Court records of Santa Cruz County, California, are available through several channels. SantaCruzCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, the Superior Court of California — County of Santa Cruz provides an online case lookup, and the Records & Information division accepts requests in person and by mail. Public terminals in court buildings also allow you to view case registers.
Santa Cruz Court System & Jurisdictions
The county has one unified court — the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz. It operates in two buildings:
The Superior Court handles all categories of cases at the county level. Here is the main distribution:
- Criminal Cases — felonies, misdemeanors, probation violations.
- Civil Cases — claims with a dispute amount over $12,500 (unlimited civil), as well as limited civil (up to $25,000).
- Small Claims — disputes up to $10,000 for individuals.
- Family Law — divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders.
- Probate — inheritance cases, guardianship, conservatorship.
- Traffic Violations — fines, traffic violations, appeals.
Federal cases — such as bankruptcy or federal criminal charges — are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, not the county's Superior Court.
Santa Cruz Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out about scheduled hearings for today, tomorrow, or within the week, use the Case Lookup tool on the Superior Court's website. After entering a party's name or case number, the system will show scheduled hearing dates and courtroom.
Some practical tips:
- Enter the full or partial name of a case participant in the search field.
- Select the desired case from the list of results.
- Check the section with scheduled hearings — it indicates the date, time, and courtroom number.
If you cannot find the necessary information online, call the court at (831) 420-2200. Clerks can usually provide the date of the next hearing by case number. The schedule of hearings is also available on public terminals in the court buildings in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
How to Get a Copy of a Santa Cruz Court Document
The Superior Court issues two types of copies: regular (uncertified) and certified. A certified copy has the court's official seal and the clerk's signature — it is needed for submission to other institutions, banks, or for immigration procedures. A regular copy is suitable for personal review.
How to Order a Copy
- In Person — visit the Records & Information division at the Santa Cruz Courthouse (701 Ocean Street) or the Watsonville Courthouse. You will need the case number or the parties' names.
- By Mail — send a written request specifying the case number, document type, and number of copies, including a check or money order for the appropriate amount.
- Online — some documents can be viewed through Case Lookup, but obtaining a certified copy usually requires contacting the clerk's office.
Mailing address for requests:
Family law cases (divorce, custody) have a separate request procedure. The County Recorder office directs applicants to the Superior Court to obtain such documents.
Access Restrictions: juvenile cases, certain family cases, and sealed records are not publicly accessible. The clerk will inform you if your request is subject to restrictions.
Santa Cruz Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents are set according to California Government Code § 70626–70634. Below are typical rates — confirm the exact amount with the clerk's office, as some fees are periodically updated.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| First 10 pages of a regular copy | No charge (for some categories) |
| Each additional page of a regular copy | $0.50 |
| Certification of one document | $40 for the first document |
| Each additional certified copy of the same document (ordered at the same time) | $25 |
| Case search by request (search fee) | Depends on the category; check with the clerk |
| Copy of a minute order | Usually at the standard copying rate |
Payment is accepted in person at the court cashier — cash, check, or money order. For mail requests, include a check made payable to "Clerk of the Superior Court." Details on acceptable payment forms and current rates are described on the Public Records Judicial Branch of California page.
To obtain your own criminal record at the state level, you need to submit fingerprints and pay $25 to the California DOJ — the procedure is described on the Department of Justice page. This request does not concern the Superior Court and is processed separately.