Find Santa Clara County Dockets

Court docket records in Santa Clara County are available through the Superior Court system that serves nearly two million residents across Silicon Valley. The court handles docket entries for civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, family law disputes, probate matters, and traffic violations. Each docket chronicles the path of a case from initial filing through resolution. You can search for dockets online using the court portal. It lets you look up cases by party name or case number. The system covers records from multiple courthouses located throughout Santa Clara County.

Search Court Dockets Online

Santa Clara County offers a public case portal at portal.scscourt.org/search. This system lets you search for dockets using a party name or a case number. Name searches may return multiple results. Make sure you pick the right case before viewing the docket. Case number searches go directly to the specific file. The portal shows register of actions entries for most case types. Some records may have limited access based on privacy rules established by California law.

The court maintains case records electronically. Older files have been scanned into the system. Newer cases get filed digitally from the start. This means you can view many docket entries and documents from home or office. You do not always need to visit the courthouse. However, some documents may not be available online. Sealed records and confidential files require special permission to access even if they are stored digitally.

Effective January 1, 2026, a new law permits public members to photograph court records using personal devices while viewing them at the courthouse. California Assembly Bill 1524 allows you to use a camera or phone camera to capture images of electronic records displayed on courthouse computers. This change makes it easier to copy records without paying for printed copies. Check with clerk staff before photographing any document to make sure the specific record is not restricted from photography.

Courthouses Across Santa Clara County

The main courthouse stands at 191 North First Street in San Jose. This building handles a large volume of civil, criminal, and family law matters. Many judges work out of this location. Clerk windows stay open during business hours. Public access terminals line the hallways. You can search dockets there at no charge. Staff print copies for fifty cents per page if you find what you need.

Other courthouses serve different parts of the county. Palo Alto has a branch court. Morgan Hill handles cases from the southern part of the county. Each location processes specific case types based on where the parties live or where the incident occurred. Traffic tickets get assigned to the courthouse nearest to where you received the citation. Civil lawsuits go to the courthouse closest to the defendant's address or where the dispute arose in Santa Clara County.

Every courthouse has similar hours. Most open around 8:00 a.m. Clerk offices close by 4:00 p.m. Lines can be long during morning hours. Lunch hours see reduced staffing at some windows. Arrive early if you need help from a clerk. Bring all relevant information about your case. A case number speeds up the search process significantly.

Docket Copy Fees

You pay fifty cents per page for copies. This applies to docket sheets and filed documents. No fee to view records on public terminals. If you want paper copies, the clerk collects payment before printing. Cash or card accepted at most locations. Large files cost more. A complex business case might have a docket sheet running dozens of pages. Add in motions and exhibits and you could spend quite a bit on copies.

Certified copies require a forty dollar certification fee plus the per page charge. The court stamps each page to show it is a true and correct copy. Many agencies insist on certified copies for official purposes. A regular photocopy will not work if you need to prove something happened in court or show a judgment to a creditor. Certification adds authenticity. It also adds cost. Order only what you truly need in certified form to save money.

Docket Records by Case Type

Civil dockets track lawsuits filed in Santa Clara County. These include contract disputes, personal injury claims, real estate litigation, and business conflicts. A typical civil docket starts with the complaint. Then answers and cross complaints. Discovery motions follow. Trial dates get set. Many cases settle before trial. The docket shows all hearings, rulings, and filings along the way. Complex cases generate lengthy dockets with hundreds of entries spanning years.

Criminal dockets document prosecutions for felonies and misdemeanors. They begin with the arraignment where charges are read and bail gets set. Preliminary hearings test the strength of evidence. Motions to suppress or dismiss may appear on the docket. Trial dates are listed. Plea bargains show up as changes of plea. Sentencing entries detail fines, jail time, and probation terms. Appeals get noted if the defendant files one after conviction.

Family law dockets cover divorce, custody battles, child support orders, and domestic violence restraining orders. These dockets often include many hearings over months or years as parents return to court to modify orders. Probate dockets manage estates, wills, trusts, and conservatorships. Small claims dockets list disputes under ten thousand dollars. Traffic dockets show citations, court dates, and dispositions for moving violations in Santa Clara County.

Contact Information

Reach the Santa Clara County Superior Court by phone at (408) 882-2100. Staff answer questions about docket searches and access procedures. They cannot provide legal advice. If you need help understanding what a docket entry means or how to respond to a court filing, consult an attorney or legal aid organization. Several groups offer free or low cost help to people who cannot afford private counsel in Santa Clara County.

California Rules of Court set standards for electronic access. Rule 2.503 requires courts to provide reasonable access to electronic records. Some case types have restricted remote access. Family law, criminal, and civil harassment cases may only be viewable at the courthouse. Other cases can be searched from anywhere with internet access. The rule balances public access with privacy protections for sensitive matters.

Major Cities in Santa Clara County

Several large cities are located within Santa Clara County. Court dockets for residents of these cities are maintained by the county Superior Court system. Select a city below for local court information:

Nearby Counties

Santa Clara County shares borders with neighboring counties. Each operates its own court system: