Riverside County Court Records
Per the California Rules of Court (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 2.502), a court record is a document, paper, or other material that is filed or created during court proceedings held in a specific court. These include pleadings, motions, exhibits, judgments, warrants, transcripts, subpoenas, etc.
In Riverside County, California, the superior court (also known as the county's trial court) maintains court records for the county. These records are stored in the Clerk of Court's Office and are accessible onsite (at the courthouse) and remotely (electronically).
Court records are essential documents that help educate the populace about the legal system and set precedents for subsequent court cases, among other advantages. Hence all court records considered part of Riverside County Public Records are subject to public disclosure.
Are Court Records Public in Riverside County
Yes. The California Rules of Court, Rule 10.500, stipulates that courts should allow members of the public to inspect and copy paper records, except where the said record is an "undisclosable record," such as a juvenile record or documents sealed by a court order. Accordingly, a Riverside County court records request will be responded to within 10-14 days from the date of receipt of the request.
Additionally, rules 2.503 and 2.507 of the California Rules of Court provide public access to electronic records, except where those records are sealed by law. Still, some electronic records can only be accessed at the courthouse but not remotely, according to 2.303 (c). Examples of such documents include juvenile court proceedings and civil harassment proceedings.
What Do Riverside County Court Records Contain?
The Riverside County Superior Court has jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. The content of court records that one may obtain typically varies by the case type. However, a typical Riverside County court record will include the following:
- Case Information: The litigants' names, presiding judge's name, case number, case type, and filing date
- Case Documents. All papers created or filed by the parties during proceedings, including orders, dockets, motions, judgments
- Exhibits introduced as evidence, including physical and electronic exhibits
- Court transcripts
Where to Conduct a Riverside County Case Lookup
The Riverside County Superior Court provides some ways for persons to look up case records, including:
- At the courthouse
- With the Riverside County Court case search tool
How to Conduct a Riverside County Case Records Search
A person searching for court records in Riverside County can visit the superior courthouse in person. There, they can provide details about the case to obtain paper copies. Note that these records require searching and copying fees.
Alternatively, one may search Riverside County case records online as long as they are not sealed. To conduct an online search for civil case records, one must create a public access account on the court's public access site. Civil case calendars, information, and documents can be accessed using a case number or party name. However, individuals searching for court case documents or using the name search tool must pay the following fees:
- Name Search. It costs $1, $3.50, $5, $25, and $250, respectively, for 1 name search credit, 5 name search credits, 10 name search credits, 75 name search credits, and the 30-day unlimited name search credits.
- Document: Case records that are not sealed or confidential are available for download at the following prices:
- $1 per page for the initial five pages
- $.50 per page for each extra page (per document), with a maximum of $50 per document
Individuals searching Riverside County criminal case records should access the county superior court's public access portal. Similarly, a user must create an account to search cases by name, but case number searches are not exclusive to signed-in users.
In addition, a person may request an online copy of court case records from the County of Riverside's Superior Court website. Riverside County case record searches are also available electronically on the courthouse computers.
Riverside County Civil Court Case Records
Riverside County civil court case records include documents from civil, family law, and probate cases.
- Civil cases: Civil court cases involve disputes regarding money, title, violation of one's civil rights, enforcing a contract, or seeking compensation for a civil breach or injury.
- Probate cases: Probate cases include trust, conservatorship, wills, estate, guardianship, and involuntary civil commitment proceedings.
- Family law: These court cases include marriage, divorce, registered domestic partnership, custody/visitation of a minor child, cases establishing a child's legal parents, domestic violence, and establishing or enforcing child and spousal support.
Riverside County civil court case records are available electronically on the court's website. Certified and uncertified copies of Riverside County civil court cases can also be ordered in person and via mail.
Riverside County Criminal Court Case Records
Riverside County criminal court case records are documents created or maintained because of criminal traffic violations and other criminal cases. Persons who want to access criminal court case records in person should visit the clerk's office on weekdays during working hours.
One may also request copies of Riverside County criminal records online by providing the case number.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
A broad range of court case records can be obtained online for free. Free online access to court records is possible by visiting a court's website. For instance, the Riverside County Superior Court's website provides a free tool to users who want to search and obtain court records by case number.
Some third-party websites also let users find some court records for free. However, the downside is that the records offered by third-party sites may not be current.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:
- The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
- The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.
While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.
Courts in Riverside County
According to the California court system, present-day superior courts resulted from a unification of municipal courts and trial courts. Hence, superior courts comprise different courts which oversee various aspects of the judicial system. The Riverside County Superior Court has the 15 divisions listed below:
Banning Justice Center
The Banning Justice Centre hears small claims, evictions, traffic, and criminal cases.
311 East Ramsey Street
Banning, CA 92220
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Blythe Courthouse
The Blythe Courthouse hears civil, evictions, small claims, family law, criminal, and traffic cases.
265 North Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
Phone: (760) 393-2617
Corona Courthouse
The Corona Courthouse hears small claims, traffic, civil, and unlawful detainers.
505 South Buena Vista Avenue #201
Corona, CA 92882
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Hemet Courthouse
The Hemet Courthouse hears family law cases.
880 North State Street
Hemet, CA 92543
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Larson Justice Center (Indio, California)
The cases heard at this court include juvenile, criminal, traffic, and family law.
46-200 Oasis Street
Indio, CA 92201
Phone: (760) 393-2617
Moreno Valley Courthouse
The cases heard at the Moreno Valley Courthouse include small claims, civil, traffic, and unlawful detainers.
13800 Heacock Street
Building D #201
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Palm Springs Courthouse
This court typically hears small claims, civil, probate, and evictions.
3255 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 393-2617
Riverside Family Law Courthouse
This court hears family law cases.
4175 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Riverside Hall of Justice
The Riverside Hall of Justice handles criminal cases.
4100 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Riverside Historic Courthouse
This courthouse resolves cases relating to evictions, probate, and civil affairs.
4050 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Riverside Juvenile Courthouse
This is a juvenile case court situated at the following address:
9991 County Farm Road
Riverside, CA 92503
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Southwest Juvenile Courthouse
The Southwest Juvenile Courthouse, as the name implies, is a juvenile court. Below is its physical address:
30755-D Auld Road
Murrieta, CA 92563
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Temecula Courthouse
The Temecula Courthouse typically hears probate-related cases.
41002 County Center Drive #100
Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 777-3147
Note that all the courthouses in Riverside County have public viewing computers, except for the juvenile courthouses.
