Court records of San Mateo County, California, are available through several channels. SanMateoCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, the official website of the San Mateo County Superior Court provides online tools for case searches, the court clerk's office serves visitors in person, and public terminals in the courthouse provide additional access to case materials.
San Mateo Court System & Jurisdictions
California operates a unified trial court system — the Superior Court. In San Mateo County, there is one Superior Court (Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo), which handles all categories of cases at the county level. There are no separate district or magistrate courts here.
The Superior Court is divided into several divisions:
- Criminal Division — felonies, misdemeanors, probation violations, arrest warrants. Detailed information about the criminal case schedule and bail data can be found on the Criminal Division page.
- Civil Division — claims over $12,500, cases of unlimited and limited civil jurisdiction.
- Small Claims Court — disputes up to $12,500 for individuals.
- Family Law — divorce, child custody, alimony, domestic violence.
- Probate Division — wills, estate management, guardianship, and conservatorship.
- Traffic Division — traffic violations, ticket disputes. The court uses a separate Traffic Portal for traffic case searches.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal law violations) are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, not the county Superior Court.
San Mateo Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out about scheduled hearings today, tomorrow, or during the week, use the "Hearings/Courtroom Listing" section on the main page of the San Mateo County Superior Court. A daily list of sessions is published there, indicating the courtroom, time, and case number.
Additional ways to check the schedule:
- Open the Odyssey portal — the system allows you to search for a case by number or party name and view scheduled hearing dates.
- Call the clerk's office of the relevant court division and inquire about a specific case.
- Visit the courthouse — public terminals with the current schedule are located in the Hall of Justice lobby.
Note: the online calendar is updated with some delay. If you need a confirmed hearing date, it's better to call the court directly.
How to Get a Copy of a San Mateo Court Document
The Records Management Division stores case materials filed after 2000. You can view filed documents and information about hearing dates through the online case access system. However, this resource is not an official court record.
Certified and Non-Certified Copies
A certified copy has the court seal and confirms the document's authenticity — it is required for legal procedures. A non-certified copy is suitable for review.
How to Obtain Copies
- In person: visit the Records Management office in the Hall of Justice. Bring the case number or full name of the party.
- By mail: send a written request specifying the type of case, case number, and the document you need. Detailed instructions are available on the mail request page. Include payment in the form of a check or money order.
- Electronic access for case parties: if you are self-representing in a family or civil case, you can request Pro Per electronic access.
Types of cases for which Records Management provides copies: criminal, civil, family, probate, and guardianship cases.
For marriage, birth, or death certificates, contact the County Recorder's office, not the court. Divorce records for the period 1962–1984 are held by the California Department of Public Health.
San Mateo Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set according to the California Government Code and the court's internal fee schedule. Below are the main fees typically charged for copying and certifying court documents.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Document copy (per page) | $0.50 |
| Document certification | $40 for the first document; $25 for each additional in the same request |
| Case registry search (by name) | Free through the online portal; a fee may be charged for archival search by the clerk's office |
| Copy of hearing transcript | Depends on volume; check with the clerk's office |
Payment is accepted by check or money order payable to "Clerk of the Superior Court." Confirm current fees directly with the Records Management Division, as amounts may change.
If you need a copy of a state-level criminal history, the California Department of Justice charges a separate fee of $25 for processing a fingerprint request — details are available on the DOJ criminal records review page.