Court records in San Bernardino County, California, are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court of the county and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court office. SanBernardinoCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about court cases in this county. Additional access points include the official Superior Court website, the case information and document sales page, and the county government portal.
San Bernardino Court System Overview
San Bernardino County is served by the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino—a state court of general jurisdiction that handles criminal, civil, family, probate, and other categories of cases. Geographically, it is the largest county in the U.S. by area, so the court operates through several district branches. At the federal level, the county is part of the Central District of California (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California). The main building of the Superior Court is located in the city of San Bernardino.
The court has branches in Barstow, Big Bear, Chino, Fontana, Joshua Tree, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, and other cities in the county, allowing residents of remote areas not to travel to the central building.
Courts Serving San Bernardino
Residents of the county are served by several courts at both the state and federal levels.
State Court
Federal Court
Federal cases involving county residents are usually heard at the Riverside branch, as there is no separate federal building in the city of San Bernardino.
What Types of Cases San Bernardino Courts Hear
The Superior Court of the county hears virtually all categories of cases provided by California law. Here are the main ones:
- Criminal cases — felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil cases — general claims, small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, alimony, protective orders
- Probate — estate management, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases — offenses, child protection, adoption
- Traffic violations — fines, DUI
District Court Cases in San Bernardino
In California's system, there is no separate "district court" at the state level—the Superior Court performs all these functions. Serious criminal cases (felonies) begin with a preliminary hearing, after which a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial. Civil claims over $25,000 also go to the general civil division of the court.
Cases are assigned to judges according to the court's internal rules, taking into account the category of the case and the geographical location of the branch. Appeals from the Superior Court's decisions are filed with the Fourth District Court of Appeal. The District Attorney's Office represents the prosecution in criminal cases.
Magistrate Court Cases in San Bernardino
California does not have separate magistrate courts. The Superior Court hears all categories of cases, including those that in other states would fall under the jurisdiction of a magistrate:
- Misdemeanors and infractions — petty theft, vandalism, public disorder
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Traffic violations and DUI — arraignment and subsequent hearings
- Small claims cases — up to $10,000 for individuals (up to $5,000 for businesses)
- Civil cases with limited jurisdiction — claims up to $25,000
The specific court branch depends on the defendant's residence or the location of the event. Judges are assigned to different categories of cases depending on the workload of the specific branch.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in San Bernardino
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, alimony, paternity establishment, and protective orders are handled by the family law division of the Superior Court. To file for divorce in this county, one of the spouses must have resided here for at least three months. Local forms for family cases are available on the court's website.
Probate
Estate cases, adult conservatorship, minor guardianship, and trust disputes are handled by the probate division. These cases are usually conducted at the San Bernardino Justice Center. If the estate is small, California allows a simplified procedure without full probate.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile criminal offenses and child protection cases (Child Protective Services) are heard by a separate juvenile division. These records are confidential under California law—only the parties to the case and authorized persons have access to them.
How Cases Move Through the San Bernardino Court System
- Filing a Complaint: a criminal case begins with a prosecutor's complaint or police report; a civil case begins with a complaint or petition.
- Judge Assignment: the case is assigned to a specific judge and division according to category and geography.
- First Hearing: in criminal cases—arraignment (charge announcement and defendant's plea); in civil cases—a case management conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: exchange of evidence (discovery), filing motions, in criminal cases—possible plea bargaining.
- Trial: jury or bench trial, settlement, plea, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: in criminal cases—sentencing; in civil cases—judgment enforcement. Either party may appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in San Bernardino
The administrative management of the Superior Court of the county is carried out by the Presiding Judge in conjunction with the Court Executive Officer. Local court rules and necessary forms are published on the local forms and rules page.
Regarding public access:
- Most court records in California are public under the California Public Records Act and the Judicial Council of California rules. More about the law can be found on the State Attorney General's website.
- Confidential records include juvenile cases, sealed records, some family cases, and medical data.
- Hearings can be attended in person. Some hearings are available remotely—check with the office of the specific branch.
To obtain official copies of documents, contact the court office or use the online document ordering service.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in San Bernardino
- Case Search: the case information and document sales page allows you to obtain case data, including remote access to some records.
- Court Forms and Self-Help Resources: local forms are available for download; the court also offers assistance programs for self-represented litigants.
- Inmate Search: the Sheriff's Department Inmate Locator allows you to find individuals held in local facilities.
- Arrest Logs: the city of San Bernardino police arrest logs are published online.
- Law Enforcement Public Records: requests for police reports and other documents can be submitted through the Sheriff's Department public records page.
- Vital Records: divorce certificates and other documents are issued by the California Department of Public Health.
- Criminal Background Check (Live Scan): the Live Scan locations list from the California Department of Justice helps find the nearest fingerprinting site.
- Sex Offender Registry: the Megan's Law database is available on the official California Department of Justice website (meganslaw.ca.gov).
- District Attorney's Office: the District Attorney's Office provides information for victims and updates on criminal cases.
- Property Records: the interactive assessor's map and the Recorder-Clerk self-service system allow searching for property documents.