in the courtroom may take longer. If it is a request we can process while you wait, you may pay any applicable fees by cash, credit card or check. Otherwise, payment is to be made by check made out to "Clerk of the Court" with not to exceed $175.00 written in the memo line. SEE EXAMPLE. If you would like the copies mailed to you, please bring a self-addressed stamped envelope of sufficient size and postage. If an envelope is not provided, postage fees will be added to the copy amount total. |
| By mail: | Mail the completed form to Santa Barbara County Superior Court, ATTN: Records 118 E. Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Please allow up to 14 business days for us to process your request. Cases that are off-site or in the courtroom may take longer. Include a check made out to Clerk of the Court with not to exceed $175.00 written in the memo line. SEE EXAMPLE. Please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope of sufficient size and postage. If an envelope is not provided, postage fees will be added to the copy amount total. |
| By email: | Email the completed form to SouthCountyRecords@sbcourts.org. Do NOT include credit card or payment information. Please allow up to 14 business days for us to process your request. Cases that are off-site or in the courtroom may take longer. An invoice will be sent to the email address you provide indicating the amount owed. If you do not receive an invoice, please check your spam or email filter. Upon confirmation of payment, the request will be processed. Please note that if you are requesting a certified copy of a court document, it cannot be sent via email. |
If you need further assistance please call 805-882-4778 between 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:30pm-3:00pm.
North County Records
If you are interested in viewing a court file please visit the Records window during normal business hours. There are public access terminals available in the lobbies of the Miller and Lompoc Divisions.
The North County Records Department is open: Monday – Friday from 8am – 12pm.
Copies of court records requests can be made in-person, by postal mail, or by email. Requests will be processed in the order received. You may request the copies be held for pickup, mailed to you, or emailed to you. Please note that if you are requesting a certified copy of a court document, it cannot be sent to you via email.
Copy rates are as follows:
- $0.50 per page (Gov. Code §70627(a))
- $1.00 per page for copies that are faxed
- $15.00 for a certified copy of a divorce judgment + $0.50 per page copy fees (Gov. Code §70674)
- $40.00 certification fee plus $0.50 per page for each document (Gov. Code §70626(a)(4)) (certified copies must be mailed)
- $15.00 for a search for records of files over 10 minutes (Gov. Code §70627(c))
- $1.00 Invoice – Cost Recovery Fee (Gov. Code §68150(l) and CRC 2.506)
- Credit card surcharge: 2.9% + $.30 per transaction for Visa, Mastercard, Discover (surcharge imposed is not greater than our cost of acceptance)
- Please note: Beginning May 29, 2022, 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction for Visa, Mastercard and Discover
- Envelope/Postage/Shipping – see Copy Request Form, Copy Request Form (Spanish)
We do NOT accept credit card information over the phone.
Fill out the Copy Request Form (en Español). Submit the completed form to the Records Division. Review the instructions on how to complete the Copy Request Form. The Copy Request Form may be submitted in-person, by postal mail, or by email. Requests will be processed in the order received. Government agencies ONLY may submit fax requests for criminal case records.
| In-person: | Bring the form to the Miller Division courthouse location, 312 E. Cook Street, Santa Maria between 8:00am and 12:00pm. Please allow up to 14 business days for us to process your request. Cases that are off-site or in the courtroom may take longer. If it is a request we can process while you wait, you may pay any applicable fees by cash, credit card or check. Otherwise, payment is to be made by check made out to "Clerk of the Court" with not to exceed $175.00 written in the memo line. SEE EXAMPLE. If you would like the copies mailed to you, please bring a self-addressed stamped envelope of sufficient size and postage. If an envelope is not provided, postage fees will be added to the copy amount total. |
| By mail: | Mail the completed form to Santa Barbara County Superior Court, ATTN: Records 312-C E. Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Please allow up to 14 business days for us to process your request. Cases that are off-site or in the courtroom may take longer. Include a check made out to Clerk of the Court with not to exceed $175.00 written in the memo line. SEE EXAMPLE. Please provide a self-addressed stamped envelope of sufficient size and postage. If an envelope is not provided, postage fees will be added to the copy amount total. |
| By email: | Email the completed form to NorthCountyRecords@sbcourts.org. Do NOT include credit card or payment information. Please allow up to 14 business days for us to process your request. Cases that are off-site or in the courtroom may take longer. An invoice will be sent to the email address you provide indicating the amount owed. If you do not receive an invoice, please check your spam or email filter. Upon confirmation of payment, the request will be processed. Please note that if you are requesting a certified copy of a court document, it cannot be sent via email. |
If you need further assistance please call 805-614-6414 between 9:00am-3:00pm.