Find Santa Rosa Family Court Cases
Santa Rosa family court records are maintained by Sonoma County Superior Court. The courthouse is in downtown Santa Rosa at 3055 Cleveland Avenue. Residents who need to file a divorce, custody case, or domestic violence restraining order go to this location. All family law matters for Santa Rosa and surrounding Sonoma County communities are heard here. The court maintains case files dating back decades. You can get basic case data from court staff or view full documents in person. Some records have restrictions due to privacy rules set out in California law.
Santa Rosa Quick Facts
Sonoma County Family Court
All family court filings in Santa Rosa take place at Sonoma County Superior Court. The court sits at 3055 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa. This building handles all family law matters for the county including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody and support, paternity actions, and restraining orders. Judges assigned to the family law department hear cases every weekday. The clerk's office on the first floor processes new filings, provides copies of documents, and answers questions about procedures. Hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Family law hearings happen in several courtrooms on the second floor. Check the posted calendar or ask at the clerk window to find your assigned courtroom. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Security screening at the entrance takes a few minutes during peak hours. Bring photo ID with you. Phones are allowed in the courthouse but must be silenced in courtrooms. Recording devices are not permitted in any courtroom.
The Sonoma County Self-Help Center is next to the clerk's office. Staff can help with form selection and court procedures. They cannot give legal advice about what action to take in your case. The center offers computers, printers, and form packets. Call (707) 521-6545 to reach the self-help team or visit sonoma.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law for more details.
How to Search Santa Rosa Cases
Searching for family court records in Santa Rosa requires either an in-person visit or calling the clerk's office. California Rules of Court restrict remote access to most family law documents. You can view registers of actions and calendars online in some cases, but the full case file is only available at the courthouse. This rule applies to divorce, custody, and support cases. Adoption records and juvenile matters have even stricter limits.
If you know the case number, court staff can pull the file quickly. Without a case number, provide the full names of both parties and an approximate filing date. Staff will search the system and tell you if a case exists. Basic information like case status and next hearing date can be shared over the phone at (707) 521-6630. For documents, you must visit the courthouse. The clerk's office can make copies while you wait. Copy fees are 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost $40 plus the per-page fee.
To search in person, go to the clerk's office on the first floor. Sign in at the front desk and tell staff you need to view a case file. They will retrieve the file if it is on-site. Some older files are stored off-site and require advance notice to retrieve. Ask how long retrieval will take if your case is more than five years old. You can review the file at a table in the public area. You may take notes but cannot remove documents from the file.
The courthouse has public computer terminals that access the same case information available to staff. These terminals let you search by party name or case number. You can view registers of actions that list all filed documents and upcoming hearings. Actual documents like petitions and orders are not available on the terminals. Use the terminals to confirm case numbers before requesting files from the clerk.
Note: Always bring photo ID when accessing court records at the Santa Rosa courthouse.
Filing New Cases in Santa Rosa
Starting a family law case in Santa Rosa means filing papers at the Sonoma County Superior Court. The first document is usually a petition. For divorce, use form FL-100. For custody, use form FL-300. For domestic violence restraining orders, use form DV-100. All forms are available at the self-help center, the clerk's office, or online at the California Courts website. Staff can tell you which forms you need based on your situation.
The filing fee for a petition is $435. This fee applies to divorce, legal separation, and custody cases. Restraining order filings have no fee. If you cannot afford the filing fee, submit form FW-001 to request a fee waiver. Attach proof of income like pay stubs or benefit letters. The court reviews waiver requests and approves or denies them based on financial need. If denied, you must pay the fee before your case can proceed.
After filing, you must serve the other party with copies of all documents. California law requires personal service for most family law cases. You cannot serve the papers yourself. Hire a process server or use the sheriff's office. The server will charge a fee, typically between $50 and $100 in Sonoma County. After service, the server fills out a proof of service form. You file this proof with the court. Your case cannot move forward until proof of service is on file.
Residency requirements apply to divorce and legal separation cases. Under California Family Code Section 2320, at least one spouse must have lived in California for six months and in Sonoma County for three months before filing. Custody cases do not have the same residency rule if the child lives in California. Restraining order cases have no residency requirement. You can file in any county where you or the other party lives or works.
Legal Resources in Santa Rosa
Legal Aid of Sonoma County provides free legal help to low-income residents. They handle family law cases involving domestic violence, child custody, and support. Not all cases qualify for free help. Income limits apply. Call (707) 542-1290 to check if you qualify. Their office is at 111 Santa Rosa Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa. Walk-in hours are limited, so calling first is best. More information is at legalaidsc.org/get-legal-help.
The Sonoma County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call (707) 542-1190 to get connected with a family law attorney. The first consultation costs $35 for 30 minutes. After that, you and the lawyer decide on fees for ongoing work. The referral service screens attorneys for experience and good standing. This is a good option if you need advice but cannot afford full representation.
The self-help center at the courthouse helps people who are representing themselves. Staff can explain court procedures and help with form completion. They cannot tell you what to do in your case. Services are free. Bring your paperwork and any court orders you already have. The center provides computers, printers, and common forms at no charge. Spanish language help is available on certain days. Call ahead to ask about language services.
Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County offers support services for families going through difficult times. They do not provide legal help but can connect you with housing assistance, food programs, and counseling. Call (707) 544-6911 or visit their office at 141 Stony Circle in Santa Rosa. These services can help with practical needs while your court case is pending.
Court Fees and Costs
Filing fees in Santa Rosa follow California statewide guidelines. The first paper in a new case costs $435. This includes divorce petitions, custody petitions, and responses to those filings. Motions filed after the case starts cost $60 each. Some documents have no filing fee, including income and expense declarations and certain requests for orders.
Copy fees are 50 cents per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost $40 for the certification plus 50 cents per page. If you need multiple certified copies of the same document, the certification fee applies to each copy. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted at the clerk's office. Some self-service copiers in the courthouse take only cash or card, not checks.
Fee waivers cover filing fees but not service costs or attorney fees. If you get a waiver approved, you still need to pay for a process server or sheriff service to deliver papers to the other party. Some low-income residents qualify for free service through legal aid programs. Ask the self-help center about options if service costs are a barrier.
Sonoma County Family Court Records
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County. All family law filings for Santa Rosa and other cities in the county go through the Sonoma County Superior Court. For more information on county court procedures, fees, and resources, visit the Sonoma County page.