San Mateo County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, San Mateo County spans 741 square miles, housing more than 754,200 people. Also, it is home to several unincorporated and 20 incorporated municipalities. Its county seat is established in Redwood City. The Superior Court of San Mateo is the only trial court in the county, holding statutory authority to oversee all judicial activities within the county.

To ease its workload, the Superior Court is segmented into various Divisions. The Civil Division handles all civil case filings, civil restraining orders, and name changes. The Criminal Division deals with both serious and minor offenses, including petty theft, traffic violations, and felonies. To solve family relationship matters such as divorce, child custody, and domestic violence, residents can file their cases with the Family Division. The Juvenile Division focuses on emancipation, adoption, juvenile delinquency, and juvenile dependency. Furthermore, legal matters relating to conservatorship, elder abuse, guardianship, and the handling of the decedent's estate are heard in the Probate Division. The Small Claims Division provides a forum for resolving minor civil lawsuits involving amounts up to $12,500. The cases of residents who have violated the traffic laws are settled in the Traffic Division. The San Mateo Superior Court has four branches, which include:

• Northern Branch
• Southern Branch
• Central Branch
• Juvenile Branch

To maintain the public's trust in the judicial system, San Mateo County residents have access to both court records and the caseload reports generated in the Superior Court. More than 75,000 criminal cases are filed with the criminal division each year. The Civil Division processes close to 9,000 cases, while the Family Court handles approximately 2,900 cases. Moreover, members of the public have access to most court records to promoste transperancy, excluding sealed and confidential records. Records that are sealed or confidential typically are records that have information on juvenile or adoption cases, custodial or medical records, as well as cases dealing with mental health issues, as well as any cases including personal identifying information. The majority of court records in San Mateo County can be viewed at the southern branch courthouse. Also, copies of court records can be requested by mail from the Records Management Division. If access is needed for confidential or sealed records, an in-person visit with the county Clerk can ensure that you are guided through that process properly.

To conclude, the San Mateo Superior Court effectively manages its caseload by channeling different subject matters into specialized Divisions. It offers solutions to legal issues involving adults, children, and businesses within the county. This court endeavors to protect personal privacy while still providing the public with necessary case information.