Marin County Court Records Lookup

Marin County Courts, CA *

There are a lot of reasons Marin County, California, residents may need to visit the courthouse. Many people need the Superior Court in Marin County because they have a criminal or a civil case pending with the court. They could need the court for a family law matter, such as a divorce, mediation, or child custody issues. Small business owners, large employers, and attorneys also use court records to research past evictions, civil lawsuits, or damage awards. Attorneys may be doing research for an upcoming case in the Marin County Superior Court as well. If you need to go to the Marin County Superior Court, it is important to understand how courts work in California.

Overview of the Marin County Court System

All 58 counties in California have trial courts and appellate courts. Appellate courts in California are broken into trial districts and rule on appeals of court cases that have already been adjudicated. Superior courts, also called trial courts, hear civil and criminal cases. Each county has its own superior court. The Judicial Council of California is the governing body of all the Superior Court systems in the state. This streamlined process means that no matter where in California you reside, court procedures and filings don't change as you travel from county to county.

The Marin County Courthouse is a huge structure located in San Rafael in the Justice Wing of the Marin County Civic Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The courthouse wing has 12 courtrooms, along with judges' chambers, staff offices, jury services, and a mediation center. Superior Court staff is available to explain how to access the Legal Self-Help Center, how to apply for mediation, and even how to access additional legal help.

Because the Marin County Superior Court is so large, and the building it is housed in is enormous, you must understand the location of court records, legal help locations, and the court clerk's office. Before you go to the courthouse, you need to know what materials and paperwork to bring for cases, where your courtrooms are located, and how to pay fees or fines. Knowing how the Marin County Superior Court works ahead of time could save you hours of time, money, and frustration in your case.

Types of Courts in Marin County, CA

Marin County has several types of courts located in the Justice Complex. You need to understand how each court type works so that you can make your trip to the courthouse as quick as possible. Here are the different types of courts available in the Marin County Superior Court Complex.

Civil Court

The Civil Division of Superior Court in Marin County may interact with thousands of civil cases each year in the county. There are several types of cases that the Civil Division can hear.

Jurisdictions:

• Property damage
• Violations of civil rights
• Landlord-tenant issues, including evictions
• Harassment claims
• Restraining orders, such as a workplace violence restraining order or gun violence restraining order

Civil lawsuits where someone suffered a loss, such as property damage, can have either limited (under $35,000) or unlimited (over $35,000) damage claims. The state has limits on how much money can be awarded in some civil cases.

Criminal Court

The Criminal Division of the Marin County Superior Court hears both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases.

Jurisdictions:

• Violent crimes such as rape, murder, or armed robbery (felonies)
• Misdemeanor crimes would include petty theft, vandalism, and battery
• Criminal motion proceedings for trials
• Criminal jury trials
• Diversion hearings and sentencing

Unified Family Court

Not all Superior Courts in the state of California have a court docket specifically for issues relating to family. However, Marin County Superior Court has a Unified Family Court division.

Jurisdictions:

• Family law, such as domestic violence restraining orders, divorces, and legal separations
• Custody issues
• Cases regarding the welfare of a child
• Cases related to crimes committed by children
• Adoption

Probate Court

The Probate Court's main objective is to hold hearings on wills, trusts, and estates after someone dies.

Jurisdictions:

• Wills, trusts, and estate proceedings
• Guardianship of children under the age of 18 if their parent or guardian dies
• Conservatorship cases
• Mental capacity hearings and commitments of people with significant developmental challenges

Note that a conservator is someone who is appointed to manage an estate for someone who cannot manage the estate themselves. Conservators can also be appointed to care for someone who cannot care for themselves.

Small Claims Court

Marin County has a separate court for small claims. In California, the Small Claims Division is a different type of civil lawsuit.

Jurisdictions:

• Disputes over contracts
• Small personal injury claims
• Property damage claims
• Rental deposit disputes or damage claims
• Vehicle accident damages

California law allows citizens to sue as many businesses or people as they like if the claim for damages is $2,500 or less. However, the law limits filing civil lawsuits that are more than $2,500 to two per year. Small Claims Court has limits on how much in damages you can ask for. As an individual in California, you can request up to $12,500. Businesses can request up to $6,250 in damages.

Traffic Court

Marin County's Traffic Court holds hearings on traffic citations for a variety of traffic offenses.

Jurisdictions:

• Traffic violations, such as a ticket for speeding, running a red light, or failure to yield
• Parking violations
• Cell phone usage violations
• Hearing evidence that a problem with your car has been fixed, or "fix-it" tickets. For example, if you have a broken taillight on your car, and you get it fixed, the judge may waive the ticket fees.

How to Access Marin County Court Records

Marin County lies so close to the San Francisco area that it has a large population, which means the courthouse complex can seem mindboggling. That's why it is crucial to understand how to access the court records you may need before you go to the courthouse.

Online Access

Marin County has an extensive online presence. All civil cases are required to e-file paperwork when there is attorney representation. The court has an e-filing system through a network of service providers. Marin County Superior Court also has an ePortal that people can use to access court documents and court records. California allows citizens to search most cases, court calendars, a list of documents filed, past hearing results, and future hearings scheduled. Attorneys have access to view specific court documents. Make sure you know the case number for easy access.

There are other services you can perform online through the Marin County Superior Court system. The court's online services include paying fines and fees, ticket payments, and jury service information. If you have a case that will be heard in Marin County, and you are representing yourself, the court allows you to send documents through their eDelivery system.

Alternative Online Options

The Marin County Superior Court system is large, even online, and some people may find it difficult to navigate through all of the various portals. The information on court websites may be confusing or hard to understand. You also may not know for sure if the case you are looking for was filed in Marin County. To streamline the process, use a commercial search tool or website, such as CourtCaseFinder, to help you search across multiple jurisdictions for case information. Searching a third-party court case finder may save you a trip to the courthouse.

In-Person Requests

Marin County Superior Court has a large department just for court records. You can view records there and ask for record copies. Because Marin County has a large population, know that it may take some time to get your records request filled. There is also a per-page fee for record copies.

Archived Records

In Marin County, archived records are kept onsite, and information about archived cases is available online. However, if you want to view court documents, you will need to fill out a records request form. Also, there are some cases, such as cases involving juveniles or sealed cases, that will not be accessible.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Attorneys and other legal professionals from outside Marin County benefit from California's streamlined Superior Court System, governed by the California Judicial Council. In most cases, filing, viewing documents, and paying filing fees are the same in Marin County as in other counties across the state.

Attorneys and legal professionals can use Marin County's online system to look up cases in the database, check their court deadlines, and look at the upcoming docket. Also, the Judicial Branch of California's website has forms and guidance for civil, criminal, and traffic cases. Attorneys can use the website to find the information and forms they need, which saves time and money.

How to File a Case in Marin County

For the average person, filing a case in Marin County Superior Court can seem daunting. However, if you follow the steps below, you can eliminate delays in processing your filings and errors with filing.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Be sure that Marin County Superior Court is the correct location for your case filing. Luckily, in California, it is easy to figure out if you are in the right place for your case. Marin County Superior Court handles all of the civil and criminal state cases in the county.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Each type of case has specific forms that are required for filing. You can access the forms you need using the Marin County Superior Court website.

Step 3: File Your Case

Marin County Superior Court allows you to file your case electronically. In fact, nearly all the cases in the county can be filed electronically: civil cases, small claims cases, family law and adoption cases, and probate or mental health cases where a guardianship or conservatorship is being requested. You can file your case paperwork using the third-party service provider list provided by the county.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Once you file the necessary paperwork, you'll need to pay filing fees to the court. You can view how much it will cost you to file in Marin County Superior Court on the fee schedule that is set by the state. You can pay the filing fees online or in person at the court complex.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

All of the parties involved in your case have to be provided with notice from the court system. The Judicial Branch of California has information on serving people or businesses with court case information when you file. In California, you cannot serve the papers yourself. You can have someone over 18 serve the papers, ask the Marin County Sheriff to serve the paperwork for you, or you can use a third-party process server for a fee. No matter who serves the paperwork, you must file a proof of service form with the Marin County Superior Court.

Step 6: Monitor Your Case

Once you have completed your court paperwork, it's time to monitor the Marin County Superior Court website to track your case through the court system. That way, you'll be aware of upcoming court dates and information you may need to bring with you to court.

Marin County Courthouse Directory

The Marin County Superior Court is located in San Rafael, California. It has its own wing within the Marin Civic Center.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

If you are concerned about getting help with your case, you may be able to receive help at no cost to you. Marin County provides assistance with many aspects of the court process.

Free Legal Assistance

The Marin County Superior Court offers free legal assistance through its Legal Self-Help Center. The center is divided into help with family law cases and other general help. You can get information and support for divorce, visitation, child custody, domestic violence issues, and guardianship. Services are available in English and Spanish. You can call the center or email with questions.

Local Legal Support

Low- or moderate-income individuals can also receive help with civil cases from Legal Aid of Marin County. They specialize in employment law and housing law. You can also contact the Bay Area Legal Aid agency. This agency provides support by phone and in person for people needing health care access assistance, housing, benefits, and other civil cases. Both legal aid agencies provide legal clinics to help citizens of Marin County get more information on their legal rights.

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