Mendocino County, California Court Records
Court records encompass papers, documents, exhibits, and other materials filed or generated in a legal action or proceeding (Rule 2.502 of the California Rules of Court). Mendocino County court records, therefore, refer to the local judiciary's comprehensive account of legal proceedings, detailing recent, ongoing, and closed cases.
According to California Gov. Code § 69840 et seq., the Clerk of Court functions as the administrative custodian of court records, furnishing access per the applicable court rules and statutes. The information retrieved from the clerk's office is specific to each underlying proceeding. As a result, it is not uncommon to find records ordinarily preserved by other government agencies, such as the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder (real property/land records), the California Department of Justice (criminal history records), and the California Secretary of State (business filings), in case files.
Are Mendocino County Court Records Public?
Yes. Following mandates of the California Rules of Court, rule 2.500 et seq., and common law, court records in Mendocino County are available for public inspection and copying. Any interested person can read court files maintained by the local judiciary, but strict limitations apply for records deemed confidential or exempt by statute, court order, or court rule. For example, records from unlawful detainer actions remain temporarily masked for an initial 60-day window and only become public if the plaintiff's side prevails (Code Civ. Proc § 1161.2). A comprehensive catalog of additional exemptions is detailed in the California Trial Court Records Manual (TCRM), Appendix 1.
Note that the Mendocino judiciary differentiates "case records" from "judicial administrative records." The latter are court-maintained records that do not pertain to a particular litigation-for example, internal institutional budgets, procurement information, and personnel sheets-and are disseminated in accordance with Rule 10.500 of the California Rules of Court.
What Information is Available in Mendocino County Court Records?
Rule 2.502 of the California Rules of Court defines "court records" and "court case information" as two separate record categories, although both point to materials generated during litigation.
Court records are the actual filings of a case comprising materials compiled in the physical or digitized case file, such as registers of actions, pleadings, judgments, orders, exhibits (i.e., physical or digital items formally admitted as evidence during a trial or hearing to substantiate or refute arguments), minute entries, witness statements, affidavits, and responses/answers.
Conversely, court case information encompasses electronic metadata stored in a court's case management system or digital case histories. Compared to documentation housed in the official case file, court case information is the unofficial summary record of a case.
Mendocino County Court Records Search
When the objective is to inspect or replicate court records maintained by the Mendocino County judicial branch, members of the public have the following options:
Online Access
The Mendocino County judiciary provides a digital research portal through re:SearchCA, which members of the public can utilize to look up case information and documents. First-time public users must sign up to access the main dashboard (see How to Register for Public Users), which hosts search filters for querying data by party name, location, case category, case type, case status, and case filing date.
Searching and viewing court records on the portal is entirely free. However, it should be noted that public users, who are not named parties to an action, are barred from viewing certain case types online unless they are physically present at the courthouse. These restricted categories include criminal, family law, juvenile, conservatorship, guardianship, civil harassment, mental health, elder or dependent adult abuse prevention, and all types of restraining orders (California Rules of Court, rule 2.503(c)). Case access kiosks are provided at the Ukiah and Ten Mile courthouses in the public areas located outside the clerk's offices for viewing or printing of these otherwise restricted case types, provided no other law blocks off general access.
The local judiciary's Daily Court Calendar is also published online.
In-Person Access
In-person review or duplication of Mendocino County is available by visiting either of the local judiciary's locations in Ukiah or Ten Mile. Requesters are required to complete the Research Request form, Form MMC-900, with as much information as possible before a courthouse visit. Completing this form is not necessary if the researcher's sole objective is to utilize the self-service case access kiosks at the courthouse.
Note that statutory fees apply for document copies or certification requests, as outlined below in the "Fees for Court Records in Mendocino County" section.
Mail Request
Members of the public can order copies of Mendocino court records by mailing a completed Research Request form, Form MMC-900, adequate payment for the copies, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Mendocino Clerk of Court's Office. For example, the photocopy fee is 50 cents per page. Only checks and money orders are accepted by mail, and all checks must display the account holder's name and address. Below is the mailing address.
Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino
100 North State Street
Room 108
Ukiah, CA 95482
According to the Clerk's Office, the processing turnaround window for mail requests generally takes up to 30 days. Individuals who cannot calculate the total sum due may submit a blank check payable to the Mendocino County Superior Court, with a restrictive memo line reading "Not to exceed $75." This estimated amount allows the Clerk to process the request, and court staff will write the precise amount owed on the check.
Note: The Mendocino Clerk of Court does not process case records access requests over the telephone.
Fees for Court Records in Mendocino County
Under the California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule, members of the public are liable for the following standardized fees when retrieving Mendocino County court records.
|
Service/Record Category |
Statutory Fee |
Governing Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Document Certification (Charged per individual document) |
$40 |
Gov. Code §70626(a)(4) |
|
Record Search (When conducted by staff and exceeding 10 minutes) |
$15 | |
|
Document Photocopy (Charged per page) |
50 cents |
Gov. Code §70627(a) |
|
Exemplified Record |
$50 | |
|
Court-Ordered Authentication (Per signature) |
$15 | |
|
Document Comparison (Contrasting an external copy against an original on file, per page) |
$1 |
Gov. Code §70627(b) |
|
Dissolution Certificate (Marriage or domestic partnership dissolution judgment requested by a public agency) |
$10 | |
|
Dissolution Certificate (Marriage or domestic partnership dissolution judgment requested by any other applicant) |
$15 |
Gov. Code §70674 |
Record inspection requests remain free, whether a record is being inspected at the courthouse or online through the re:SearchCA portal using the basic search package tier.
Mendocino County Courthouse Locations
Mendocino County's judicial branch consists of a single general trial court: the Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino. This court handles all legal actions filed under state law or local ordinance within the jurisdiction at two specific locations:
700 South Franklin Street
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Administration Phone (Ukiah): (707) 463-4664
Civil/Juvenile/Family Law Clerk's Office Phone: (707) 468-2003
Criminal Clerk's Office Phone: (707) 463-4661
Traffic Clerk's Office Phone: (707) 463-4660
Jury Services Phone: (707) 463-4663
Ukiah - Mendocino County Courthouse
100 North State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
Administration Phone: (707) 463-4664
Civil Division Phone: (707) 468-2003
Criminal Division Phone: (707) 463-4661
Family Law Division Phone: (707) 468-2001
Family Mediation Phone: (707) 463-4484
Jury Services Phone: (707) 463-4663
Juvenile Division Phone: (707) 468-2006
Probate Division Phone: (707) 468-2005
Small Claims Division Phone: (707) 468-2002
Self Help Center/Family Law Facilitator Phone: (707) 468-2020
Traffic Division Phone: (707) 463-4660
Criminal Records Access in Mendocino County
The terms "criminal court records" and "criminal history records" are distinct data categories in Mendocino County. Both refer to information and records generated based on a person's contact with the criminal justice system because of an alleged violation (i.e., criminal records), but they are preserved and distributed by separate branches of government.
Mendocino County criminal court records are maintained by the judicial branch, encompassing all information, orders, exhibits, and other materials generated during criminal litigation held within the county. To access criminal case files, a request may be made to the Clerk of Court's Office in person or by mail using the Research Request Form MMC-900. Remote online document access is restricted under California Rules of Court, rule 2.503(c).
In contrast, criminal history records, commonly called rap sheets, are compiled by the executive branch, specifically the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Unlike localized criminal court files, criminal history files aggregate arrest and conviction data reported by criminal justice agencies statewide. However, where court files are presumptively public, these master statewide summaries are restricted under Penal Code 11105. By law, only the subject of the record (via a fingerprint live-scan application), law enforcement personnel acting in an official capacity, and authorized applicant agencies may query the DOJ. The DOJ outlines guidelines for requesting personal criminal records on itsCriminal Records - Request Your Own page.
Separately, immediate arrest logs, incident reports, and jail detention data can be requested directly from local law enforcement departments in Mendocino County, such as the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and municipal agencies like the Ukiah Police Department.
Mendocino County Probate Records
Probate addresses legal actions initiated to administer a decedent's estate. The probate court in Mendocino County is the Superior Court's Probate Division, which sits at the main Mendocino County Courthouse in Ukiah and the Ten Mile Branch. Per the California Probate Code, cases such as conservatorships and trusts also fall under the court's probate jurisdiction.
To access Mendocino County probate records, individuals can query the local Superior Court's re:SearchCA portal, visit either court location to view or print probate case records on public self-service kiosks, or submit a written research & copy request in person or mail to the Clerk's Office. Requesters should note the exemption of records deemed confidential by law, such as sensitive financial data, minors' identifying data, capacity declarations, and reports regarding proposed conservatorships or guardianships.
Mendocino County Family Court Records
Family/domestic actions, such as dissolution, adoption, alimony, child custody, visitation, and parental rights, fall under a specialized branch of civil law referred to as family law. In Mendocino County, domestic filings are handled in the Superior Court's dedicated Family Law Division. Case access is provided through the same channels as other court records-online, in person, via mail (see the preceding "Mendocino County Court Records Search" section)-but restrictions apply where information has been deemed exempt by law or judicial rule. For example, the general public cannot access adoption files, family conciliation court records, and confidential child psychological evaluations.
Federal Court Records in Mendocino County
Federal case jurisdiction in Mendocino County is constrained to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which is responsible for adjudicating all federal cases originating in the county. Case records preserved by the court, formally known as the federal court records, are accessible to the public as follows:
- Direct Request: The federal Clerk's Office processes inquiries for ongoing and most post-2006 cases. Archived or pre-2006 cases are typically ordered through the Federal Records Center. The court's Obtaining Copies of Court Documents and Existing Case Information FAQs webpages outline records access through the Clerk's Office and Federal Records Center.
- Online: The court's Obtaining Information about Cases webpage explains how to view the online docket via PACER (the federal case locator) or register for email announcements through CM/ECF to track active case developments. Individuals can also review notable cases currently being heard in the Northern District of California.
- In Person: Electronic public terminals are available inside the Clerk's Office located within the Northern District courthouses to look up case information, as well as view and print uncertified case documents.
The applicable Document & Copy Fees for case record requests in the Northern District are specified on the court's website.
