Sacramento County Courts

Over 1.58 million people make their home in Sacramento County, accounting for approximately 0.04% of California's entire population of over 39.43 million. Named for the Sacramento River, Sacramento County has the City of Sacramento as its county seat.

Sacramento County Superior Court records an average of 194,461 case filings annually, including about 128,648 criminal cases, 48,765 civil suits, 13,625 family law proceedings, 1,344 juvenile court matters, and 2,079 probate case filings.

The Sacramento County court structure has a single court, namely the Sacramento County Superior Court. It is subdivided into different divisions, based on case type, and they include:

• Sacramento County Superior Court - Carol Miller Justice Centerhas jurisdiction over traffic offenses, small claims, and unlawful detainer
• Sacramento County Superior Court - Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouseoversees civil and criminal cases
• Sacramento County Superior Court - Juvenile Courthouse hears cases relating to misdemeanors, juvenile delinquency, and juvenile non-traffic infractions
• Sacramento County Superior Court - Lorenzo Patino Hall of Justice handles initial felony hearings and domestic violence suits
• Sacramento County Superior Court - William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse handles cases relating to family law, adoption, probate matters, civil harassment, and juvenile dependency

The Sacramento County Superior Court is located in the county seat, along with all its divisions.

How To Access Sacramento County Court Records

Per California's Public Records Act (CPRA), court records in Sacramento County are public records, unless they are sealed. This implies that anyone may inspect or duplicate court records upon request. Some other types of court records, such as records made confidential by the law, are also prohibited from public disclosure. Typical examples of these records include adoption and juvenile delinquency records. Also, to protect individuals' privacy rights, certain records containing financial or sensitive personal information usually have those sections redacted before being publicly disclosed. Any person interested in searching court records in Sacramento County, however, is required to provide a valid photo ID and the relevant case number for easy retrieval of such records.

Online

To access court records online, interested persons may search the Sacramento County Supreme Court's Public Case Access System by party name, case number, case type, or filing date. Requesters may also access court records remotely from any location outside the courthouses in Sacramento County, provided they have internet access. Although only limited case information, such as calendars, registers of action, and case indexes, may be retrieved this way. Sacramento County Superior Courts, however, provides an online index to help requesters order copies of certain court records.

Record seekers may also access civil, probate, small claims, and limited unlawful detainer court records using Sacramento County's new Public Portal. This case search tool typically allows court records lookups for registered users, who may be required to pay certain fees for searching and copying these records.

Additionally, court records from every U.S. county, including Sacramento County, may be searched using CourtCaseFinder. Also, individuals searching federal court records originating from federal court proceedings in the county may do so through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) case search tool.

In-Person

Record seekers may visit the specific courthouse where cases were heard to search court records using the public computer terminals located there. They may also query the court clerk maintaining such records for various case information. In-person visits to the Sacramento County courthouses may be done during business hours, and searching/copying of court records generally attracts some fees. Typical fees include a $10 search fee (for searches exceeding 10 minutes), a $0.50 copy fee (per page), and a $40 certification fee.

Old and Archived Court Records

To access old court records in Sacramento County, especially court records older than 50 years, individuals may check the California State Archives. This public organisation oversees a searchable database of historic public records, including court records. Old court records maintained at this institution typically include court minute books, probate and estate files, pre-1900 dockets, and territorial court documents. Individuals looking to access historic Sacramento County court records may visit the California State Archives at:

How to File a Case in Sacramento County

Individuals interested in filing a case in Sacramento County may consider using any one of these options;

• Electronically (using the Superior County case search portal)
• In person at the Clerk's Office of the Sacramento County Superior Court
• By mail ( by submitting completed records requests)

Before a person can file a case, they should first determine the court with jurisdiction over their case, based on the case type. Contacting the Sacramento County Superior Court Clerk for assistance may prove vital in helping such persons avoid typical case-filing errors. Following this determination, the individual may then proceed to file their case with the clerk of the relevant Superior Court Division in Sacramento County.

Certain fees are associated with filing a case in Sacramento County. Although it typically varies by case type, case filing fees generally range from a minimum e-filing fee of $12.92 (inclusive of service provider charges) to $60 fee for filing a motion for a new trial. Fee waivers are also available to individuals who cannot afford the case filing fees and qualify for such waivers. In addition to other documents required, the fee waiver applicant should file a Request to Waive Court Fees with the clerk of the relevant Superior Court Division. If the court grants their request, the individual may then file their case without paying any case filing fee, together with other court costs.

Any Sacramento County resident may file their case using the following steps:

• Ascertain the appropriate court, based on the case type
• Organise and assemble the necessary documents
• Properly complete the required forms
• File the case by submitting the completed forms and paying the applicable fees
• Serve the opposing party/defendant with a copy of the filed documents

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Across the United States, county court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice. Legal help and self-help resources are foundational to this access, particularly for self-represented litigants navigating civil, family, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but commonly include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Financially disadvantaged persons, who struggle to afford legal representation in Sacramento County, face significant hurdles in accessing justice. However, through local legal aid societies, the county courthouse, and county bar association pro bono panels, these individuals may find legal help and self-help resources for various legal issues.

The following county-based legal aid and self-help resources, which cover a wide range of legal issues, are available to Sacramento County residents:

• Carol Miller Justice Center's Small Claims Advisory Clinic
• Capital Pro Bono Inc.
• Family Law Facilitators' Office (Sacramento Superior Court Self-Help Center)
• 2-1-1 Sacramento
• Legal Services of Northern California
• Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE)
• Sacramento Superior Court Unlawful Detainer Advisory Clinic
• Sacramento County Public Law Library

Some state-based legal help organizations and resources that offer various types of legal assistance, education, and support to Californians, including Sacramento County residents, are as follows:

• LawHelp.Org
• Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organisation
• California Indian Legal Services
• Disability Rights California
• California Department of Rehabilitation
• California State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services

Types of Courts in Sacramento County, California

Sacramento County's unified court system has a sole trial court, the Sacramento County Superior Court, that guarantees the delivery of justice to county residents and businesses. The jurisdiction of each Superior Court Division and its specific address/contact information are outlined as follows:

Sacramento County Superior Court - Carol Miller Justice Center

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court has jurisdiction over cases relating to small claims, traffic, and unlawful detainer
• Address/Contact Information -

Sacramento County Superior Court - Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court oversees civil and criminal cases
• Address/Contact Information -

Sacramento County Superior Court - Juvenile Courthouse

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Juvenile delinquency and misdemeanor cases, and juvenile non-traffic infractions fall within this court's jurisdiction
• Address/Contact Information -

Sacramento County Superior Court - Lorenzo Patino Hall of Justice

• Address/Contact Information -

Sacramento County Superior Court - William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Adoption, civil harassment, family law, juvenile dependency, and probate cases are heard in this court
• Address/Contact Information -

United States District Court - Eastern District of California

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court has jurisdiction over federal criminal cases, civil suits involving citizens of different states, and cases relating to the United States Constitution and federal law
• Address/Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court - Eastern District of California

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - This court has exclusive jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases in the county
• Address/Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sacramento County Courts