Riverside County court records in California are available through several channels. RiversideCourt.us allows searching for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through official state judiciary resources, the Clerk of Court's office in person, and public terminals installed in court buildings. Online tools allow checking case status, hearing dates, and proceeding details without visiting the court.
Riverside Court System & Jurisdictions
Riverside County is served by the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside. Unlike many states, where there are separate courts for different categories of cases, California has unified all trial courts into a single Superior Court system. This means that one court handles criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic cases.
The Superior Court of Riverside County has several branches throughout the county:
- Riverside Historic Courthouse — the main courthouse in downtown Riverside
- Southwest Justice Center (Murrieta) — serves the southwestern part of the county
- Indio Larson Justice Center — serves the Coachella Valley and desert region
- Banning Justice Center — handles cases from the Banning and San Gorgonio Pass area
- Hemet Courthouse — serves the Hemet and San Jacinto area
Each branch handles cases arising in its geographical area. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal Cases — from misdemeanors to felonies
- Civil Cases — claims over $12,500, as well as limited jurisdiction cases (limited civil — up to $35,000)
- Small Claims Cases — claims up to $12,500 for individuals
- Family Law — divorce, child custody, support, protective orders
- Probate Cases — estate management, guardianship, conservatorship
- Traffic Violations — fines, traffic violations, DUI cases
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal criminal charges) are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, which also has a branch in Riverside.
To search for state-level inmate information, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation CIRIS system is used. County-level detainee information is provided by the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
Riverside Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the date and time of a hearing, you need the case number or the party's last name. The Superior Court of Riverside County publishes hearing calendars through its online case search portal on the court's website.
How to find information about scheduled hearings:
- Visit the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside website
- Use the "Case Search" or "Online Services" feature
- Enter the case number or participant's last name
- In the search results, review the section with scheduled hearing dates
Individual judges' calendars are usually available on the pages of the respective court branches. Some branches post the daily calendar in the courthouse lobby.
General information about public access to court records in California can be found on the state judiciary's website. If you need information about Riverside city police reports, contact the Riverside Police Department at (951) 354-2007.
Criminal case hearings are generally open to the public. Family and juvenile cases have access restrictions according to the California Code.
How to Get a Copy of a Riverside Court Document
The Clerk of Court maintains and issues copies of court documents. There are two types of copies:
- Uncertified Copies — regular copies of documents suitable for review
- Certified Copies — have the clerk's seal and signature, confirming the document's authenticity. Required for submission to other courts, government agencies, or immigration authorities
Ways to obtain copies:
- In Person — visit the clerk's office of the court branch where the case was heard. Bring the case number and identification
- By Mail — send a written request with the case number, document name, type of copy (certified/uncertified), and payment
- Online — some documents are available through the court portal; certified copies usually require an in-person visit or mail request
Main Clerk's Office:
Divorce records from 1962–1984 are kept at the California Department of Public Health (index only). For full documents, contact the clerk's office where the judgment was issued.
Some records have restricted access: juvenile cases, sealed records, adoption cases, and certain mental health records are not released without a court order.
Riverside Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies and clerk services are set according to the California Government Code (§§ 70626–70634). Below are the main rates:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Document copy (first page) | $0.50 |
| Document copy (each additional page) | $0.50 |
| Document certification (certification fee) | $40 per document |
| Registry search by request (search fee) | $15 per name/per year |
| Issuance of court judgment copy | $0.50/page + certification |
| Copy of hearing audio recording | Depends on duration |
Payment methods:
- In Person — cash, money order, cashier's check, credit or debit card
- By Mail — money order or cashier's check payable to "Clerk of the Court"
- Online — credit or debit card (where available through the court portal)
Note: The certification fee ($40) is charged per individual document, not per page. If you need multiple certified copies of one document, each requires separate payment. Current rates can always be confirmed by calling the clerk's office or checking on RiversideCourt.us.