Court records of San Francisco County, California, are available through several channels. SanFranciscoCourt.us allows you to find publicly available information about court cases in the county. Additionally, the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco offers online case search, and records can be viewed in person in the document viewing rooms at court buildings or by sending a request to the court clerk's office.
San Francisco Court System & Jurisdictions
San Francisco is both a city and a county, so the court system here has its specifics. The only trial court is the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. It handles all state-level cases, from minor offenses to serious crimes.
Main divisions of the court:
- Criminal Division — handles felonies (serious crimes), misdemeanors (less serious crimes), and infractions (violations such as speeding). Information about the Criminal Division and case calendars are published separately.
- Civil Division — civil lawsuits with unlimited jurisdiction (amounts over $25,000) and limited jurisdiction (up to $25,000), as well as eviction and debt collection cases.
- Small Claims — claims up to $12,500 for individuals (up to $6,250 for businesses in some cases). Attorneys usually do not participate here.
- Unified Family Court — cases regarding divorces, child custody, alimony, adoption, and juvenile cases.
- Probate Division — inheritance cases, estate management, guardianship, and conservatorship.
- Traffic Division — fines for traffic violations, payment available through court online services.
Federal cases — bankruptcies, violations of federal law, lawsuits against federal agencies — are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which is also located in San Francisco but operates as a separate entity.
San Francisco Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use several resources.
- Online case inquiry. On the Case Information page, you can find a case by number or party's last name. The results include dates of upcoming hearings for civil, family, probate, and criminal cases.
- Criminal Division. Criminal case calendars and hearing information are published on the Criminal Division page. There is also a link to the Criminal Case Query.
- Tentative Rulings. Judges' preliminary rulings on civil cases are available through the online services section — they are updated the day before the hearing.
- In-person visit. The current schedule is posted in court buildings: Civic Center Courthouse (400 McAllister St.) and Hall of Justice (850 Bryant St.).
If you are looking for a specific case but do not know the number, try searching by the defendant's or plaintiff's last name on the Case Information portal.
How to Get a Copy of a San Francisco Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types: regular (uncertified) and certified. A certified copy has the court's seal and the clerk's signature — it is needed for official purposes: submission to another court, immigration procedures, criminal record confirmation.
Online
Through the Superior Court online services, civil and criminal cases are available for viewing. Some documents can be downloaded directly.
In-person
Record viewing rooms operate at two locations:
In the viewing room, you can review the case for free, but there is a fee for copies.
By mail
Send a written request to the Clerk's Office, specifying the case number, document name, and contact information. Include a check or money order for the fees. Mailing address:
Criminal Records
A Certificate of the Record — a document confirming a conviction and sentence — costs $40 per case number. More details on the Obtain Criminal Records page.
A complete criminal history is maintained at the state level. To obtain a copy of your own record, you need to submit fingerprints and pay $25 to the California Department of Justice.
Vital Records
The court does not keep birth, marriage, or death certificates. For these, contact the Office of the County Clerk at (415) 554-4950.
San Francisco Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set according to the California Government Code and local court rules. Below are the main rates — confirm the exact amount with the clerk's office, as fees may change.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copy of document (regular), per page | $0.50 |
| Certification of document | $40 per document |
| Certificate of the Record (criminal case) | $40 per case number |
| Criminal index search | Free online |
| Online civil case viewing | Free |
| Copy of criminal history (state DOJ) | $25 |
Payment is accepted in cash, check, or money order payable to "Clerk of the Court." Some online services accept credit cards. Confirm available payment methods by phone or on the court's Records page before visiting.
For those unable to pay the fees, the court offers a fee waiver procedure — complete form FW-001 and submit it with your request.