San Bernardino County Courts

With a land area of over 20,000 square miles, San Bernardino County is the largest county by land area in California and the United States. It has a population of 2.2 million people, making the county the fifth-most populous in the state and representing about 5.6% of the state's 39 million residents. The City of San Bernardino is its county seat and most populous city, while Apple Valley is its largest city by land area. The county runs a unified court system, with the San Bernardino Superior Court being the only court serving the people of the county.

Annually, approximately 300,000 cases are filed with the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Of this number, about 13,000 are felony cases, 18,000 are misdemeanor-nontraffic cases, 21,000 are misdemeanor-traffic cases, 5,500 are juvenile matters, and about 2,500 are probate cases. In addition, an average of 14,000 unlimited civil cases, 27,000 limited civil cases, and 5,000 small claims cases are heard each year by the court.

The San Bernardino Superior Court is divided into different divisions and districts to ensure that all regions of the county's vast land area have easy access to justice. The court districts, including Victorville, San Bernardino, Barstow, Big Bear, Joshua Tree, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and Needles, can typically handle different types of cases. Court divisions in San Bernardino County include:

• Criminal Division - Typically handles felonies, offenses arising from similar conditions as felonies, and misdemeanors.
• Traffic Division - Usually hears traffic violations and minor offenses.
• Civil Division - Generally hears limited, unlimited, and complex civil cases, including torts, foreclosures, personal injury cases, professional malpractice, employment matters, contract disputes, and appeals from small claims cases.
• Small Claims Division - Usually handles civil cases with claims under $6,250 for businesses with two or more owners and under $12,500 for individual cases and sole proprietorships.
• Family Law Division - Typically hears divorces, annulments, legal separations, spousal support, child custody, visitation rights, paternity, restraining orders, and adoptions.
• Juvenile Division - Generally handles truancy, dependency, juvenile delinquency, juvenile traffic offenses, child abuse or neglect, and status offenses.
• Probate Division - Usually handles admission of wills, appointment of conservatorships and guardianships, and management of estates and trusts.
• Appellate Division - Typically hears appeals from limited civil cases, traffic offenses, and misdemeanor cases.

How To Access San Bdswernardino County Court Records

Unless prohibited by law or court orders, San Bernardino County court records are generally accessible to the public. Public access to court records in the county is a right under the California Public Records Act and Rule 2.400 (a) of the California Rules of Court. Public court records in the county typically include criminal, limited civil, unlimited civil, small claims, and complex civil cases.

However, for security or privacy reasons, certain types of court records in San Bernardino County are restricted from public access by statute. These court records usually include records of minors, adoption records, expunged or sealed court records, mental health commitment records, and child protection orders. Some court records containing restricted information may have those portions redacted. Examples of such restricted information include financial accounts, license plate numbers, Social Security Numbers, trade secrets, and records that could jeopardize personal or public safety.

In San Bernardino County, a case number is typically required to access a court record; however, the complete names of the parties involved and the filing date may also be used. A valid government-issued photo ID may be required to access county court records. The county's court records may be accessed using the following methods:

Online

San Bernardino County court records, including those of criminal, traffic, civil, domestic relations, and probate cases, may be accessed through the Court Access Portal provided by the Superior Court. Court records may be searched by case number and party names.

Interested parties may also search San Bernardino County court records through CourtCaseFinder. The website is designed to provide public court records search services. It aggregates publicly available court records from every county in the United States. In addition, record seekers may access records of federal cases heard in San Bernardino County through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service for a fee. They are required to first register for a free account on the platform to access court records.

In-Person

Record seekers may access San Bernardino County court records in person by visiting the court district where the case was heard. They may request the records from the court clerks or by using the public terminals within the premises. Requesters may be required to pay certain fees when obtaining copies of these records. Records that are retrieved from remote storage or take additional staff time to retrieve may also attract fees.

Old and Archived Court Records

Record seekers may contact the San Bernardino County Superior Court to access old court records from the county that may not be available on the Court Access Portal. In addition, requesters may access the county's old court records through Stanford Law School's California Trial Court Records online database. Furthermore, the county's old and historic court records may be accessed through the California State Archives. Individuals interested in accessing such court records may contact the state archives at:

California State Archives

How To File a Case in San Bernardino County

Criminal cases are typically filed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney, while anyone may file a civil case. It is important to ensure that a case is within the stipulated statute of limitations before filing it in the county. Furthermore, one may typically file a case in the county if at least one of the defendants resides in the county, or in the case of contract disputes, the contract was signed in the county.

To file a case in San Bernardino County, one must first identify the appropriate division and district that has the authority to hear the case. They may contact the court to verify where the case may be filed. Once the division and district have been identified, a plaintiff may file the case in person, by mail, or electronically through the eFiling platform.

The plaintiff may need to prepare necessary forms and documents, including the complaint detailing the facts of the case, the relief being sought from the court, and the parties involved. They may then file the complaint and other required documents with the court. Filing a case in San Bernardino County typically attracts certain filing fees depending on the case type.

However, persons experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for filing fee waivers in San Bernardino County. Eligibility criteria for obtaining a filing fee waiver in the county may include inability to meet basic needs, low income, and receipt of public benefits. To get a waiver, an individual must complete all required sections of the Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) and the Order on Court Fee Waiver (FW-003) forms. They may then file the forms and supporting documents with the court.

The court will review the request and order a fee waiver if successful. The plaintiff has 10 days to file the case if the request was granted, or the case will be considered withdrawn. If the financial situation of the plaintiff improves during the case, the plaintiff is required to inform the court within five days, and the fee waiver order may be rescinded.

After filing the case, the plaintiff must serve the defendant and submit the completed Proof of Service (POS-040) form to prove that the defendant has been formally notified of the lawsuit. The following steps are usually required to file a case in San Bernardino County:

• Determine the case type, division, and court district that has jurisdiction.
• Prepare required documents and exhibits. Ensure to provide a detailed description of the events that necessitated the case and the parties involved in the lawsuit. Attach relevant exhibits and evidence to support the case.
• Pay the filing fees or obtain fee waivers if eligible.
• File the complaint with the court and serve the opposing party with a copy of the complaint.
• File the proof of service with the court.

Anyone intending to file a case in San Bernardino County is advised to secure the services of an attorney to help with the filing process. Low-income residents may apply to legal aid groups in the county for assistance.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

County court systems play a crucial role in delivering access to justice throughout the United States. This access is helped by legal aid and self-help resources, especially for self-represented and low-income litigants navigating civil, domestic, probate, or small claims matters. These resources vary by jurisdiction but usually include self-help centers, online portals, legal aid organizations, and court-affiliated assistance programs.

Government officials are not allowed to offer legal advice or serve as personal attorneys. Litigants who are unable to afford legal representation in San Bernardino County may get help from pro bono panels and local legal aid groups. These groups typically assist in such matters as housing, domestic and sexual violence, public benefits, sex trafficking, and veterans. Indigent litigants in the county may use the following self-help and legal aid resources:

• Free Legal Representation for Low-income Persons
• Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
• Inland Counties Legal Services
• YMCA of East Valley Legal Aid
• Private Lawyer Referral Services
• San Bernardino County Bar Association Referral Service
• American Bar Association Program

Other legal aid services and self-help resources available to San Bernardino County residents include the following:

• California Courts Self-Centers
• LawHelpCA

Types of Courts in San Bernardino County, California

San Bernardino County is served by the County Superior Court and federal courts. Below is a list of each court's jurisdiction and contact details:

San Bernardino County Superior Court

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard: Criminal, limited civil, complex civil, unlimited civil, probate, domestic relations, traffic, and juvenile cases.

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Barstow District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Big Bear District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Joshua Tree District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Fonfana District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Needles District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Victorville District Civil Division

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Rancho Cucamonga District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - Rancho Cucamonga District Civil Division

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - San Bernardino Juvenile Delinquency

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Superior Court - San Bernardino District

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County Victorville Juvenile Delinquency Court

Address and Contact Information

San Bernardino County - Appeals and Appellate Division

Address and Contact Information

Federal Courts in San Bernardino County

The following are the federal courts serving the county:

United States District Court for the Central District of California

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Cases involving parties from different states or countries, with claims exceeding a certain threshold. It also handles criminal and civil cases about federal laws, the U.S. Government, and the United States Constitution.
• Address and Contact Information -

United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California

• Jurisdiction/Cases Heard - Bankruptcy cases, including liquidation and reorganization.
• Address and Contact Information -

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About San Bernardino County Courts

Answers to some frequently asked questions about San Bernardino County courts are provided below: