Santa Cruz Family Court Case Records
Santa Cruz family court records are maintained by Santa Cruz County Superior Court serving the coastal community's 65,000 residents. Family law matters including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody disputes, child support modifications, spousal support orders, domestic violence restraining orders, and parentage determinations are filed and processed at the county courthouse in Watsonville. Santa Cruz residents can access case information through an online case portal that provides limited details like registers of action and hearing calendars. Complete document viewing requires visiting the courthouse in person due to California privacy laws protecting sensitive family law information. The court operates a Family Law Division with self-help services, including form assistance and legal information workshops. Staff provide free help with court procedures and referrals to legal aid organizations for Santa Cruz residents representing themselves in family law cases without attorneys.
Santa Cruz Quick Facts
Santa Cruz County Superior Court
Santa Cruz residents file family law cases at Santa Cruz County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 1 Second Street in Watsonville. This location handles all family law filings including dissolution, custody, and support cases for the county.
| Court | Santa Cruz County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Second Street Watsonville, CA 95076 |
| Phone | (831) 786-7200 |
| Self-Help | (831) 786-7200 |
| Website | santacruz.courts.ca.gov |
The courthouse has parking available. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced in courtrooms. The courthouse is accessible by public transit.
Santa Cruz County operates an online portal at portal.santacruzcourt.org. The system provides access to registers of action and hearing schedules. Full documents are not available online due to California privacy rules.
Online Case Search
The Santa Cruz County portal lets you search family law cases by name or case number. Results show basic case information including filing dates, party names, and upcoming hearings. Documents cannot be viewed remotely under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.
The search is free. No account required. If you cannot find a case, call the clerk at (831) 786-7200 for assistance with searches for Santa Cruz cases.
Filing Family Law Cases
Santa Cruz residents file at the Watsonville courthouse. Bring completed forms and the $435 filing fee. You also pay to serve the other party. California requires one spouse to live in California for six months and in Santa Cruz County for three months before filing under Family Code Section 2320.
Forms are on the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov/forms. Fill them out completely. The clerk rejects incomplete forms. After filing, the other party has 30 days to respond.
Note: Santa Cruz County encourages mediation for custody disputes before court hearings.
Self-Help Services
The Family Law Self-Help Center at 1 Second Street provides free assistance. Staff help with forms and explain procedures. Call (831) 786-7200 for hours. Services include form help, filing information, and legal aid referrals for Santa Cruz residents.
For fee waivers, file form FW-001. The court reviews finances and decides eligibility. Waivers cover filing fees but not service or copy costs.
Free Legal Help
Legal Aid Santa Cruz County serves low-income residents with family law cases. They handle dissolution, custody, and domestic violence matters. Contact them through the Santa Cruz County Law Library or call for referrals.
The State Bar of California lawyer referral service connects people with attorneys. Call (866) 442-2529. First 30 minutes cost up to $25. For domestic violence help, call the Walnut Avenue Women's Center crisis line at (831) 685-3737.
Privacy Protections
California protects privacy in family law cases. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, most documents cannot be viewed remotely. Visit the courthouse to see files. Adoption records are sealed. Financial information is confidential except to parties and attorneys.
Santa Cruz County Family Court
For more information about family court in Santa Cruz County, including courthouse locations, local rules, forms, and self-help services, visit the county page.