Fresno County, CA

Divorce decrees in Fresno County, California are filed at the **Fresno County Superior Court Clerk** at the main courthouse, 1100 Van Ness Ave, Fresno CA 93724, phone (559) 457-1900. Three ways to obtain a copy. (1) **Online via Fresno Superior Court Case Information** at https://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information — free public search of Family Law cases by name; returns case number, parties, filing date, and disposition (Judgment of Dissolution = divorce granted). For civil/family cases drop the final three letters of the case number when searching. (2) **In person or mail** at the Clerk's office: **certified copy fee $15.00** per judgment, plus **$0.50 per page** for each additional page; **$50 search-record fee** for cases pulled from archive (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626). Mail requests to Clerk of Court, 1100 Van Ness Ave, Fresno CA 93724. (3) **VitalChek** at https://www.vitalchek.com — California divorce certificates were issued by CDPH only for divorces 1962–1984; from 1985 onward, copies come ONLY from the Superior Court Clerk in the filing county. **Filing a new divorce in Fresno** (for context): California state filing fee **$435–$450** for Petition for Dissolution; same again for Response (Cal. Gov. Code § 70602.5). Uncontested divorce typically runs $500–$2,000 + court fees through completion (2–4 months). **Sealed cases** (e.g., DV-related, financial-disclosure orders) are not visible to the public. **Older divorces** (pre-2000) often require an in-person archive search. **Apostille** for international use: get the certified copy first, then submit to California Secretary of State, 1500 11th St, Sacramento CA 95814. Sources: Fresno County Superior Court, FresnoRecords.org, Divorce.com Fresno, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.

Court records for Fresno, California are with the **Fresno County Superior Court**, which serves all of Fresno County. **Free public case search** at https://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information — covers Civil, Criminal, Family Law, Probate, Small Claims, and Traffic; non-confidential, non-sealed cases. Search by name or case number. **Note**: for civil cases, drop the final three letters of the case number before searching. **Main courthouse**: 1100 Van Ness Ave, Fresno CA 93724; Civil Court at 1130 O Street, Fresno CA 93721, phone (559) 457-1900; Tentative Rulings line (559) 457-4943. **Document copies**: $0.50 per page uncertified, **$15.00 certified copy** of any judgment or document, plus a **$50 search-record fee** if Clerk's staff has to retrieve archived files (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626). Online services include eFiling, traffic-fine payment, and tentative-rulings lookup. **What's not visible**: sealed cases (juvenile, certain DV orders, expunged matters, family-court files involving minors), confidential CHRI. **Federal cases** (separate system): PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov, $0.10 per page (capped $3 per document). The Fresno U.S. District Court is at 2500 Tulare St, Fresno CA 93721. **Older cases** (pre-2000) often require an in-person archive request — call the Clerk first to confirm digitization. **Self-Help Center** for procedure questions: https://www.fresno.courts.ca.gov/general-information/court-information. Sources: Fresno County Superior Court, California Courts, FresnoRecords.org, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.

An official California criminal background check runs through the **California Department of Justice (DOJ)** at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. **The process**: (1) Get a Live Scan fingerprint capture at any participating vendor — IdentoGO https://www.identogo.com, Certifix Live Scan https://www.certifixlivescan.com, A1 Live Scan https://a1livescan.com, or any participating police/sheriff records counter. Find a vendor at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. (2) Complete the **BCIA 8016RR form** at https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/BCIA-8016RR.pdf — Personal Record Review. (3) Pay the **$25 California DOJ state fee** plus rolling fee at the vendor (typically $20–$50, total $45–$90). For an FBI national-level check, add the federal fee (~$17). **Fee waiver** at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review/fee-waiver. Turnaround 5–10 business days; results mailed only — no email or PDF. **Court records** (separate from criminal history): each county Superior Court has its own portal — California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm. **Sex-offender check**: California Megan's Law at https://meganslaw.ca.gov. **For employment use**, you cannot pull someone else's CA DOJ record without permissible-use justification under Penal Code § 11105 — vendors (Checkr, Sterling, GoodHire) wrap state, FBI, court, county, and MVR into one FCRA-compliant report. **California Fair Chance Act** (Gov. Code § 12952): employers with 5+ employees cannot ask about convictions until after a conditional offer. **Limits**: CA DOJ check covers California convictions only; federal cases need PACER ($0.10/page); juvenile and sealed cases excluded. **Accuracy disputes**: form BCIA 8706. Sources: California DOJ, BCIA 8016RR, Penal Code § 11105, Cal. Gov. Code § 12952.

Why some California cases are investigated and others are not is a function of **prosecutorial discretion**, **agency case-screening policies**, and **resource constraints** — all rooted in California law and standard practice. **Decision-making framework**: (1) **Initial investigation** — the responding officer or detective decides whether the report warrants further investigation based on (a) likelihood of solvability (witness availability, physical evidence, suspect identification), (b) seriousness of offense, (c) available resources. Most departments use a **Case Screening Form** following IACP standards. (2) **District Attorney charging decision** — even if police investigate and recommend charges, the **San Luis Obispo County DA** at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/District-Attorney decides whether to file under California Penal Code §§ 691, 1382, and the **California Rules of Professional Conduct 3.8** (Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor). The DA must believe there is probable cause AND a reasonable likelihood of conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. (3) **Common reasons cases are NOT pursued**: insufficient evidence, statute of limitations expired (varies by offense — Penal Code §§ 799–805), uncooperative victim/witnesses, victim recantation, conflicting evidence, jurisdictional issues, suspect deceased or fled, low priority for limited investigative resources. (4) **Right to know status of your case**: file a CPRA request under Cal. Gov. Code § 7920 with the investigating agency or DA. As a victim or complainant under Marsy's Law (Cal. Const. Art. I § 28), you have a right to be notified of the case's status. **Paso Robles** falls under Paso Robles PD (https://www.prcity.com/167/Police-Department) and SLO County Sheriff at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Sheriff-Coroner. **For an unprosecuted case you believe should be pursued**: contact the DA Victim/Witness Assistance program; consider a **citizen's complaint**; consider a **civil suit** (lower burden of proof than criminal — preponderance of the evidence). Sources: California Penal Code §§ 691, 799–805; California Rules of Professional Conduct 3.8; Marsy's Law (Cal. Const. Art. I § 28); San Luis Obispo County DA; Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.

Arrest records for Barstow, California (San Bernardino County) come from one of two agencies depending on where the arrest happened. (1) **Barstow Police Department** for arrests inside Barstow city limits — 220 E Mountain View St, Barstow CA 92311, phone (760) 256-2211, https://www.barstowca.org/government/departments/police-department. CPRA records request via the city portal. (2) **San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office (SBSO), Barstow Station** for arrests in unincorporated areas surrounding Barstow — 225 East Mountain View St, Barstow CA 92311, phone (760) 256-4838. SBSO operates the **High Desert Detention Center (HDDC)** in Adelanto, where Barstow felony arrestees are typically transferred. (3) **SBSO Inmate Locator** at https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/corrections/inmate-locator/ — current detainees countywide. Records & ID Bureau at 655 E 3rd St, San Bernardino CA 92415, phone (909) 387-3700. (4) **SBSO Dispatch Call Log** at https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/media-center/dispatch-call-log-2/ — searchable public log of recent calls including Barstow County, Adelanto, Apple Valley, Big Bear, etc. (5) **Court records** for arrests that produced a charge — San Bernardino Superior Court at https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov; the **Barstow District Courthouse** at 235 E Mountain View St, Barstow CA 92311 hears felony, misdemeanor, traffic, family, and probate matters from the area. (6) **State prison**: CDCR inmate search at https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. (7) **Personal record review**: California DOJ Live Scan at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints, $25 state fee. **CPRA** (Cal. Gov. Code § 7920): 10-day response window; booking photos public per Penal Code § 13300; body-cam OIS footage releasable within 45 days under SB 1421/AB 748. Sources: Barstow PD, San Bernardino County Sheriff, San Bernardino Superior Court, CDCR, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.

Probate cases for Lancaster, California are filed at the **Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Courthouse — Probate Department** at **42011 4th St West, Lancaster CA 93534**, phone (661) 974-7311. **Three steps**: (1) **Find the case** via LA Superior Court Online Services at https://www.lacourt.org — free name search of probate cases (decedent, conservator, guardian); returns case number and document docket. (2) **Order copies** at the Clerk's office — **certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page** (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626); non-certified $0.50 per page; **search-record fee $50** for archived files. Online ordering also available at https://www.lacourt.org. (3) **Visit in person** if the case is older than ~20 years and not yet digitized; the LA Probate Central operates out of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown (111 N Hill St, LA), but Antelope Valley's local probate department keeps cases filed in Lancaster. **Probate filing fees** (LA County 2026 schedule, https://lascpubstorage.blob.core.windows.net/cpw/LIBSVCExecutiveSupport-397-2026FeeSchedule010126.pdf): **First-filed Petition for Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary $435** (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650); **Probate Referee fee** ~0.1% of appraised non-cash assets (minimum $150). For estates **under $184,500 personal + $61,500 real property**, simplified small-estate procedures (Cal. Prob. Code § 13100) skip full probate. **Important**: a will alone does NOT transfer property — it must be probated to be enforceable. **Sealed**: family-conservatorship matters and certain juvenile probate guardianships are not publicly visible. Sources: LA County Superior Court Probate, LA 2026 Fee Schedule, SwiftProbate LA Guide, Cal. Gov. Code § 70650, Cal. Prob. Code § 13100.