San Mateo County Docket Access

San Mateo County Superior Court sits in the heart of the Bay Area between San Francisco and San Jose. Court dockets are available online through the MIDX case index system. You can search for civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases. The county uses Tyler Technologies Odyssey software for case management. This allows online access to docket information for most recent cases. The main courthouse operates in Redwood City at 400 County Center. All court dockets for San Mateo County residents get processed through this court system regardless of which city they live in within the county.

Search San Mateo Dockets

The MIDX case index operates at web.sanmateocourt.org/midx/. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name. The system searches across all case types. Results show basic case information like filing date, parties, case type, and current status. Click on a case to view more details about the docket.

The docket register lists every filing in chronological order. You can see motions, hearings, orders, and judgments. Each docket entry has a date and description of what was filed or what happened in court. Some documents may be available for viewing online. Others require a visit to the courthouse to inspect the paper or electronic file.

The online system covers cases filed after the court implemented electronic case management. Older cases may have limited information in the online database. You can call the clerk office at (650) 261-5100 to ask about cases that do not appear in search results or that show incomplete information.

San Mateo County Courthouse

The main courthouse sits at 400 County Center in Redwood City. This building handles all case types including civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. The courthouse has public terminals where you can search for cases at no charge. Staff can help you find what you need and print copies for a fee.

Clerk offices stay open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Some departments may close for lunch. Call ahead to check hours for the specific department you need to visit. Parking is available in lots near the courthouse. Public transit serves the area with Caltrain and SamTrans bus routes stopping near the courthouse.

Copies cost fifty cents per page. Certified copies add a forty dollar certification fee on top of the per page charge. If you need many documents, the cost can add up. Many people use the online portal to identify which documents they need before visiting the courthouse to get certified copies for official purposes.

Court Docket Categories

San Mateo County Superior Court dockets cover all trial court cases. Civil dockets track lawsuits between private parties. These include contract disputes, personal injury claims, property fights, and business litigation. A complex civil case can run for years. The docket grows with each motion, hearing, and ruling. You can read the entire history of a case by reviewing the docket register from filing through final judgment.

Criminal dockets list prosecutions by the District Attorney. They show arraignment dates, bail amounts, preliminary hearings, plea deals, and sentencing. Traffic cases also appear in the system. You can look up a traffic ticket to find your court date and see if fines or warrants are pending. Family law dockets handle divorce, custody, support, and restraining orders. These cases often involve many court appearances over months or years.

Probate cases manage estates after someone dies. They also cover conservatorships for adults who cannot care for themselves and guardianships for children. Small claims dockets allow disputes up to ten thousand dollars. Parties represent themselves in small claims. Cases typically resolve within a few months from filing to hearing to judgment.

Bay Area Court System

San Mateo County is part of the First Appellate District. This district covers the Bay Area including San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, and several other counties. If someone appeals a Superior Court decision, the case goes to the Court of Appeal in San Francisco. Appellate cases use different docket numbers and a separate search system. You can search appellate dockets at appellate.courts.ca.gov.

Most trial court cases never get appealed. They end with the Superior Court judgment. Only a small percentage of cases move to the appellate level. Those that do can take a year or more for the Court of Appeal to issue a decision. The trial court docket will show if an appeal was filed but you need to check the appellate system for details about what happens after the notice of appeal.

Legal Help in San Mateo County

The court has a self help center where staff answer procedural questions. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case. They can explain how to fill out forms and where to file them. The self help center has computers with access to court forms and instructions. You can visit during regular business hours.

Legal aid organizations serve low income residents. Bay Area Legal Aid has an office in San Mateo County. They handle cases involving housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer issues. You must meet income limits to qualify for free help. The San Mateo County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a private attorney for a reduced fee initial consultation.

Major Cities in San Mateo County

Several large cities sit within San Mateo 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

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