Divorce records in San Bernardino County, California, are available through several channels. SanBernardinoCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about divorce records in the county. Additionally, documents can be obtained directly from the San Bernardino County Superior Court, the County Recorder-Clerk's office, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which maintains a statewide registry of vital records, including divorce certificates.
San Bernardino Divorce Records Search
Divorce cases in San Bernardino County are handled by the Family Law Division of the California Superior Court. The court's office keeps a complete court file: petitions, divorce decrees, property division agreements, custody and support orders. The state office of vital records — CDPH — maintains a separate registry of divorce certificates, which record the fact of divorce without details of the court proceedings. To search for court documents, use the Court Case Information and Document Sales portal.
San Bernardino Superior Court — Family Law Division
To obtain a divorce certificate at the state level, contact CDPH — Vital Records at MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in San Bernardino
In California, dissolution of marriage cases are filed in the Superior Court of the county where one of the spouses has resided for at least three months. In San Bernardino County, this is the Superior Court, Family Law Division. Once a final decision is made by a judge, the decree is stored in the court's office.
CDPH also receives notification of each divorce and issues what are known as divorce certificates — brief documents confirming the fact of divorce. These two documents are not the same.
- Need a full copy of the court's decision, property agreement, or custody order? Contact the Superior Court's office.
- Need an official certificate of divorce for another state or country? Order a divorce certificate from CDPH Vital Records.
San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk
The Recorder-Clerk can assist with some vital records. The Self-Service system is available for searching the county's public records. However, divorce court documents are stored in the court, not in the Recorder's office.
Local forms for family cases, including divorce procedures, can be downloaded from the San Bernardino County Local Forms page.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in San Bernardino
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (uncertified) — Superior Court | $0.50 per page | During visit or 5–10 business days by mail |
| Certified copy of court document — Superior Court | $25 per document plus $0.50 for each additional page | During visit or 5–10 business days by mail |
| Divorce certificate (Certified Copy) — CDPH | $18 | From several weeks to several months depending on submission method |
| Record search in CDPH registry (if exact date is unknown) | Included in the $18 fee | Additional search time |