Court Docket Access Sacramento County

Sacramento County Superior Court offers free online access to court dockets through its Public Case Access System. Most counties charge fees for online searches. Sacramento does not. You can look up case numbers, party names, and attorney names at no cost. Document viewing is also free. The court eliminated all fees for online searches and downloads in recent years. This makes Sacramento one of the easiest counties in California for finding court docket information. The system covers civil, criminal, probate, family, and traffic cases filed in Sacramento County courts.

Sacramento Court Docket Search

The Public Case Access System sits at services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name. The system pulls results from both civil and criminal databases. It shows basic case info like filing dates, parties, case type, and current status.

Each case has a docket with a list of all filings. Click on a case to see the full register of actions. This shows every motion, order, hearing, and document filed in the case. Many documents can be viewed online. The court posts PDF copies of filings for free download. Not all documents appear online due to confidentiality rules. Sealed records and certain family law documents do not show up in public searches.

The online system covers cases filed after the court switched to electronic records. Older cases may require an in person search at the courthouse. Staff can help you find cases that do not appear in the online database. Most recent filings appear in the system within a day or two after they reach the clerk office.

Sacramento County Courthouse

The main courthouse stands at 720 9th Street in downtown Sacramento. This building handles most civil cases. The criminal division sits in a separate building nearby. Family law cases get processed at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse on Power Inn Road. Traffic matters go through courtrooms at multiple locations depending on where the ticket was issued.

Each courthouse has public terminals for case searches. You can use these computers to look up dockets at no charge. Clerks can print copies if you need paper records. The standard copy fee is fifty cents per page. Certified copies add a forty dollar certification fee on top of the per page charge. Most people find what they need through the free online portal before visiting a courthouse in person.

Clerk offices stay open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. The court closes for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. in some departments. You can call (916) 874-5522 to check hours for a specific division before you visit. Parking is available in lots near the courthouse but fills up quickly during morning hours.

Types of Court Cases

Sacramento County Superior Court handles all types of trial court cases. Civil dockets include lawsuits between private parties. These cover contract disputes, personal injury claims, property fights, and business litigation. Some civil cases settle quickly. Others drag on for years with hundreds of docket entries before reaching a verdict or settlement.

Criminal cases track prosecutions by the District Attorney. The docket shows arraignment dates, bail hearings, plea deals, and trial settings. Misdemeanor cases usually resolve faster than felonies. Traffic cases also appear in the criminal system. A speeding ticket generates a court date and docket entry that you can look up online.

Family law dockets cover divorce, custody, child support, and restraining orders. These cases often have many hearings spread over months or years. The docket lists every motion and order related to the family dispute. Probate cases handle estates after someone dies. They also cover conservatorships and guardianships for people who cannot manage their own affairs.

Sacramento County Legal Help

The court runs a self help center for people without lawyers. Staff can explain court procedures and help you fill out forms. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case. The self help center has computers with access to court forms and instructions. You can also find sample documents and guides on the court website at www.saccourt.ca.gov.

Legal aid groups serve low income residents who need free legal help. Legal Services of Northern California has an office in Sacramento. They handle cases involving housing, family law, and public benefits. The Sacramento County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a private attorney who handles your type of case for a reduced initial consultation fee.

Court Record Fees

Sacramento County Superior Court discontinued all fees for online searches and document downloads. This policy started a few years ago. Before that, the court charged for name searches and document viewing like most other counties. Now you pay nothing to search or view records online. This saves people money and makes court records more accessible.

You still pay fees if you want certified paper copies. The certification fee is forty dollars plus fifty cents per page. Regular copies cost fifty cents per page without certification. These fees apply whether you order copies in person, by mail, or through the online system. The court also charges a fifteen dollar search fee if staff spend more than ten minutes looking for old records that are not in the online database.

Major Cities in Sacramento County

Several large cities sit within Sacramento County. Court dockets for residents of these cities are maintained by the county Superior Court system. Select a city below to find local court information:

Nearby Counties

Sacramento County borders several other counties. Each maintains its own court system: