The Santa Cruz County Clerk of the Superior Court
California unified its trial courts, so court case records are kept by the Superior Court clerk offices, not a separate district clerk. The Records Division is the key office for court records. It states that the public has reasonable access to view and copy court files, unless a record is confidential by statute or sealed by a judge. The easiest way to find a record is with the case number. Without it, you need the party names and the rough filing year.
Cases opened after June 1985 are searchable in the Santa Cruz Court Portal. Older cases may need in-person microfiche research. If staff must search for a case number, a search fee applies for searches that run over ten minutes.
The Records Division and Court Copies
The Records Division sits at the Santa Cruz Courthouse. It handles court copy requests for civil, criminal, probate, and other case types. Confidential case access is limited to the parties and requires government-issued photo identification. Certified copies can only be mailed or picked up in person, not emailed.
Superior Court Records Division
701 Ocean Street, Room 110
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-2200
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Criminal Division Clerk
701 Ocean Street, Room 120
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-2200
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy carries the court seal and is the version courts and agencies accept as official. The Records Division uses a Research and Copy Request Form for anything beyond a quick counter request. Follow these steps.
- Find the case number through the portal or a staff search.
- Complete the Research and Copy Request Form with the case details.
- Note how many copies you need and whether they must be certified.
- Submit in person at Room 110, by mail marked ATTN Records Requests, or by email with a credit-card authorization.
- Pay the fees; certified copies are mailed or picked up, not emailed.
If you want copies mailed, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with a mailed request.
Santa Cruz County Court Copy Fees
The Records Division charges set fees for copies, searches, and certification. Some counter requests are free, but staff searches and certified copies cost more. The table lists the main court copy fees.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Records search over 10 minutes | $15.00 per search |
| Photocopy per page | $0.50 |
| Certification per document | $40.00 |
| Comparison certification | $1.00 per page plus certification |
| Exemplified copy | $50.00 |
| Criminal standard packet | $47.00 |
| Certified dissolution copy | $15.00 plus copy fee |
A criminal standard packet covers the complaint, plea, and disposition, with copies, certification, and postage included.
Records Request Form Fields
The Research and Copy Request Form asks for the details the clerk needs to find and prepare your records. Completing every field up front avoids delays. The table lists what the form collects.
| Field | What It Asks |
|---|---|
| Requester Contact | Your name, address, phone, and email. |
| Case Number | The case ID, if known. |
| Party Name or Case Title | Used when the case number is unknown. |
| Case Type | Civil, criminal, family, or probate. |
| Document Description | The specific documents you want. |
| Copy / Certification Needs | Plain, certified, or exemplified copies. |
| Delivery and Payment | Pick up, mail, or email, with payment authorization. |
For mailed copies, the form also expects a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The Santa Cruz County Clerk and Marriage Records
The County Clerk is a separate office from the court clerk. It issues marriage licenses and handles confidential marriage matters. Both people apply together by appointment at 701 Ocean Street, Room 310. The County Clerk public marriage license page lists the requirements and fees.
The license is valid for 90 days anywhere in California, and both parties must be at least 18.
The Clerk also performs civil ceremonies by appointment. The marriage ceremony page covers witness rules and ceremony fees.
A public ceremony needs at least one witness, and the Clerk can provide one for a fee.
The Clerk's wedding FAQ explains the difference between public and confidential licenses. The wedding FAQ page answers common questions before you book.
For full marriage and divorce details, see the marriage and divorce records page.
The Santa Cruz County Recorder
The County Recorder, Assessor-Recorder Sheri Thomas, keeps a permanent set of official records. The office records deeds and documents and issues certified vital records, including public marriage certificates. The County Recorder home page lists services and contact details.
The Recorder's office is at 701 Ocean Street, Room 230, reachable at (831) 454-2800.
Public marriage certificates are issued by the Recorder, not the court. The Recorder marriage certificate page explains how to order a certified copy.
Recorder fees and vital record copies are covered on the public records page.
Payment Methods and Contact
The Records Division accepts a few payment types. Cash is taken only for completed in-person requests. Checks and money orders are accepted, along with credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. The payment page notes an added card fee of about two percent.
The court publishes department email addresses for civil, criminal, family, probate, records, small claims, and traffic. The court warns that time-sensitive matters should not rely on email, since parties stay responsible for their court dates, filings, and payments.
Note: Bring government photo identification for any confidential Santa Cruz County case, since the clerk limits that access to the parties.
Common Santa Cruz County Clerk Questions
A few questions come up at the clerk's counter more than any others.
Does the clerk give legal advice?
No. The clerk processes filings and issues copies but cannot give legal advice or fill out forms for you. For free help, the court Self Help Center and County Law Library assist self-represented people. For case lookup and document access, see the court records page.
Can I get a certified copy by email?
No. You can email a request with a credit-card authorization, but certified copies are only mailed or picked up in person, because they carry the court seal. Plain copies have more flexibility. The marriage and divorce records page covers certified copies of vital records.
Which clerk handles marriage versus court records?
The County Clerk issues marriage licenses, while the Records Division of the Superior Court handles court case copies. Public marriage certificates come from the County Recorder. For recorded documents and the Recorder's fees, see the public records page.