Common Questions About Contra Costa County Court Records
How do I search Contra Costa County court records online?
Use the Superior Court's Online Services page and pick the Court Public Portal. The portal moved on April 27, 2026 to kiosk-cacontracosta.tylertech.cloud/Portal/. Search by case number when you have it; otherwise use Smart Search or party name. Traffic citations use the separate Traffic Public Portal. For broader help with case lookup, see the Contra Costa County court records page. Name searches can miss records when a party used a former name or business name. A full case number is the best search key.
Are court portal records official certified records?
No. The Public Portal terms state portal content is not the official court record. Use the portal for case lookup and document access where available, but request certified copies from Court Records at Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Room 103. Certifications cost $40 plus 50 cents per page. Certified divorce judgments cost $15 and include copies. Banks, immigration cases, and many state agencies will only accept certified copies. See the Clerk of the Superior Court page for the full request workflow.
Where is Court Records located?
Court Records for non-criminal cases sits at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Room 103, Martinez, CA 94553. The court lists hours as 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Court phones answer 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Valid ID is required to view any file in person. Court Records moved into Room 103 effective January 6, 2026. For more detail on the trial court, see the Contra Costa County Superior Court page.
What does it cost to get copies of Contra Costa court records?
The Court Records page lists 50 cents per page for plain copies received in person or by mail from the Court Records Unit. Certifications are $40 plus 50 cents per page. Certified divorce judgments are $15 and include copies. Other filing fees follow the court's civil fee schedule. The court takes cash, check, money order, and credit/debit card at clerk offices. Credit/debit payments at court add a 2.99% convenience fee with a $1 minimum. For the full breakdown, see public records.
Can I view divorce records online in Contra Costa County?
Family law records have special remote-access limits under California Rule of Court 2.503. The Court Public Portal may show index or hearing data, but full remote access to family case documents is restricted. Certified divorce judgments come from Court Records at the Superior Court, not the Clerk-Recorder. The Clerk-Recorder handles marriage licenses, not divorce judgments. See marriage and divorce records for the local divorce roadmap and forms.
Where do I file for divorce in Contra Costa County?
The local divorce roadmap directs filings to the Peter L. Spinetta Family Law Center, 751 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Step 1 forms include FL-100 (petition), FL-110 (summons), and FL-105 if minor children are involved. File by mail, drop box in front of 751 Pine Street, or in person at the family filing counter inside the lobby on the left. Include the filing fee or a fee waiver request (FW-001 and FW-003). For the full roadmap, see marriage and divorce records.
Where do I get a marriage license in Contra Costa County?
Marriage licenses are handled by the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, not the Superior Court. The official portal is crsecurepayment.com. The office phone is (925) 335-7900. The Clerk-Recorder is Kristin B. Connelly. Public license fee is $86, confidential license fee is $90, and civil ceremony fee is $60 from the county Destination Weddings press release. The license must be obtained before the ceremony. For more detail, see marriage and divorce records.
How do I search for a Contra Costa County inmate?
Use the Contra Costa Sheriff In-Custody Locator from the Sheriff's inmate information page. Search by name or booking number, then open the detail link. Note that some classification and medical information is not public. If the person is in state prison, use CDCR CIRIS. If federal, use the BOP locator. For notifications, sign up at VINELink. See inmate records for the full Contra Costa County jail lookup workflow.
Which jails does Contra Costa County operate?
The Sheriff's Custody Services Bureau operates three detention facilities: Martinez Detention Facility, West County Detention Facility in Richmond, and Marsh Creek Detention Facility. The Bureau also runs Custody Alternative programs. Courtroom security and inmate transportation are also Custody Services responsibilities. Sheriff David O. Livingston leads the office. He was elected the 22nd Sheriff in 2010 and is in his fourth term. For population and capacity, see jail population.
Does Contra Costa County publish a released inmate list?
A standalone "recently released" page was not located on the Sheriff site. Release status may show up in the in-custody locator or linked reports. For current verification, use the locator and call the facility. VINELink can send custody-status notifications where supported. For state release, use CDCR CIRIS. For federal release, use the Bureau of Prisons locator. See released inmates for the full verification path.
Is there a public warrant search for Contra Costa County?
No official countywide public active warrant portal was located in this research pass. The court does not run a public name-based warrant lookup. Check with the court clerk, the Sheriff, the local police agency that filed the case, or a defense attorney. Do not rely on third-party warrant-search sites for arrest decisions or surrender planning. For safe alternatives and a step-by-step "how to resolve" checklist, see warrant records.
What happens if I miss court in Contra Costa County?
Missing court can lead to a bench warrant, bail forfeiture, license consequences in traffic cases, collections, or other orders. Contact your attorney or the clerk right away. For traffic, use the Traffic Public Portal or call (925) 608-1000 and follow the traffic prompts. A civil assessment of up to $100 can be added for failure to appear or failure to pay under Penal Code 1214.1. See traffic court records for the full set of options.
Are juvenile court records public in Contra Costa County?
Generally no. Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 restricts juvenile case files. Access is limited to the minor, parents or guardians, attorneys, agencies, and others authorized by statute or court order. Juvenile records should not be expected in the Public Portal. The court's Walnut Creek Juvenile and Traffic Center handles juvenile/traffic matters at 640 Ygnacio Valley Road. For broader access rules, see public records.
Are eviction records online?
Limited unlawful detainer cases are not available online in Contra Costa County. Code of Civil Procedure section 1161.2 restricts public access to eviction records unless statutory conditions are met. Call or visit the assigned filing location for any allowed information and copies. The court may grant access after a landlord prevails within the statutory window. For more general civil case help, see court records.
Where are Contra Costa County probate records searched?
Use the Court Public Portal for probate case lookup and calendar notes. The Superior Court says probate calendar notes are usually available 6-8 days before the hearing. For documents not posted online, contact Court Records or the Probate Division at the court. The Probate Facilitator helps self-represented parties only with limited conservatorship of the person and guardianship of the person, not estates. Email probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or call (925) 608-2066. See probate records for full detail.
How do I request Contra Costa County judicial administrative records?
Use the Superior Court Public Information Request Form PI-01 for administrative records under California Rule of Court 10.500. Do not use it for case records such as judgments, complaints, orders, or decrees. Case records go through Court Records, not PI-01. The form covers items like budget, statistics, court policies, and other non-case material. For non-court county and city agency records, use a California Public Records Act request. See public records for both paths.
How do I pay fines or fees in Contra Costa County?
The court accepts cash, check, money order, and credit/debit card at clerk offices during posted hours. Credit/debit card payments at court have a 2.99% convenience fee with a $1 minimum. Online traffic payments add a 3.99% service fee. Online traffic payments run through contracostapayments.com. Fee waivers are available for low-income filers using Judicial Council forms FW-001 and FW-003. For specific traffic fines, see traffic court records.
How do I find federal cases from Contra Costa County?
Use PACER for official federal dockets. Contra Costa County sits inside the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Appeals go to the Ninth Circuit. Bankruptcy cases use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. The federal trial court page is cand.uscourts.gov and PACER is at pacer.gov. For more context on federal courts that cover Contra Costa, see Contra Costa County Superior Court.
How do I know if a downloaded document is a certified copy?
A certified copy is issued by the court clerk with a stamp or seal. A downloaded portal PDF is not a certified copy. Courts, banks, immigration offices, schools, and many state offices only accept certified copies for legal use. Request certification from Court Records at Room 103, Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, and pay the certification fee. The portal note on this point is also in the Public Portal Terms. See the Clerk of the Superior Court page for steps.
Can I record court proceedings or inquests?
Do not assume recording is allowed in any Contra Costa County courtroom or public inquest. Court rules and case-by-case orders can ban photos, audio, and video. A Sheriff's May 6, 2026 advisory for an inquest at Wakefield Taylor Courthouse expressly prohibited photos, audio, and video during the inquest. Always ask the court before any recording. For more on local color and rules, see the Contra Costa County Superior Court page.
Still Have Questions About Contra Costa County Court Records?
For the right Contra Costa County office, see the Clerk of the Superior Court. For California access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, court dockets, criminal records, inmate records, released inmates, jail population, warrant records, traffic court records, marriage and divorce, or probate records. The Contra Costa County Superior Court page covers court locations and appellate path.