San Bernardino County Court Records

San Bernardino County court records are created and maintained by the San Bernardino County Superior Court. They are produced from documentation of every judicial process that the county courts handle. According to Rule 8.82 of the California Rules of Court, San Bernardino court records include any document, paper, exhibit, transcript, or other item filed in an action or proceeding.

San Bernardino court records comprise documents and vital records produced by the criminal and civil divisions within the county court. Law enforcement records, such as arrest records, warrants, and criminal history documents used during any legal proceeding, are also essential to San Bernardino County court records.

Are San Bernardino County Court Records Public?

Most San Bernardino court records are regarded as public under the California Rules of Court and the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code § 6250 et seq.). However, parts of the California legislature expressly limit access to sensitive and confidential county court records maintained by San Bernardino courts. Some examples of court records that are exempt from public disclosure include juvenile court records, adoption records, and court records that reveal the identity of sexual assault victims.

According to the CPRA, courts in San Bernardino may withhold a record if, given the case's specific facts, the public interest in keeping the information private clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

What Information is Available in San Bernardino County Court Records?

The following categories of court information can be found within San Bernardino County court records:

Criminal court records

The criminal division of the San Bernardino County court maintains records regarding criminal judicial proceedings, felony/misdemeanor prosecutions, and every law enforcement record produced as part of evidence in a criminal court case. The San Bernardino County court's criminal division can provide individuals with various court documents, such as appearance letters, jail release forms or receipts, arrest and booking information, charging documents, petitions and pleadings, court calendars, criminal trial transcripts, and plea bargains.

Civil court records

The San Bernardino County court's civil division maintains civil and family court records. Some of the civil court documents made available by the civil division include Contract agreements, civil dispute documentation, motions, court transcripts, and case files. Family court records are also included in civil court documents. Family law records that are available include documents regarding domestic relations issues such as adoption, visitation, divorce, and child custody.

San Bernardino County Court Records Search

• Online Access - Citizens can access San Bernardino County court records using the San Bernardino court access portal(CAP).
• In-Person Access - In-person searches for San Bernardino County court records can be done by visiting the public access terminals in the lobby of any court building in the county. Record seekers may also make a written request at the county court clerk's office in San Bernardino. Staff at the clerk's office will guide requesters on how to make requests properly.
• Mail and Phone Requests - persons who cannot visit the San Bernardino County courts in person have the option of requesting copies of the records through U.S mail or by telephone. The individual must provide specific information about the necessary documents to make such requests. Requesters can pay the request fees by money order, personal check, or cash.

Fees for Court Records in San Bernardino County

Court record fees differ depending on the type of record and the manner of access. Name searches often cost $1 to $5, document downloads cost $5 to $15, certified copies cost $15 to $25, and a 30-day unlimited online access plan costs $300.

San Bernardino County Courthouse Locations

The following are all the San Bernardino courthouse locations:

Criminal Records Access in San Bernardino County

Criminal history checks are not performed through the county court in San Bernardino. Instead, access to criminal history records and rap sheets is done through the California Department of Justice, the DOJ office. According to state law, only authorized applicants and law enforcement agencies with valid reasons are permitted access to the DOJ's criminal history summary reports. However, people can ask the Department for a copy of their criminal history record. Third parties cannot make requests for criminal summary records.

To obtain a criminal history report from the DOJ, applicants must complete and submit a "Request for Live Scan Service" form (BCIA 8016). The application should also be accompanied by a request fee of $25, which can be paid using a personal check, certified check, or cashier's check. The application can be submitted in person or through the mail to:

Those seeking Bernardino criminal court records may utilize the county court access portal. Inquirers may search the portal using the case number of any criminal case handled by the county court.

San Bernardino County Probate Records

San Bernardino Probate records are open to the public and can be retrieved unless the court seals them or they are confidential by operation of law. In San Bernardino, the probate section of the Superior Court manages conservatorships, trusts, and the estates of deceased people. In addition, the Probate Department also hears petitions to prove marriage, birth, and death, as well as allegations of elder abuse.

Public San Bernardino probate records, such as probate notes, briefs, and case records, can be accessed using the court access portal (CAP). The portal offers free document previews and paid downloads, with prices starting at $1 per page and going up to $50 per document. However, the only electronic filings that are accessible are those that were made after January 31, 2006. Public web access is not permitted for private subjects, such as conservatorship and guardianship case files.

San Bernardino County Family Court Records

The San Bernardino Family Court is a division within the County Superior Court. This court deals with domestic matters such as divorce and annulment, legal separation, paternity actions, child custody, spousal and child support, visitation, restraining orders, and marriage and family counseling to assist couples in resolving conflicts or coming to a custody agreement.

The court's e-Court Public Portal provides access to most of the family court case data in San Bernardino County. The portal offers docket information, basic case details, and case searches by party name or number. Additionally, users can download certified copies of family court records from the platform for a nominal cost. For in-person requests, individuals can visit the family division of the superior court in San Bernardino to request records. The San Bernardino family court can be found at the following location.

Federal Court Records in San Bernardino County

Federal cases in San Bernardino County are subject to the legal jurisdiction of the United States District Court, Central District of California. The court handles several federal crime categories, including drug offenses, fraud, immigration violations, and firearm charges. By contacting the court clerk in charge of court records, citizens can obtain court papers from this federal court. The Public Access to Court Electronic information (PACER) system is an online option for accessing court information; however, it requires users to register and charges a fee to search and download records.