Find Santa Monica Family Court Records
Santa Monica family court records are maintained by Los Angeles County Superior Court at the Santa Monica Courthouse. With approximately 93,000 residents, Santa Monica handles family law matters including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and visitation disputes, child support orders, spousal support modifications, domestic violence restraining orders, and parentage determinations through the county court system. The local courthouse at 1725 Main Street processes most family law cases for Santa Monica residents. The court provides online case access through Los Angeles County's civil case search system which shows limited information like case numbers, filing dates, party names, and hearing schedules. Full document viewing requires in-person courthouse visits due to California privacy laws protecting sensitive family law records. The court operates self-help resources including the Legal Access Centers that offer free assistance with forms, filing procedures, and referrals to legal aid organizations for Santa Monica residents representing themselves in family law matters without attorneys.
Santa Monica Quick Facts
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Santa Monica residents file family law cases at Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Santa Monica Courthouse at 1725 Main Street handles family law matters including dissolution, custody, and support cases for Santa Monica and surrounding communities.
| Court | Los Angeles County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1725 Main Street, Room 210 Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
| Phone | (213) 633-6363 |
| Self-Help | (213) 830-0600 |
| Website | lacourt.org |
The courthouse is near downtown Santa Monica with public parking available in nearby structures and on the street. Big Blue Bus routes serve the area. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced in courtrooms.
Los Angeles County provides online case search at lacourt.org. The system shows basic case information. Full documents are not available online due to California privacy rules for family law cases.
Searching Cases Online
Los Angeles County offers limited online access to family law case information. Use the civil case index to search by party name or case number. Results show filing dates, case status, and hearing schedules. Documents require courthouse visits per California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.
The search system charges fees for some searches. Basic name searches cost $1.00 to $4.75. Case detail views may have additional costs. Family law records from 1983 to present are available in the system for Santa Monica cases.
Filing Family Law Cases
Santa Monica residents file at 1725 Main Street. 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 Los Angeles County for three months before filing under Family Code Section 2320.
Forms are on the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov/forms. Los Angeles County also has local forms. Fill out all forms completely. The clerk rejects incomplete submissions. After filing, the other party gets 30 days to respond.
Note: Los Angeles County requires parent education classes in all cases involving minor children before final orders can be entered.
Self-Help Services
The Self-Help Legal Access Center at the Santa Monica Courthouse provides free assistance. Staff help with forms, explain procedures, and give referrals. The center is at 1725 Main Street, Room 210. Call (213) 830-0600 for hours.
Services include:
- Form completion assistance
- Filing procedure information
- Legal aid referrals
- Computer and printer access
- Notary services for court documents
- Domestic violence clinic services
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.
Free Legal Help
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves Santa Monica residents. They handle family law cases including dissolution, custody, and domestic violence matters for low-income individuals. Call (800) 399-4529 to check eligibility. LAFLA has a domestic violence clinic at the Santa Monica courthouse.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services also provides free legal help to Santa Monica residents. They serve low-income seniors and other qualifying individuals. Call (323) 939-0506 for intake information.
The State Bar of California lawyer referral service connects people with attorneys in Santa Monica. Call (866) 442-2529. The first 30 minutes cost up to $25. After that, negotiate fees with the attorney.
For domestic violence situations, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233. They provide 24-hour crisis counseling and referrals to local resources. The Santa Monica courthouse has a domestic violence assistance program with legal advocates available by appointment.
Privacy Protections
California protects privacy in family law cases. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, most family law documents cannot be viewed remotely. You must visit the courthouse. This applies to dissolution, custody, support, and domestic violence cases in Santa Monica.
Additional protections apply to some 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 Monica.
If you are a party in the case, you can access your own file. Third parties have limited access. The court protects addresses and contact information for domestic violence victims. Request confidentiality when filing if you need your address protected in Santa Monica.
Nearby Los Angeles County Cities
Other cities in Los Angeles County file family law cases through the county court system. Los Angeles, Torrance, and Inglewood all use Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Santa Monica courthouse serves the West Los Angeles area.
Los Angeles County Family Court
For more information about family court in Los Angeles County, including all courthouse locations throughout the county, local rules, forms, and self-help services, visit the county page. The county page provides comprehensive information about family law resources across the region.