Find San Diego Civil Court Records

Civil court records for San Diego are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. All civil litigation filed by San Diego residents and businesses goes through this court system. The court handles unlimited civil cases over $35,000, limited civil matters between $10,000 and $35,000, and small claims under $10,000. Online case search is available through the court's public portal. Records date back to 1974 for most locations. Some civil limited and misdemeanor records may only be available for 10 years at certain court locations. Document images for civil, small claims, and probate cases filed after January 1, 2008 can be purchased online.

Court Jurisdiction

All civil cases for San Diego are filed in San Diego County Superior Court. The court operates multiple locations throughout San Diego County to serve different geographic areas. The main civil courthouse for San Diego is the Central Division located downtown.

San Diego County Superior Court uses the Tyler Technologies Odyssey case management system. This system handles electronic filing and public access to records. The court serves one of the largest populations in California.

Cases are assigned to specific courthouses based on where the dispute occurred or where parties reside. Each courthouse location has its own clerk staff and file storage. If you need to view a case in person, you must go to the courthouse where the case was filed.

Online Case Search

The San Diego Superior Court provides free case search through the Court Index portal at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system shows case type, filing date, case status, and next hearing date. No fee is charged to search or view basic case information.

The Register of Actions shows a detailed list of all filings and events in a case. You can access it at odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov. The register lists document titles, filing dates, and filing parties. This helps you see the full history of a case.

Some documents in civil, small claims, and probate cases can be purchased from the online register. This applies to cases initiated on or after January 1, 2008. The cost is $0.50 per page. Criminal case documents are not available online. You must view them in person at the courthouse or request copies by mail.

Note: Civil Limited and Misdemeanor Records may only be available for 10 years for some court locations.

Filing Civil Cases

San Diego County uses electronic filing for civil cases. The e-filing system is integrated with the Odyssey case management platform. You must register for an account before you can file documents electronically. The system is available 24 hours a day.

Filing fees in San Diego County follow the statewide schedule. A complaint in an unlimited civil case costs $435. The answer costs $435. Limited civil fees depend on the amount claimed. Cases under $10,000 have lower fees than cases between $10,000 and $35,000.

Some parties may be eligible for a fee waiver if they cannot afford court costs. You must file a fee waiver application and provide financial information. The court reviews the application and decides whether to grant the waiver.

Viewing Files at the Courthouse

You can view case files in person at the courthouse where the case was filed. Bring a picture ID. The clerk will pull a maximum of 10 cases per request, per customer, per transaction. You must return files before you can request additional ones.

Copies cost $0.50 per page. If you need certified copies, the certification fee is $40 in addition to the per-page cost. Some cases have large files with hundreds of pages. Consider which documents you really need before requesting copies of an entire file.

If the court needs to search for records without a case number, a research fee of $15.00 applies for searches over 10 minutes. Provide as much information as possible to help clerks locate the case quickly. Party names, approximate filing date, and case type all help narrow the search.

San Diego City Records

The City of San Diego maintains administrative records separate from court cases. City records include city contracts, permits, business licenses, and city council proceedings. These are not civil court records. City Clerk records are managed by the city government, not the county court.

If you need city administrative records, contact the San Diego City Clerk. For civil court cases, you must use the San Diego County Superior Court. The two systems are completely separate. Do not confuse city government records with county court records.

Court Help and Resources

The San Diego Superior Court website at sdcourt.ca.gov provides information about court procedures, forms, and locations. The site includes guides for different case types and answers to frequently asked questions.

Self-help centers at some courthouses offer assistance to people who do not have lawyers. Staff can answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice. If you need a lawyer, contact the San Diego County Bar Association for referrals.

Legal aid organizations in San Diego provide free or low-cost legal help to qualifying individuals. These organizations focus on civil cases involving housing, family law, consumer issues, and public benefits.

Nearby Cities

Other major cities in Southern California with populations over 100,000: