Access San Francisco Family Court Records
San Francisco family court records are maintained at the San Francisco Superior Court Unified Family Court. With over 870,000 residents, San Francisco operates as both a city and county, making its court system unique in California. Family law cases include dissolution, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, and parentage actions. The court has centralized most family law matters at the Civic Center Courthouse on McAllister Street. Residents can access case information through in-person visits to the clerk's office or by using courthouse computer terminals. Online access is limited due to privacy protections under California law. The ACCESS Center provides free help with forms, legal information, and self-help resources for people handling family law matters without attorneys in San Francisco.
San Francisco Quick Facts
San Francisco Superior Court Family Division
Family law cases for San Francisco are filed at the San Francisco Superior Court. The Unified Family Court handles all family law matters at 400 McAllister Street, Room 402. This courthouse is in the Civic Center area near City Hall. The family law clerk's office is on the fourth floor where you file new cases, get information, and request copies of documents.
| Court | San Francisco Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 McAllister Street, Room 402 San Francisco, CA 94102 |
| Phone | (415) 551-3900 |
| ACCESS Center | (415) 551-0605 |
| Website | sf.courts.ca.gov |
The courthouse is near multiple public transit lines. BART stops at Civic Center Station one block away. Muni Metro lines serve the area. Bus routes 5, 6, 7, 9, 19, 21, 47, and 49 all stop nearby. Street parking is limited. Public garages are available within walking distance. The courthouse has security screening at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID. Large bags must go through X-ray machines.
The ACCESS Center at the courthouse provides free legal information and form help. Walk-ins are welcome. Staff cannot give legal advice but can help you understand procedures and fill out forms. The center has computers, printers, and a law library for public use in San Francisco.
Finding Family Court Records
San Francisco Superior Court maintains case files in electronic and paper formats. Newer cases are mostly electronic. Older cases may still be on paper. You can view case information at the courthouse on public computer terminals. Remote online access is not available for most family law documents due to California privacy rules.
To search for a case, go to the clerk's office with the case number or names of both parties. Staff will look up the case on their system. You can see the register of actions, which lists all filings and court orders. The register tells you what documents are in the file and when hearings took place in San Francisco.
If you want to view actual documents, ask the clerk. Some documents are available at public terminals. Others require staff assistance. You cannot remove documents from the viewing area. You can take notes but cannot use cameras or phones to photograph pages without permission in San Francisco.
Copies cost 50 cents per page under California law. Certified copies cost $40 per document plus page fees. Order copies at the clerk's office. Payment is due when you place the order. The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. Large copy orders may take a day or more to process in San Francisco.
Filing Family Law Cases
To file a family law case in San Francisco, bring your completed forms to the clerk's office at 400 McAllister Street, Room 402. The filing fee for a petition is $435. This is the standard California fee set by statute. You also need money to serve the other party with the papers. Service costs vary depending on whether you use a sheriff, private process server, or certified mail.
California requires residency before filing for dissolution. One spouse must live in California for six months and in San Francisco County for three months. This rule comes from Family Code Section 2320. If you just moved to San Francisco, wait until you meet the time requirement before filing.
Forms are on the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov/forms. San Francisco also has local forms for some procedures. Check the court website for local forms. Make sure all forms are current. The clerk will reject outdated forms. Fill them out completely and sign where required in San Francisco.
After you file, the other party has 30 days to respond. If they do not respond, you can request a default judgment. If they do respond, the case continues with hearings, settlement conferences, or trial. Most cases settle without a trial. San Francisco requires mediation for custody disputes before a judge will hear the case.
Note: San Francisco Superior Court uses a Unified Family Court model that assigns one judge to handle all issues in a family law case from start to finish.
Self-Help Resources
The ACCESS Center at 400 McAllister Street helps people who do not have lawyers. Staff provide information about court procedures, help with forms, and referrals to legal aid. The center is open weekdays. Check the court website for current hours. Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments are available for some services in San Francisco.
Services at the ACCESS Center include:
- Form assistance for family law cases
- Information about filing procedures
- Help understanding court orders
- Referrals to free legal services
- Access to computers and printers
- Law library materials
The center also offers workshops on common family law topics. Workshops cover filing for dissolution, responding to a petition, child support calculations, and modifying orders. Check the court website for the workshop schedule. Most workshops are free in San Francisco.
If you have low income, you may qualify for a fee waiver. File form FW-001 with your petition. The court will review your financial information and decide if you qualify. A fee waiver covers filing fees but not service costs or copy fees. You still need to pay those in San Francisco.
Free Legal Help
Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal services in San Francisco. Bay Area Legal Aid serves low-income residents with family law matters. They handle dissolution, custody, domestic violence, and support cases. Call (415) 982-1300 or visit baylegal.org to see if you qualify. Their San Francisco office is downtown near the courthouse.
The Bar Association of San Francisco runs a Family Law Project that helps people with limited incomes. Call (415) 782-8982 for information. The project provides brief legal advice, help with forms, and representation in some cases. Services are free or low-cost depending on your income in San Francisco.
Legal Assistance to the Elderly provides help to seniors age 60 and over. They assist with family law issues including dissolution, domestic violence, and elder abuse cases. Call (415) 538-3600. Services are free for qualifying San Francisco seniors.
For domestic violence situations, the Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse agency offers legal advocacy and support services. Call their 24-hour hotline at (415) 668-0701. CORA helps with restraining orders, safety planning, and referrals to other services. Their office serves San Francisco County residents.
The State Bar of California lawyer referral service can connect you with a private attorney. Call (866) 442-2529. The first 30 minutes cost up to $25. After that, you and the attorney agree on fees. This is helpful if you do not qualify for free legal aid in San Francisco.
Privacy and Confidential Records
Family court records in California have privacy protections. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, most family law documents are not available for remote online viewing. You must visit the courthouse to see case files. This applies to dissolution, custody, support, and domestic violence cases in San Francisco.
Some records have extra confidentiality rules. Adoption files are sealed permanently. Parentage cases are confidential under Family Code Section 7643. Child custody evaluations and mediator reports are not public. Sealed records require a court order to access even if you are a party to the case in San Francisco.
If you are a party in a case, you can view your own file at the courthouse. Third parties have limited access. The court protects addresses and contact information for domestic violence victims. If you need your address kept confidential, tell the clerk when you file your case in San Francisco.
Financial information in family law cases is also protected. Income and expense declarations are not public. Bank statements and tax returns filed with the court are confidential. Only parties and their attorneys can view these documents in San Francisco.
Domestic Partnership Dissolutions
San Francisco has a large number of registered domestic partnerships. Ending a domestic partnership follows the same process as ending a marriage. The same forms and procedures apply. Filing fees are the same. Residency requirements are the same under California law.
California recognizes both state-registered domestic partnerships and marriages for purposes of family law. If you registered your domestic partnership in California, you can end it in San Francisco using dissolution procedures. The court divides property and issues support orders just like in a marriage dissolution.
For domestic partnerships registered outside California, the rules may be different. Check with the ACCESS Center or a lawyer to see if you can file in San Francisco. Some out-of-state partnerships are not recognized under California law and cannot be dissolved here.
San Francisco County Information
For more details about family court in San Francisco County, including local rules, forms, self-help services, and courthouse information, visit the county page. Since San Francisco is both a city and county, the county page covers all family law resources in the area.