Tulare County Court Records
What Is Tulare County Court Records
Court records in Tulare County are official documents created and maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare during the course of legal proceedings. These records document the actions taken by the court and parties involved in cases filed within the county's jurisdiction. Pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550, court records include:
- All documents filed in any case
- Administrative records
- Trial exhibits entered into evidence
- Transcripts of court proceedings
- Electronic recordings of court proceedings
- Docket entries and registers of actions
- Indexes to court records
The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare maintains these records in accordance with California Government Code § 68150, which establishes standards for the creation, maintenance, and preservation of court records. The court serves as the official custodian of these records and is responsible for their integrity, accessibility, and preservation.
Superior Court of California, County of Tulare
221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 303
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 730-5000
Tulare County Superior Court
Are Court Records Public In Tulare County
Court records in Tulare County are generally available for public inspection pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.) and the common law right of access to judicial records. The California Constitution, Article I, Section 3(b) also establishes a constitutional right of access to information concerning the conduct of public business.
However, certain limitations on public access exist:
- Records sealed by court order under California Rules of Court, Rules 2.550-2.551
- Records made confidential by statute, including juvenile proceedings (Welfare & Institutions Code § 827)
- Records in family law cases containing sensitive personal information
- Records containing social security numbers, financial account numbers, and other personal identifiers (California Rules of Court, Rule 2.400 et seq.)
- Criminal records that have been expunged or sealed pursuant to Penal Code § 1203.4
Members of the public seeking access to court records must comply with established procedures for viewing court records and may be required to submit a written request for certain types of records. The court may charge reasonable fees for copies of records as authorized by Government Code § 70627.
How To Find Court Records in Tulare County in 2025
Individuals seeking court records in Tulare County may utilize several methods to locate and access these documents. The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare provides multiple avenues for record retrieval:
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In-person requests at the courthouse:
- Visit the Records Department at the main courthouse location
- Complete a records request form available at the public counter
- Present valid identification when requesting records
- Pay applicable fees for copies or certified documents
-
Written requests by mail:
- Submit a completed Records Request Form
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope
- Enclose payment for applicable fees (check or money order)
- Mail to: Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, Records Department, 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 303, Visalia, CA 93291
-
Electronic requests:
- Submit requests through the court's online records request portal
- Provide case number or party names
- Pay fees using accepted electronic payment methods
For assistance with locating court records, individuals may contact the Records Department at (559) 730-5000 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding court holidays.
How To Look Up Court Records in Tulare County Online?
The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare offers online access to certain court records through its electronic case management system. Members of the public may search for case information using the following methods:
- Case Index Search: Allows users to search by party name or case number
- Register of Actions: Provides chronological listing of documents filed and actions taken
- Calendar Search: Permits searching for upcoming court dates by case number, party name, or date
To access these online services:
- Navigate to the Tulare County Superior Court website
- Select "Case Information" from the main menu
- Choose the appropriate search option based on information available
- Enter required search criteria (name, case number, etc.)
- Review search results and select specific cases for detailed information
Users should note that pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, certain limitations apply to electronic access. Complete court files may not be available online, and some sensitive case types have restricted access. Additionally, electronic access to criminal case files may be limited to indices, registers of actions, and calendars.
Can You Search Tulare County Court Records for Free?
The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare provides limited free access to basic court record information. In accordance with Government Code § 68150(l), which requires courts to provide reasonable access to court records, the following services are available without charge:
- Basic case information searches through the court's public access terminals located at:
- Visalia Division: 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93291
- Porterville Division: 300 E. Olive Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257
- Limited online case index searches through the court's website
- Viewing non-confidential case files at the courthouse during regular business hours
However, pursuant to Government Code § 70627, the court charges fees for:
- Copies of documents ($0.50 per page)
- Certification of documents ($40.00 per document)
- Complex record searches requiring extensive staff time
- Archived record retrieval
The Judicial Council of California establishes a uniform fee schedule that applies to all superior courts in the state. Fee waivers may be available to qualifying individuals under Government Code § 68631.
What's Included in a Tulare County Court Record?
Court records maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare contain comprehensive documentation of legal proceedings. Pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550(a), a complete court record typically includes:
- Case initiation documents (complaints, petitions, indictments)
- Subsequent pleadings and motions filed by parties
- Court orders, judgments, and decisions
- Evidence and exhibits admitted during proceedings
- Transcripts of hearings and trials
- Minute orders documenting court proceedings
- Registers of actions (chronological case summaries)
- Notices and proof of service documents
- Financial information including fees paid and judgments
The content of court records varies by case type. Criminal cases include charging documents, bail information, and sentencing orders. Civil cases contain complaints, answers, and judgment information. Family law cases include petitions, financial disclosures, and custody orders. Probate matters contain wills, inventories, and distribution orders.
All court records are maintained in accordance with the California Judicial Branch's records management policies and Government Code § 68152, which establishes retention requirements.
How Long Does Tulare County Keep Court Records?
The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare retains court records in accordance with Government Code § 68152, which establishes minimum retention periods for various types of court records. These retention periods vary based on case type and disposition:
- Felony cases: Permanent retention for cases resulting in imprisonment; otherwise 75 years
- Misdemeanor cases: 5-10 years depending on offense type
- Infractions: 3 years after final disposition
- Civil unlimited cases: 10 years after final disposition
- Civil limited cases: 5 years after final disposition
- Small claims cases: 10 years after judgment
- Family law cases: 30 years for marriage dissolution; varying periods for other matters
- Probate cases: Permanent retention for estate administration; varying periods for other matters
- Juvenile cases: Until the subject reaches age 38 for delinquency; age 28 for dependency
After the required retention period, records may be destroyed pursuant to Government Code § 68153, which requires court approval and proper notice. Historically significant records may be preserved permanently or transferred to archives. Electronic records are maintained according to standards established in Government Code § 68150.
Types of Courts In Tulare County
The judicial system in Tulare County operates under the unified Superior Court of California structure established by Article VI of the California Constitution. The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare maintains the following divisions to handle various case types:
- Civil Division: Processes general civil matters, including unlimited and limited civil cases
- Criminal Division: Handles felony and misdemeanor prosecutions
- Traffic Division: Processes infractions and traffic-related offenses
- Family Law Division: Adjudicates divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence matters
- Juvenile Division: Oversees dependency and delinquency proceedings
- Probate Division: Manages estates, conservatorships, and guardianships
- Small Claims Division: Resolves minor civil disputes with simplified procedures
- Appeals Division: Handles appeals from limited civil, misdemeanor, and infraction cases
The court operates from two primary locations:
Visalia Division
221 S. Mooney Blvd.
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 730-5000
Porterville Division
300 E. Olive Avenue
Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 782-4700
Prior to court unification in 1998, Tulare County maintained separate Municipal and Superior Courts. Following the passage of Proposition 220, these courts were consolidated into a single Superior Court system.
What Types of Cases Do Tulare County Courts Hear?
The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare exercises jurisdiction over a wide range of legal matters as prescribed by the California Constitution and statutes. The court adjudicates the following case types:
-
Civil Cases:
- Unlimited civil (claims exceeding $25,000)
- Limited civil (claims between $10,000-$25,000)
- Small claims (disputes up to $10,000)
- Unlawful detainer (eviction) proceedings
- Civil harassment restraining orders
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Criminal Cases:
- Felony prosecutions
- Misdemeanor prosecutions
- Infractions
- Traffic violations
- Criminal protective orders
-
Family Law Matters:
- Dissolution of marriage and legal separation
- Child custody and visitation
- Child and spousal support
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Adoptions and name changes
-
Probate Matters:
- Decedent estate administration
- Conservatorships and guardianships
- Trust proceedings
- Elder abuse prevention
-
Juvenile Proceedings:
- Dependency cases (child welfare)
- Delinquency cases (juvenile offenses)
The court also handles specialized proceedings through collaborative courts, including Drug Court, Veterans Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, and DUI Court, which focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment for qualifying individuals.
How To Find a Court Docket In Tulare County
Court dockets, also referred to as registers of actions, provide chronological summaries of all proceedings and filings in a case. Members of the public may access court dockets in Tulare County through several methods:
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Online Access:
- Visit the Tulare County Superior Court website
- Navigate to "Case Information" section
- Enter case number or party name in the search fields
- Select the case from search results to view the register of actions
-
Public Access Terminals:
- Available at courthouse locations during regular business hours
- Provide more comprehensive access than the public website
- No fee for searching or viewing docket information
- Located in the clerk's office at both Visalia and Porterville divisions
-
In-Person Requests:
- Visit the clerk's office at either court location
- Complete a records request form specifying the case number
- Present identification if requesting criminal case information
- Pay applicable fees for printed copies
-
Written Requests:
- Submit a completed Records Request Form to the court
- Include case number or sufficient information to identify the case
- Enclose payment for applicable fees
- Mail to: Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, Records Department, 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 303, Visalia, CA 93291
Pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503, electronic access to court dockets may be limited for certain case types, including family law, juvenile, and guardianship/conservatorship proceedings.
Which Courts in Tulare County Are Not Courts of Record?
In Tulare County, as throughout California, all judicial proceedings now take place within the Superior Court system, which is a court of record as defined by Article VI, Section 1 of the California Constitution. Following court unification in 1998, there are no longer any courts in Tulare County that are not courts of record.
Prior to unification, small claims courts and justice courts were not courts of record. However, these courts have been incorporated into the unified Superior Court system. All proceedings in the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare are recorded, and official records are maintained in accordance with Government Code § 68150.
The following proceedings, while conducted within the Superior Court structure, have specialized record-keeping procedures:
- Small Claims Division: While part of the Superior Court, small claims proceedings are conducted informally with simplified procedures pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 116.510
- Traffic Infractions: Proceedings for minor traffic violations follow streamlined procedures under Vehicle Code § 40500 et seq.
- Juvenile Proceedings: Records are maintained but subject to strict confidentiality requirements under Welfare & Institutions Code § 827
Tulare County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder
221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 103
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 636-5050
Tulare County Clerk-Recorder
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