Santa Ana Family Law Records
Santa Ana family court records are maintained by Orange County Superior Court at the Lamoreaux Justice Center. With more than 310,000 residents, Santa Ana serves as the county seat where most Orange County family law cases are filed. Records include dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody disputes, child support orders, spousal support matters, domestic violence restraining orders, and parentage determinations. The Lamoreaux Justice Center processes the majority of family law filings for Orange County at its facility on Civic Center Drive. Public access to records is available through the courthouse clerk's office and through a limited online case access portal. California privacy laws restrict full document viewing to in-person visits at the courthouse. The court provides self-help services including form assistance, information workshops, and access to legal aid referrals for Santa Ana residents handling family law matters without attorneys.
Santa Ana Quick Facts
Orange County Superior Court
All Santa Ana family law filings go through Orange County Superior Court. The Lamoreaux Justice Center at 341 The City Drive is the main family law courthouse. This location handles most dissolution, custody, and support cases for Orange County residents including those living in Santa Ana.
| Court | Orange County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 341 The City Drive Orange, CA 92868 |
| Phone | (657) 622-8457 |
| Self-Help | (657) 622-5500 |
| Website | occourts.org |
The justice center is near major freeways including I-5 and SR-22. Free parking is available in the courthouse lot. Public transit serves the area with bus routes stopping nearby. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced in courtrooms.
Orange County has an online case access system at occourts.org. The portal shows basic case information like registers of action and hearing schedules. Full documents are not available online due to California privacy rules for family law cases.
Searching Family Court Records
Orange County provides limited online access to family law case information. Visit the court website and use the family law case access portal. Search by party name or case number. Results show case details but not actual filed documents.
The online system displays:
- Case numbers and filing dates
- Party names
- Hearing schedules
- Register of actions
- Case status
California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 restricts remote viewing of family law documents. You cannot see petitions, responses, financial declarations, or other papers online. These records require an in-person visit to the courthouse in Santa Ana or Orange.
The online search is free. No account needed. Records from 1990 to present are available in the system. Older cases may not appear online. Call the clerk at (657) 622-8457 for help finding historical records.
Courthouse Record Access
To view full case files, go to the clerk's office at the Lamoreaux Justice Center. Bring the case number or party names. Staff will look up the case and direct you to viewing terminals. You can review documents on screen but cannot remove them from the viewing area.
Copies cost 50 cents per page under California law. Certified copies are $40 per document plus page fees. Order at the clerk's counter. Cash, checks, and cards are accepted. Large orders take longer to process in Santa Ana.
Some records are confidential. Sealed documents need court orders to access. Adoption files are sealed permanently. Financial declarations are only available to parties and attorneys. Child custody evaluations have restricted access under family law rules.
Filing Family Law Cases
Santa Ana residents file family law cases at the Lamoreaux Justice Center. Bring completed forms and the filing fee of $435. This is California's standard fee for dissolution petitions. You also pay to serve papers on the other party. Service costs vary by method used.
California requires residency before filing for dissolution. One spouse must live in California for six months and in Orange County for three months. This requirement comes from Family Code Section 2320. Wait until you meet these times before filing in Santa Ana.
Forms are on the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov/forms. Orange County also has local forms on their website. Use current forms only. The clerk rejects outdated versions. Fill out all required fields completely before filing in Santa Ana.
After filing, the other party gets 30 days to respond. No response means you can request default judgment. If they respond, the case moves forward with hearings, settlement conferences, or trial. Orange County encourages mediation for custody disputes.
Note: Orange County requires parent education classes in all cases involving minor children before final orders can be entered.
Self-Help Services
The Family Law Self-Help Center at the Lamoreaux Justice Center provides free assistance. Staff help with forms, explain procedures, and provide referrals. The center is open weekdays. Call (657) 622-5500 for current hours and information in Santa Ana.
Services include:
- Help completing court forms
- Information about filing procedures
- Guidance on serving papers
- Referrals to legal aid
- Access to self-help kiosks
Orange County also operates self-help kiosks at multiple courthouse locations. Kiosks have computers, printers, and form templates. You can prepare documents at the kiosk and file them the same day in Santa Ana.
For fee waivers, file form FW-001 with your petition. The court reviews your financial information and decides if you qualify. Waivers cover filing fees but not all costs. Service and copy fees still apply in Santa Ana.
Legal Aid Resources
Public Law Center serves low-income Orange County residents with family law matters. They provide free legal services for dissolution, custody, domestic violence, and support cases. Call (714) 541-1010 or visit publiclawcenter.org to check eligibility. Their office is in Santa Ana near the courthouse.
Community Legal Aid SoCal also serves Orange County. Call (800) 834-5001 for intake. They handle family law cases for people who meet income guidelines. Services include advice, document preparation, and representation in court for Santa Ana residents.
The State Bar of California lawyer referral service connects people with private attorneys. Call (866) 442-2529. The first 30 minutes cost up to $25. After that, negotiate fees with the attorney. This helps if you need a lawyer but do not qualify for free services in Santa Ana.
For domestic violence help, call 211 Orange County. This free service connects you with crisis counseling, legal advocacy, and shelter referrals. Services are available 24 hours a day for Orange County residents.
Privacy Protections
California law protects privacy in family court cases. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, most family law documents cannot be viewed remotely. Courthouse visits are required to see filed papers. This applies to dissolution, custody, support, and domestic violence cases in Santa Ana.
Additional protections apply to certain records. Adoption files are sealed permanently. Parentage cases are confidential per Family Code Section 7643. Financial information like tax returns and bank statements is not public. Only parties and their attorneys can view these documents in Santa Ana.
If you are a party in the case, you can access your file. Third parties have limited access. The court protects addresses for domestic violence victims. Request confidentiality when filing if you need your address protected in Santa Ana.
Nearby Orange County Cities
Other Orange County cities file family law cases at the same court. Anaheim, Irvine, and Huntington Beach all use Orange County Superior Court. The Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange handles most filings for these cities near Santa Ana.
Orange County Family Court
For more details about family court in Orange County, including all courthouse locations, local rules, forms, and self-help resources, visit the county page. The county page has comprehensive information about family law services throughout Orange County.