Riverside County Civil Records Search

Civil court records for Riverside County are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. The court provides a Public Access portal where you can search for civil case information online. Records vary by courthouse location and date range. Some locations have records dating back to the early 1990s while others start later. The court serves multiple cities and communities across Riverside County from several courthouse locations.

Online Public Access Portal

Riverside Superior Court offers online case searches at epublic-access.riverside.courts.ca.gov. The Public Access portal is intended to assist the public in accessing available case data without visiting the courthouse. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Results show case information from civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters.

Case data availability varies by courthouse location and date. Riverside civil records date from October 1991 to the present. Indio civil records start in May 1991. Palm Springs civil records begin in September 1993. Corona civil records date from March 1994. Temecula civil records start in October 1996. These dates show when electronic records began at each location. Earlier cases may exist in paper form only.

The portal charges fees for name searches and document downloads. You buy search credits before you search. Credit packages include $1.00 for 1 credit, $3.50 for 5 credits, $5.00 for 10 credits, $25.00 for 75 credits, or $250.00 for unlimited searches during a 30-day period. Each name search uses one credit. If you search frequently, the unlimited monthly option may save money.

Viewing and Downloading Documents

Some documents can be viewed and downloaded from the Public Access portal. Documents cost $1.00 per page for the first 5 pages and $0.50 per page for each additional page. The maximum charge per document is $50.00. You pay by credit card when you download the file.

Not all documents are available online. Older cases or certain case types may require an in-person visit or mail request. The portal shows which documents exist in the case file. If a document has an image available, you can download it for the fee. If no image is available, you must get the document another way.

Eviction Case Access Rules

Unlawful detainer cases are eviction lawsuits. These cases have special access rules under California law. Eviction cases are confidential for the first 60 days after filing. You cannot view them during this period. After 60 days pass, the records become publicly available if the landlord won at trial.

This 60-day restriction prevents eviction filings from immediately showing up in tenant screening reports. The goal is to protect tenants from having an eviction on their record before the case is decided. Once the 60 days expire and the landlord wins, the case becomes public like other civil cases.

Riverside County Courthouses

Riverside County has multiple courthouse locations serving different geographic areas. The main civil and probate courthouse is at 4050 Main Street in Riverside. The Temecula courthouse is at 41002 County Center Drive, Suite 100 in Temecula. Other locations serve Indio, Palm Springs, Corona, and other communities.

Cases are assigned to the courthouse based on where the parties live or where the dispute arose. When you file a case, the clerk will tell you which location handles your matter. You can find contact information and addresses for all court locations on the Riverside Superior Court website.

If you visit a courthouse in person, bring photo ID. Court security requires identification to enter. Public hours vary by location. Most courthouses open around 8:00 AM and close by 4:00 or 5:00 PM on weekdays. Some locations close for lunch. Call ahead to confirm hours before you visit.

Filing and Copy Fees

Filing fees in Riverside County follow the statewide schedule with some local surcharges. An unlimited civil complaint costs more than the base $435 in Riverside County due to local fees. Limited civil cases and small claims have lower fees. Check the current fee schedule on the court website for exact amounts including local surcharges.

Copy fees are standard. Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies add a $40 certification fee. If the clerk spends more than 10 minutes searching for records without a case number, a $15 research fee applies. Exemplification, which is a higher level of certification, costs $50 on top of copy fees.

The court accepts payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Some services require credit card payment, especially online transactions. Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford court fees. File a fee waiver application to ask the court to waive or reduce fees based on your income.

Civil Case Types

Riverside Superior Court handles unlimited civil cases over $35,000, limited civil cases between $10,000 and $35,000, and small claims under $10,000. Unlimited civil matters include personal injury, medical malpractice, real estate disputes, business litigation, and breach of contract claims. These cases involve formal discovery, depositions, expert witnesses, and often lengthy trials.

Limited civil cases cover smaller disputes. Common cases include landlord-tenant problems, property damage, debt collection, and contract disagreements. Unlawful detainer eviction actions are limited civil cases. Procedures move faster than unlimited cases. Discovery is more restricted. Trials are usually shorter.

Small claims court handles everyday disputes up to $10,000 for most plaintiffs. Businesses that file more than 12 small claims per year are limited to $5,000 per case. No lawyers are allowed in small claims court. You present your case directly to the judge. The judge decides that day in most situations. Small claims cases include:

• Security deposit disputes
• Car accident property damage
• Unpaid debts or loans
• Service or product complaints
• Minor contract breaches
• Neighbor disputes over property

Requesting Copies by Mail

You can request copies of court records by mail. The court provides forms for written requests. Fill out the form with the case number, the documents you need, and your contact information. Mail the form with payment for estimated costs to the courthouse where the case is filed.

Processing times for mail requests vary by courthouse workload. Allow several weeks for the court to process your request, pull the file, make copies, and mail them to you. If you need records quickly, online access or an in-person visit works faster.

Include a phone number or email with your request. Staff may need to contact you with questions about your request or to confirm costs before processing. This helps avoid delays from back-and-forth communication by mail.

Court Help and Resources

The Riverside Superior Court website at riverside.courts.ca.gov has extensive information about court procedures, forms, and services. The site includes guides for different case types, local rules, and contact information for each courthouse location.

The court offers self-help services for people representing themselves without a lawyer. Self-help staff can explain procedures and help you fill out forms. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your case. If you need a lawyer, the Riverside County Bar Association offers a referral service to connect you with attorneys.

Note: For the most current information about hours, locations, and services, check the court website or call the courthouse directly.

Cities in Riverside County

Riverside County includes many cities. Residents file civil cases in Riverside Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

Riverside County borders several counties with their own Superior Courts.