Find free Fresno County divorce records at no cost when you know where to look. The county and statewide government agencies that maintain divorce records are accessible to the public for requests.
Since divorce records in California are public, this information can be viewed online, and copies can be ordered. This resource explains how to obtain divorce records in Fresno County, California; use the links, search tools, and record custodian contact information below to find details on any marriage dissolved in the county.
How To Look Up Fresno County Divorce Records for Free
The California Courts Judicial Branch tells interested parties that copies of divorce records can be obtained by visiting the clerk’s office of the superior court where the case was filed and heard.1 The Superior Court of California County of Fresno is the records custodian for divorces in the area.2
The fastest way to obtain information on divorce cases in Fresno County is through the Smart Search.3 This free online search database allows anybody to search for divorce case information in minutes.
If an interested party knows a divorce case number, they should select ‘Case Number’ in the ‘Filter by Search Type’ section under the ‘Advanced Filtering Options’ and input the case number into the search bar. Otherwise, leaving the search type as a ‘Smart Search’ is the most encompassing method for finding cases.
Additionally, interested parties should filter the location to ‘Family Law’ as divorce cases fall under this legal area of law. Input the name of the individual you are searching starting with the last name first, then a comma, then the first name.
Divorces will be listed in the results under the ‘Type’ column as ‘Dissolution – Minor Children’ or ‘Dissolution – No Children’. By clicking on the case number of one of the cases in the results more information can be learned. Researchers will learn the case status, names of both parties, disposition events, and filing types and dates.
The Fresno Superior Court does not offer a divorce specific online form that can be completed to obtain copies of divorce records. They do offer a Superior Court Contact Form, where requesters can submit a question or comment regarding a particular case.5 Requesters may use the contact form to inquire about costs for copying records from the Fresno Superior Court.
The Fresno Superior Court Family Court Clerk’s Office is available for requests to copy divorce records. The office is open 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday – Thursday, and 8:00am to 12:00pm on Friday.
Fresno County Superior Court
1130 O Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, California 93721
Phone: 559.457.2100
Fax: 559.457.1792
There is no common law marriage in California, so common law divorce does not apply. All divorces must follow the same California dissolution of marriage and legal separation laws.6
Turn to Cities Within Fresno County for Local Divorce & Dissolution Records
Public divorce records searches are best done at the county level. Counties offer a broader search than cities or towns. There are some instances where municipal governments may keep divorce records and members of the public can request them.
However, as stated at the outset, those interested in obtaining divorce records in California must get them from the county superior court where the divorce took place. Cities in Fresno County do not keep divorce records.
The only other way to obtain divorce records from Fresno County is through the California Department of Public Health.7 Learn how to get divorce records from Fresno County through the statewide department detailed below.
How To Search Divorce Records at the State Level via the California Department of Public Health
If a divorce took place in a county you do not have convenient access to, you could have difficulty obtaining the records. In this case, the California Department of Public Health will be of assistance.
The California Department of Public Health compiles vital records for residents, including divorce records it receives from county superior courts. The department does not maintain physical copies of decrees, which are the official judgments ordered and signed by a superior court judge, but it keeps certificates.
A certificate will inform an interested person of the names of the parties to the divorce, the case number, the filing date, and the filing county. Interested parties can order divorce records through the state by mail. They must complete an Application for Certificate of Record for a Divorce.8
It should be noted that the California Department of Public Health only maintains records of divorces from 1962 through June 1984. If a divorce took place outside of this range, the records are maintained by the superior court in the county where it took place. It should also be noted that the processing time to receive divorce records can take up to 6 months.
Requesters must know the names of both parties to the divorce, the county it took place in, and an approximate date of when it occurred. The fee is $16 and must be made payable to the California Department of Health by check or money order.
These materials must be mailed to the California Department of Public Health Vital Records Office.
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, California 95899
Phone: 916.445.2684
Email: [email protected]
The Fresno County Superior Court Archives Department maintains court records dating back to 1860.9 The archives include family law cases. Members of the public can use these records to track family history and for genealogy research.
Interested members of the public can visit the archives department and request staff to search and copy historical divorce records. Requesters must present a picture ID. There may also be fees associated with this service.
The archives department is open to the public 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday to Thursday, and 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Friday. Visit to search potential historical divorce indexes.
Fresno County Superior Court Archives Department
1963 E Street
Fresno, California 93706
Phone: 559.457.4903
Can Anyone View Divorce Records in Fresno County?
Divorces are court proceedings in California, and under the Public Access Rule 8.83, electronic records of court cases are available to the public.10 Additionally, the rule states that records must be made available remotely and at the courthouse.
Anyone can access both decrees and divorce certificates. Divorce decrees are the official judgments handed down by the court at the adjudication of the divorce case. Divorce, papers on the other hand, are used in reference to service of divorce filings.
Certificates merely state that a divorce occurred and have more limited information contained therein. If you are unable to get the information you need from county or statewide agencies, a third party may be able to help you.
Fresno County divorce records are readily accessible to everyone who makes a request in person or looks them up online; use the information in this article to help you understand your rights and successfully locate records.
References
1Judicial Council of California. (n.d.). Public Records – Judicial Council. California Courts. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://www.courts.ca.gov/publicrecords.htm>
2Fresno County Superior Court. (n.d.). Family Law | Superior Court of California | County of Fresno. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law>
3Fresno County Superior Court. (n.d.). Smart Search. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov/FRESNOPORTAL/Home/Dashboard/29>
4Fresno County Superior Court. (n.d.). Details – Case Information. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov/FRESNOPORTAL/Home/WorkspaceMode?p=0>
5Fresno County Superior Court. (n.d.). Contact Form (Civil & General). Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://info.fresno.courts.ca.gov/InfoDesk-CivilLegacy/InfoDesk-CivilGeneralLegacy.aspx>
6California Legislature. (n.d.). Family Code – Fam | Division 6. Nullity, Dissolution, And Legal Separation [2000 – 2452] | Part 3. Dissolution Of Marriage And Legal Separation [2300 – 2452] | Chapter 4. General Procedural Provisions [2330 – 2348]. California Legislative Information. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=FAM&division=6.&title=&part=3.&chapter=4.&article=>
7California Department of Public Health – Vital Records. (2023, May 24). Vital Records | Obtaining Certified Copies of Divorce Records. CDPH. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Obtaining-Certified-Copies-of-Divorce-Records.aspx>
8California Department of Public Health, Health and Human Services Agency. (2021, November). How to Obtain a Certificate of Record for a Divorce. CDPH. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://www.cdph.ca.gov/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ControlledForms/VS113b.pdf>
9Fresno County Superior Court. (n.d.). Archives | Superior Court of California | County of Fresno. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information/archives>
10Judicial Council of California. (2016, January 1). California Rules of Court: Title Eight Rules. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from <https://www.courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index.cfm?title=eight&linkid=rule8_83>