How to Search Marin County Court Records
The main tool for a Marin County court records search is the Superior Court ePortal. The court runs it as an online front door to case data and court calendars. Public users must create a free ePortal account. Once you are in, you can run a case search or a calendar search. Public access shows case information, parties, the documents filed, and past and future hearings. It does not let the general public open PDF documents or minute orders from home. Those stay limited to parties and attorneys with verified access.
Before you start, gather what you know. A name or a case number gets you further than a guess. The court also keeps a public viewing kiosk in Room 113 for the documents that are not posted online.
The official ePortal information page explains the access levels and what each record tab shows.
An overview of the portal and its access rules appears on the court's eCourt Online Portal page.
That page lists the Public, Party, Attorney, and Justice Partner access types, so you know what to expect before you register.
- Open the ePortal information page and read the access types.
- Create a public ePortal account with your email.
- Run a case search by party name or case number.
- Use calendar search to filter by date, case type, and courtroom.
- For full documents, visit the Room 113 kiosk or file a records request.
The Marin County Judicial System
California runs one superior court in each county. The Superior Court of California, County of Marin is the trial court for the whole county. It hears criminal, civil, family, juvenile, probate, mental health, small claims, and traffic cases. There are no separate municipal or county trial courts here. Voters merged those levels into the superior court after Proposition 220 passed in 1998. Appeals from Marin generally move to the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, and then, in limited cases, to the Supreme Court of California.
The court's own administration page lists 12 superior court judges, one commissioner, and one referee. The Marin Superior Court homepage links out to the ePortal, the divisions, self-help, and current court notices.
The Superior Court homepage is the safest starting point because it routes you to official tools instead of third-party sites.
Case flow: Superior Court of Marin › California Court of Appeal (First Appellate District) › Supreme Court of California
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of Marin | County trial court | Criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, small claims |
| Court of Appeal, First District | Intermediate appeals | Most appeals from Marin trial judgments and orders |
| Supreme Court of California | Highest state court | Discretionary review; automatic review of death judgments |
Judicial assignments change, so the court publishes a current list by judge, courtroom, and subject. Presiding Judge Stephen Freccero handles civil law, while criminal felony work is led by Supervising Criminal Law Judge Geoffrey Howard.
You can confirm any judge and courtroom on the court's judicial assignments page.
That table also lists each department's public phone line, which helps when you need to reach a specific courtroom. For the full bench and division breakdown, see the Marin County Superior Court page.
Marin County Courthouse and Contact Information
The court sits inside the Marin County Civic Center, the landmark complex designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Courts, jury rooms, judges' chambers, the District Attorney, and the cafeteria all share the Hall of Justice wing. Different tasks happen in different rooms, so the room number matters. Court Records is in Room 113. Traffic is in Room C-10. The Legal Self-Help Center is in Room C-44.
The court's contact page lists each department's phone and the official, free parking directions.
Parking, department phones, and mailing details are posted on the court's contact and parking page.
Confirm hours there before you drive out, since office windows close for the noon hour.
Marin County Superior Court
3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-444-7000
Court Records Division
Hall of Justice, Room 113
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-444-7080
Legal Self-Help Center
Hall of Justice, Room C-44
San Rafael, CA 94903
415-444-7130
Types of Court Records Available in Marin County
The Superior Court produces many kinds of records. Each division generates its own files, and access rules shift by case type. Civil and probate files are mostly open. Juvenile, mental health, and adoption files are not. Knowing the category up front saves a wasted trip.
Most Marin County court records fall into a handful of groups. The clerk and the ePortal handle them through the same systems, but the divisions differ.
- Criminal records - felony, misdemeanor, and infraction cases, with charges, bail, plea, and sentence. See arrest records.
- Civil records - lawsuits over money, contracts, property, and civil rights, filed as limited or unlimited cases.
- Family and divorce records - dissolution, support, custody, and parentage. See marriage and divorce records.
- Probate records - estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. See probate records.
- Traffic records - citations, fines, traffic school, and infraction dispositions.
What Marin County Court Records Show
A case record is more than a name and a date. The ePortal groups the data into tabs. You will see case identifiers, the parties, every event, and the documents filed. For the public, the document tab shows filing dates and descriptions but not the PDFs. Parties and attorneys see more once their access is verified.
The Court Records and Exhibits division handles requests for the files that are not posted online, plus the register of actions that lists each step in a case.
Records request steps and fee notes appear on the Court Records & Exhibits page.
That same page explains how confidential cases are handled and what a certified copy costs.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court's unique ID for the case file |
| Filing Date | When the case or subcase opened |
| Parties | Names, AKAs, representation, custody, and bail |
| Charges / Cause | The criminal charge or the civil claim |
| Disposition | The current or final outcome |
| Sentence / Judgment | The penalty or the court's final decision |
Public Access Laws for Marin County Court Records
California treats court files differently from ordinary agency records. The California Public Records Act covers state and local agency records, but court case files run on Judicial Council rules instead. Those rules set what counts as a court record, what can be reached online, and what must be sealed. Marin follows them by letting the public search case and calendar data while keeping most documents at the courthouse.
The court administration page explains how the divisions are organized under these rules.
For the structure behind those rules, the court posts a court administration page.
That overview helps explain why some files are open and others are not.
Key Statutes:
California Public Records Act, Gov. Code § 7920.000 et seq. - Presumes the public may see agency records unless an exemption applies.
California Rule of Court 2.503 - Sets public electronic access and limits remote viewing for sensitive case types.
California Rule of Court 2.550 - Sets the standard a judge must meet before sealing a record.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every file is open. Juvenile dependency and justice files are confidential by law. Adoption files are sealed. Mental health and LPS conservatorship records carry medical detail, so the court keeps them closed. Confidential marriage records stay private too, and only the couple or a court order unlocks a copy.
Sealing a court file takes a judge's order under Rules 2.550 and 2.551. To view a sealed record, a person usually has to file a motion or application and give notice to the other side. The court can unseal a file when the legal standard is met. For arrest records with no conviction, California allows sealing under Penal Code 851.91, which is a separate process from a dismissal.
Specialty Courts in Marin County
Marin runs several problem-solving calendars inside the Superior Court. These programs handle people whose cases tie back to addiction, mental health, or military service. They mix treatment, supervision, and regular check-ins with a judge. The judicial assignments confirm which judge runs each one.
Adult Drug Court sits in Courtroom K under Judge Kevin Murphy. Veteran's Treatment Court runs in Courtroom M under Judge Ahtossa Fullerton. The court also lists a STAR Court in Courtroom J and a Community Court in Courtroom H. The court's published material does not spell out every eligibility rule, so screening usually happens through defense counsel, the Public Defender, the District Attorney, or probation.
Because assignments shift, verify the current judge before relying on a specific courtroom. The full department list, including each treatment calendar, is kept on the court administration page.
Marin County Sheriff and Jail
The Marin County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and provides court security. Sheriff Jamie Scardina leads the office, and the Detention Services Bureau staffs the jail, court bailiffs, and inmate transport. The jail sits at 13 Peter Behr Drive on the Civic Center grounds. It is underground, built into the hillside, with a tunnel that moves people into the court areas. The Sheriff is also the warrant repository for the whole county.
For a live jail roster, use the Public Booking Log and the Marin County inmate records page. To check an active order, see the warrant records page. The Sheriff can only confirm warrants issued in Marin.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
These records split across two offices. The County Clerk issues marriage licenses and the Recorder keeps public marriage records. Divorce decrees are court records, not Recorder files, so they come from the Superior Court. Probate, wills, and conservatorships run through the Probate Division. For details, see marriage and divorce records and probate records.
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named to carry out the will.
- Conservator
- A person the court appoints to care for an adult or manage their affairs.
Marin County Court Records Fees
The Court Records Division charges set fees for copies and research. Plain copies run a half dollar per page. Certification adds a flat charge per document. If staff have to dig for a file by name, a search fee applies. These amounts come from the state Government Code, so they are the same kind of fees you see at other California courts.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | $0.50 |
| Certification per document | $40.00 |
| File or name search per case | $15.00 |
| Estate search per case | $15.00 |
| Exemplification | $50.00 plus $0.50 per page |
Note: records requests are processed in the order received and can take more than six weeks, so plan ahead for anything with a deadline.
How to Interpret Marin County Court Records
Court files use shorthand. A disposition is the outcome. A register of actions is the running list of every filing and hearing. A minute order is the court's brief note of what happened in a hearing. The biggest point to grasp is the gap between a charge and a conviction. An arrest or a filed charge is only an accusation. A conviction is a plea or a finding of guilt. Reading a record without that distinction leads people to the wrong conclusion.
Watch the party labels too. A plaintiff or petitioner starts a case. A defendant or respondent answers it. In criminal files, the People of the State of California is the plaintiff.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online data lags real life. A clerk has to enter a filing before it shows up, and busy divisions fall behind. Some events post the same day, others take longer. Sealed and confidential matters may not appear at all. When a record drives a real decision, confirm it against the certified court file rather than a screen capture.
Note: Always confirm a Marin County court record with the Court Records Division before you rely on it, since online entries can lag or omit sealed matters.
History of the Marin County Courts
The county seat is San Rafael, and the modern court grew up inside the Civic Center. Frank Lloyd Wright chose to bridge the hills with arches rather than level them. He died before construction, and his foundation finished the work. The Administration Building opened in 1962, the Hall of Justice in 1969, and the underground jail in 1994. The courtrooms follow Wright's circular theme, with curved seating and a central lectern, a clear break from the old square courtroom.
Self-represented residents are not on their own. The Legal Self-Help Center guides people through family law, small claims, guardianship, and restraining orders.
The center's hours and topics are posted on the Legal Self-Help Center page.
Staff there give legal information and point to the right forms, but they cannot give legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Marin County court records online?
Create a free Marin Superior Court ePortal account, then run a case or calendar search. Public access shows parties, filed-document descriptions, and hearings. It does not open PDF documents or minute orders from home. For those, use the Room 113 public kiosk or file a records request. More steps are on the court records page.
Where do I find divorce records?
Divorce decrees are Superior Court records, not Recorder vital records. The county Recorder's vital records page sends divorce requests to the court. The Family Law Division keeps the files. See marriage and divorce records for the full process and contacts.
How do I look up someone in the Marin County Jail?
Use the Marin County Public Booking Log linked from the Sheriff's Detention Bureau page. It lists bookings from the last 48 hours that are still in custody, plus the current in-custody list. The visible search field is last name. Details are on the inmate records page.
More answers are on the Marin County court records FAQ page.