Fresno Court Docket Lookup

Fresno court docket records are kept by Fresno County Superior Court. The city does not operate its own court system. All legal cases involving Fresno residents go through county courthouses located in Fresno. You can search for court dockets online or visit a courthouse in person. The court handles criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic cases for the entire county. Electronic docket access makes it easy to check case status from any computer or mobile device with internet access.

Court Records for Fresno Residents

Fresno is part of Fresno County. The county Superior Court manages all dockets for the city. Fresno hosts multiple courthouses. The main civil courthouse is the B.F. Sisk building at 1100 Van Ness Avenue. Criminal cases go through the criminal courthouse on the same street at 1130 O Street. These buildings sit close to each other in downtown Fresno.

Clerk staff at both courthouses can help you search for dockets or file new cases. Public computers inside the buildings let you search records at no charge. Many people use this option when they need to view multiple documents in a case file. The courthouse serves Fresno and all other cities in Fresno County.

All Fresno cases go through the county court system. It does not matter where in the city you live. The same court has jurisdiction over every legal case. Traffic tickets, small claims, family law, criminal cases, and civil lawsuits all go through this system. You file cases at the appropriate courthouse based on case type.

Search Fresno Court Dockets Online

Fresno County offers online docket access through its public portal. The system runs on Tyler Technologies Odyssey platform. You can search by name or case number. The portal shows docket entries for most case types. Civil cases appear in the system. So do family law, probate, and criminal cases. Traffic cases show up as well.

One important tip for civil cases is to remove the final three letters from the case number before you search. This is a quirk of the Fresno system. Also note that unlawful detainer cases do not show up for sixty days after the complaint gets filed. These are privacy protections built into the system. Most other cases appear within a day or two of filing.

Access the portal at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov/fresnoportal. The site works on phones and computers. No special software is needed. Just enter a name or case number and hit search. Results appear within seconds if the case exists in the system. You can view docket entries and check case status without visiting the courthouse.

Some records remain confidential by law or sealed by court order. These do not appear in public searches. Juvenile cases and certain family law matters have restricted access. If you cannot find a case you expect to see, it may be sealed or confidential. Contact the clerk office for help with sealed records.

Using Fresno Courthouses

The B.F. Sisk Courthouse handles civil cases. Phone number is five five nine, four five seven, nineteen hundred. The criminal courthouse sits nearby at 1130 O Street. Phone number is five five nine, four five seven, seventeen hundred. Both buildings operate on weekdays during business hours. The clerk offices open when the courthouses open. Lines can get long by mid morning on busy days.

Security screening takes place at every courthouse entrance. Do not bring weapons or prohibited items. Large bags may need to be checked. Cell phones are allowed but must stay silent in courtrooms. Some judges ban phones entirely in their courtrooms. Check the posted rules before entering a courtroom.

Parking near the courthouses costs money. Meters line the streets around Van Ness Avenue. Public parking lots sit nearby. Arrive early to find a spot. The courthouses can get busy by mid morning. Self help centers inside the courthouse provide assistance with forms and procedures. Staff can show you how to search for dockets and explain what you see on a docket sheet.

Docket Search Fees

Fresno County does not charge for viewing dockets at courthouse terminals. Walk in and use a public terminal for free. You only pay for copies. Paper copies cost fifty cents per page. Staff can make copies for you at the clerk counter. Certified copies cost forty dollars plus the copy fee. Most people use regular copies unless they need certified ones for official purposes.

Online access may involve fees for certain searches or document downloads. Check the current fee schedule on the court website. Some counties charge for name searches but not case number searches. Verify the latest fees before using the online system to avoid surprise charges. Fees can change from year to year based on county decisions.

Some people buy subscription plans if they use the online system often. Attorneys and legal researchers do this. For one or two searches, the per search fee makes more sense. Choose the option that fits your needs and how often you plan to search court records.

Legal Resources for Fresno Residents

Legal aid groups serve Fresno through county programs. Central California Legal Services offers free help to low income residents. They focus on civil cases like housing, family law, and consumer issues. Call ahead to see if you qualify based on income. They cannot take every case but can refer you to other resources if they cannot help directly.

The Fresno County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They match you with attorneys based on your legal issue. The first consultation often costs less than regular attorney fees. After that, you work out rates directly with the lawyer. This service helps you find the right attorney without searching on your own.

Self help centers at the courthouse can show you how to search dockets and fill out forms. Staff cannot give legal advice. They can explain what information goes on each form. They can also direct you to the right department for filing your papers. This helps people who want to represent themselves in court.

Public defenders handle criminal cases for people who cannot afford a lawyer. The court appoints a public defender if you qualify based on income. You meet with your public defender before court hearings. They work out of offices in the courthouse. They handle all types of criminal cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies.

Fresno County Court Portal

Fresno County Superior Court operates an online public portal at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov/fresnoportal. The system runs on Tyler Technologies Odyssey platform. You can search by name or case number to find court dockets. The portal covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. The database updates daily with new filings.

Fresno residents use the online portal to access court dockets from home or work. The system handles thousands of docket entries each year. New cases get filed daily at courthouses in Fresno. The online database updates regularly to include new filings and docket entries from the previous day.

Nearby Cities in Fresno County

These nearby cities also use Fresno County Superior Court for their docket records:

Court Records in Other Major California Cities

Looking for court dockets in other large California cities? Try these: