Madera County Civil Records

The Superior Court of California, County of Madera keeps civil court records for all lawsuits and disputes filed in the county. You can search for case information online through the court's eCourt public portal. Civil cases include unlimited actions over $35,000, limited cases up to $35,000, and small claims under $10,000. The court serves Madera and all other communities throughout the county. Most civil records are open to the public, though some documents may be sealed or confidential under California law.

Search Cases Online

Madera County Superior Court provides free online access to case information through the eCourt public portal at madera-prod-portal.ecourt.com. The portal lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney name. You can view case details for civil, family, probate, criminal, and traffic matters.

Search results display the case number, filing date, case type, and current status. Click on a case to see the register of actions. The register shows a list of all documents filed and all court events in order by date. You can see when papers were submitted, when hearings took place, and what the judge ordered.

Some documents may be available for download through the online portal depending on the case type and filing date. For documents not available online, you must visit the courthouse in person or submit a written request to the court clerk.

Courthouse Access

You can review case files in person at Madera County courthouses. Bring a valid photo ID. Court security will not let you view files without identification. Tell the clerk the case number or the names of the parties. The clerk will pull the file for you to review.

Copies cost $0.50 per page when you request them in person. If court staff must spend more than 10 minutes searching for records without a case number, the court charges a $15 research fee. Certified copies cost $40 for the certification on top of the per-page copy fee.

Some case files may be stored off-site if they are old or inactive. If the file you need is not at the courthouse, staff will request it from storage. Retrieval times for off-site files vary. Ask the clerk for an estimate when you make your request.

Filing Fees

Filing fees in Madera County follow the statewide California fee schedule. An unlimited civil complaint costs $435 to file. This applies when your claim exceeds $35,000. The defendant's answer in an unlimited case also costs $435.

Limited civil cases have lower fees. A complaint seeking between $10,000 and $35,000 costs $370. For cases under $10,000, the answer or first paper costs $225. Small claims filings cost $30 to $100 depending on the claim amount and how many cases you file per year.

Copy fees are standard across California. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certification adds $40 to the total. If you request certified copies of a 10-page document, you pay $5.00 for copies plus $40.00 for certification, which equals $45.00 total.

Fee amounts can change when the state legislature updates the law. Check the current fee schedule on the court website at courts.ca.gov before filing or requesting services.

Types of Civil Cases

Madera County Superior Court handles all types of civil disputes. Unlimited civil cases involve claims over $35,000. These include personal injury from car accidents, medical malpractice, breach of contract, real estate disputes, and business litigation. Complex cases with multiple parties or difficult legal issues often fall into the unlimited category.

Limited civil cases cover amounts between $10,000 and $35,000. Common limited civil matters include landlord-tenant disputes, property damage, debt collection, and contract disagreements. Unlawful detainer eviction cases are processed as limited civil cases. The procedures in limited civil court are simpler and faster than unlimited civil cases.

Small claims court resolves disputes up to $10,000 for most people. Businesses that file more than 12 small claims per year are limited to $5,000 per case. You represent yourself in small claims. No lawyers are allowed. You present your evidence directly to the judge. The judge decides the case and announces the ruling the same day in most situations.

Typical small claims cases include:

• Unpaid loans or debts between individuals
• Security deposit disputes when a tenant moves out
• Property damage from accidents or negligence
• Breach of contract for services or goods
• Consumer complaints about defective products

Note: Most civil records are public, but some information may be sealed or confidential by court order or statute.

Requesting Records

You can request copies of civil court records in several ways. The fastest way is to visit the courthouse in person. Ask the clerk for copies. Staff can make copies while you wait if the file is on-site and your request is not too large. Bring the case number to make the process faster.

You can also mail a written request to the court. Include the case number, the names of the parties, and what documents you need. Provide your return address and phone number in case staff need to contact you. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits because the court processes requests in the order received.

Online searches through the eCourt portal give instant results. Type in a name or case number and the system displays matching cases right away. Downloading documents from the portal takes just a few minutes once you pay the fee, if documents are available online.

Legal Help

The California Courts self-help website at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov provides free guides and forms. You can find instructions for filing a lawsuit, responding to a complaint, or handling small claims cases. The site has forms in English and Spanish.

Madera County residents may qualify for free legal assistance from legal aid organizations. These groups help low-income individuals with civil legal problems. Check with local social service agencies or the State Bar of California to find legal aid resources in your area.

Court clerks cannot give legal advice. They can answer questions about court procedures and forms, but they cannot tell you what to do in your case or help you fill out paperwork. If you need legal advice, consult an attorney.

Nearby California Counties

Madera County borders several other counties, each with its own Superior Court.