San Diego County Civil Records

The Superior Court of California, County of San Diego maintains civil court records for all cases filed within San Diego County. You can search case information online through the Court Index portal. The court also provides access to documents through an online Register of Actions system. Civil cases include unlimited actions over $35,000, limited cases between $10,000 and $35,000, and small claims under $10,000. Records availability varies by case type and location.

Search Cases Through Court Index

San Diego Superior Court offers free online case searches through the Court Index portal at courtindex.sdcourt.ca.gov. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system displays case information for civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Search results show the case number, filing date, case type, and current status.

The Court Index has some limits on what records appear. Civil limited cases and misdemeanor records may only be available for 10 years at some court locations. Juvenile cases do not show up in the index. Traffic and minor offense cases are not included either. Cases from before 1974 are not in the online system.

When you find a case, click on it to see more details. The system shows the register of actions, which lists every filing and court event in chronological order. You can see when documents were filed, when hearings took place, and what orders the judge signed. This gives you a good overview of what happened in the case.

Some documents in civil, small claims, and probate cases can be purchased online. Documents must have been filed on or after January 1, 2008 to be available for purchase through the online system. Criminal case documents are not available for remote purchase. You must view those in person at the courthouse or request copies by mail.

Online Register of Actions Portal

San Diego Superior Court provides a separate portal for viewing and purchasing documents. The Register of Actions system is at odyroa.sdcourt.ca.gov. This portal works with the Court Index. After you find a case in the Court Index, you can use the Register of Actions portal to see if documents are available to download.

Document purchases cost $0.50 per page. You pay by credit card when you download the file. The court uses these fees to maintain the online access system. Not every document in every case is available online. Older cases or certain case types may require an in-person visit or mail request.

Visiting the Courthouse

You can review case files in person at San Diego County courthouses. Bring a valid picture 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.

Clerks can pull a maximum of 10 cases per request, per customer, per transaction. If you need to see more than 10 files, you will need to make multiple requests. This policy helps manage workload and ensures all customers get timely service.

Copies cost $0.50 per page when you request them in person. If the clerk needs to spend more than 10 minutes searching for records, the court charges a $15 research fee. This applies when you do not have a case number and the search takes extra time. Certified copies cost $40 for the certification on top of the per-page copy fee.

Some case files are stored off-site. If the file you need is not at the courthouse, staff will request it from storage. Retrieval times for off-site files vary. Plan ahead if you need to review older files that might be archived.

Court Fees in San Diego County

Filing fees in San Diego County follow the statewide schedule. An unlimited civil complaint costs $435 to file. The answer in an unlimited civil case also costs $435. Limited civil cases have lower fees. A complaint seeking between $10,000 and $35,000 costs $370. Cases under $10,000 cost $225 for the answer or first paper.

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.

The court publishes a full fee schedule on its website at sdcourt.ca.gov. Fee amounts can change when the state legislature updates the law. Check the current schedule before filing or requesting services.

Types of Civil Cases

San Diego Superior Court handles all types of civil disputes. Unlimited civil cases involve claims over $35,000. These cases 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 limited civil cases. The procedures in limited civil court are simpler and faster than unlimited civil cases.

Small claims court handles 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. Small claims cases move quickly. 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.

Common 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: Civil case records are generally public, but some information may be redacted to protect privacy or comply with court orders.

San Diego Court Locations

San Diego County has multiple courthouse locations serving different areas. The main civil courthouse is the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego. Other courthouses handle cases from North County, East County, and South Bay communities. When you file a case, you file at the courthouse that has jurisdiction over the area where the dispute arose or where the defendant lives.

Each courthouse has its own hours and procedures. Most locations open around 8:00 AM and close by 4:00 or 5:00 PM on weekdays. Some courthouses close for lunch. Call ahead or check the court website to confirm hours before you visit. The court website lists all locations with addresses, phone numbers, and maps.

How Long Records Take

Online searches give instant results. Type in a name or case number and the Court Index displays matching cases right away. Downloading documents from the Register of Actions portal takes just a few minutes once you pay the fee.

In-person requests depend on how busy the clerk's office is. If the file is on-site and the clerk is not swamped, you might get copies in under an hour. If the file is off-site, retrieval takes longer. Ask staff for an estimate when you make your request.

Mail requests take the most time. The court processes written requests in the order received. Processing times vary by workload. If you need records urgently, online access or an in-person visit works better than mailing a request. Include a phone number with mail requests so staff can contact you if they have questions.

Major Cities in San Diego County

San Diego County includes several large cities. Residents of these communities file civil cases in San Diego Superior Court.

Nearby California Counties

San Diego County borders other counties with their own Superior Courts.