Find Marin County Court Records

How to Search Marin County Court Records

The Superior Court runs an online system called the ePortal. It is the official way to search Marin County court records from home. The portal handles case search and calendar search. Public users register a free account, then look up cases by party name or case number. Public access shows the parties, the documents filed, and the hearings. It does not open the document PDFs or the minute orders. Those stay with parties and attorneys who hold verified access, or at the courthouse kiosk.

Have your details ready before you log in. A full name, a case number, or a date range all narrow the results. The court's forms and filing page also lists the fee schedule and the local rules that govern each division.

Fees, local forms, and eFiling rules are posted on the court's forms and filing page.

That page is useful when a search turns up a case and you then need the right form to request a copy.

1. Open the ePortal and create a public account with your email.
2. Choose case search, then enter a party name or case number.
3. Filter the calendar search by date, case type, or courtroom.
4. Open the case to read the parties, events, and document list.
5. Request a copy at Room 113 or by form when you need the actual document.

Marin County Court Records Search Fields

The ePortal uses a small set of inputs. An account email and password unlock the search modes. Case search works from party or case identifiers, while calendar search filters by date and courtroom. The portal was account-gated during research, so verify the exact field labels once you log in.

Types of Marin County Court Records

The court files split by division. Each one keeps its own records and follows its own access rules. The Civil Clerk's Office handles disputes over money, property, contracts, and civil rights. Civil cases are limited or unlimited based on the amount in play, and that label changes the fees and steps.

Different divisions produce different files, and some are closed to the public.

Civil filing rules and research-request notes appear on the court's Civil Division page.

That page also sets the cutoff time for new filings, which matters if you file in person.

• Civil records - complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments.
• Criminal records - charges, bail, plea, trial, and sentence. See arrest records.
• Family law records - divorce, custody, support, and parentage.
• Probate records - estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.
• Traffic records - citations, fines, and dispositions. See traffic court records.

Small claims cases are also heard in the Superior Court and often sit on the traffic referee's calendar. Restraining orders cover domestic violence, civil harassment, and elder abuse, and the domestic violence forms carry no filing fee. Juvenile and mental health files, by contrast, are not open records. The register of actions ties any case together as a dated list of filings, appearances, and rulings, and the Court Records Division can print one for a per-page fee.

What Marin County Court Records Show

A case file is built from tabs in the ePortal. The court documents what each one holds. You get case identifiers, the parties and their status, every event, and a list of documents. The register of actions ties it together as a running history of the case. For the public, the document tab shows descriptions and filing dates but not the files themselves. Court reporters own the verbatim transcripts, which are requested separately.

Transcript and register of actions details are explained on the court's court reporters page.

That page makes clear why a transcript costs more than a plain copy from the file.

Inside a case, the ePortal sorts the data into named tabs. The Case tab lists parties and future events. The Filings tab shows filing dates and disposition data. The Parties tab adds AKAs, representation, custody, and bail. The Documents tab lists each filing, though the PDF opens only for verified users. The Events tab tracks past and future hearings, and the Appeals and Case Transfer tabs follow a case if it moves up or out. Reading the right tab saves time.

Public Access Framework for Marin County Court Records

California court files do not run on the same statute as agency records. The Judicial Council writes rules of court that define a court record and set who can see it. Rule 2.400 covers court records and the basic inspection rules. Rule 2.503 sets public electronic access and lets courts limit remote viewing for sensitive cases. Marin applies both by posting case data online while keeping documents at the courthouse for the public.

Anyone can search the public side. Parties and attorneys verify their identity to unlock the documents and minute orders. A confidential request needs a notarized copy of photo ID by mail or in person.

The text of the court records rule is on the state's California Rule of Court 2.400 page.

The companion remote-access rule sits on the Rule 2.503 page.

Read together, these rules explain why a name search works from home but the PDF does not open.

Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Marin County

Some files never reach the public side. Juvenile dependency and justice records are confidential by statute. Adoption files are sealed. Mental health and LPS conservatorship records carry medical detail and stay closed. Confidential marriage records are limited to the couple. The electronic access article spells out how these limits work online.

The full electronic access rules sit in the state's Title Two electronic access article.

To view a sealed court file, a person files a motion or application and gives notice to the other side. A judge then weighs the request under Rules 2.550 and 2.551. The court can unseal a record when the legal standard is met, but it will not happen on a phone call.

The Marin County Court Records Request Form

When a document is not on the ePortal, the records request form is the official path. The court asks for your contact details, the case number or case name, the case type, and exactly what you want. You mark whether you need one document, several documents, a full case file, or a research-only request. Certified copies get noted on the same form, and you can submit it by mail, by the drop box outside Room 113, or by email.

The form carries a plain warning. Do not send duplicate requests, and do not call to check status, since both slow the queue. Requests can take more than six weeks.

• Contact information, with name, email, phone, and mailing address.
• Case number or case name, such as John Doe vs. Jane Doe.
• Case type, from family law to civil, criminal, probate, or small claims.
• Request type, from one document to all documents in several cases.
• The documents wanted, with filing party and date if known.

Copy and certification fees come straight from the state Government Code, so they match other California superior courts. Copies are billed by the page, certification is a flat charge per document, and a staff search adds a per-case fee.

In-Person Court Record Requests

When a record is not online, the Court Records Division in Room 113 is the place to go. You can use the public kiosk to view public case documents, ask for copies, or submit a records request form. Staff do not give case information or run research over the phone or by email. Requests are handled in the order received.

Related Marin County Record Searches

You may also need Marin County court dockets, arrest records, public records, or contact details for the Clerk of the Superior Court. For non-court files like deeds and vital records, see the County Clerk-Recorder.