Find the San Bernardino Court Case First—Then Get the File, Family-Law Record or Certified Copy You Actually Need
San Bernardino Superior Court uses the Court Access Portal, or CAP, but not every search starts the same way. A case number or citation is the quickest route. Searching a person or business name is now free, but the court still requires a CAP login and both a starting and ending filing date.
The bigger trap is assuming an online result equals the complete court file. Older cases can have limited data, some public documents are courthouse-only, confidential files use separate access rules, and birth certificates do not come from the court at all. This guide routes each task to the correct system before you spend time or money.
What Do You Have in Front of You Right Now?
The best search method depends on the identifier you already possess. Do not create an account or pay for copies before checking the simplest route.
Use CAP Case Information. The current public screen accepts a case-number search without making you start with a person’s name.
Case-number workflowName searching is free, but the court requires a public CAP account plus both filing-date fields.
Name-search workflowLocate the case first, identify the exact filing, then choose online document access or a clerk copy request.
Document workflowBirth certificates are Recorder-Clerk vital records. CAP and the court clerk are the wrong destinations.
Birth-record workflowUnderstand CAP Before You Search: Three Tasks, Three Different Access Levels
San Bernardino Superior Court calls its online system the Court Access Portal (CAP). Search engines sometimes describe it as a “Smart Search” portal, but the court’s own terminology is CAP, Case Information, Name Search, Quick Search and Advanced Search.
Use the public Case Information screen first when an official identifier is already available.
Register and sign in. The name search itself is free, but it is not an anonymous search.
A docket entry does not guarantee the document image can be downloaded remotely. Some records require the clerk or courthouse.
If You Have a Case Number or Citation, Use It Before Searching a Name
A known court identifier is normally the shortest path because it avoids similar names, alternate spellings and the 200-result name-search ceiling.
The public Case Information screen requires a minimum of 5 and maximum of 16 alphanumeric characters for a case-number search.
Do not guess or enter only the last few digits if the complete citation is visible on the original notice or ticket.
Where to find the number before searching a person
- Hearing notice
- Complaint or petition
- Minute order
- Judgment or decree
- Traffic citation
- Attorney correspondence
- Clerk receipt
- Earlier court filing
How to Search San Bernardino County Court Records by Name Without Hiding the Case
The court’s own Name Search FAQ answers several questions that generic lookup pages miss: login is mandatory, middle name is optional, both filing-date fields are mandatory, DOB and driver’s-license searches are unavailable, alias searching is unavailable, and no more than 200 records are returned.
- Register or sign in to a normal public CAP account. Name Search cannot be performed without logging in.
- Enter the known first and last name. Do not invent a middle name to make the result appear more precise.
- Leave the middle-name field blank when uncertain. The court specifically says middle name is optional and leaving it blank produces a broader search.
- Enter Filing Date From. This is the date range for when the court case was filed—not necessarily the incident, arrest, marriage, separation or hearing date.
- Enter Filing Date To. Both filing-date fields are required, and the From date must precede the To date.
-
Use the required date format.
The court’s published instructions use
mm/dd/yyyy. - Run the broadest sensible first search. If you do not know the exact filing date, use a reasonable earlier From date and a current To date rather than entering a guessed exact day.
- Use Advanced Search when case type is known. After login, the court says Case Type can be used to narrow the results.
- Open the candidate case and verify it. Compare case number, case type, filing location, party role, dates and case activity.
Start here. Add the middle name only if you know it and need to narrow a long result list.
If the record does not appear, widen the filing-date range before assuming the court has no case.
Use Advanced Search only when the civil, criminal, family or other case category is actually known.
Can you search by date of birth?
No. The court’s current Name Search FAQ says public CAP name searching does not permit DOB searching and cites California Rule of Court 2.507(c).
Can you search by driver’s-license number?
No. The same official FAQ says that is not an available public search criterion.
Can you click an alias-name option?
No. The court says searching by a person’s alias name is not available in Name Search. If you legitimately know another name the person used, run that name as a separate search rather than assuming CAP automatically combines aliases.
What happens after 200 matches?
The court says it provides up to 200 records in a name search. A 200-result screen should therefore trigger a narrower search—not the conclusion that the desired case does not exist.
Ignore the Old “Search Credits” Price Warning in Legacy CAP Screenshots
This is a real conflict inside the court’s own published materials, and understanding it can prevent unnecessary payment concerns.
An older CAP Case Search instruction PDF still contains screenshots and wording that say party and business searches require login and “search credits.” That part is outdated.
The Superior Court later issued an official public notice stating that, effective December 1, 2023, it would no longer charge the public to perform name searches through CAP. The notice says the change applies to standard, quick and advanced search methods.
Create a Public CAP Account Without Accidentally Requesting Elevated Access
The court’s registration PDF includes one small but useful warning: an ordinary public user should not select Request Elevated Access.
- Start from the court’s Access Court Case Information route. Read and accept the portal terms.
- Choose Login/Register. Select Register from the account menu.
- Complete the normal registration fields. Use a working email address because the account needs email verification.
- Leave “Request Elevated Access” unchecked. Ordinary public name searching does not require elevated access.
- Submit the registration and check your email. Use the activation link supplied by CAP.
- Return to CAP and sign in. Then run the Name Search or other logged-in search you need.
How to Decide Whether a San Bernardino Name Match Is Actually the Right Case
A similar name is only the beginning. San Bernardino’s large geographic court system makes filing location and case category especially important identity checks.
| Check | Why it matters | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | Unique identifier for reopening and requesting the case. | A same-name person is the intended person. |
| Case type | Separates civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate and other proceedings. | Every result with the name concerns the same event. |
| Filing location | San Bernardino County operates multiple courthouse districts. | A downtown San Bernardino office holds every county case. |
| Party role | A person may be plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent or another participant. | Being listed means the person lost or was found liable. |
| Latest activity | Later orders, dismissal, judgment or amended charges can change the meaning of an older entry. | The first allegation or complaint is the final outcome. |
If a portal term is unclear, use the site’s Court Records Glossary for plain-language definitions before making assumptions.
Older San Bernardino Cases Can Require a Different Search Strategy
The Superior Court currently warns that case data for civil cases filed before 1998 may be limited. Older physical files can also be stored away from the courthouse or partially replaced by electronic records.
If the online case looks incomplete
Do not assume missing online entries mean the original file never contained more material. The court is converting paper records to electronic records and specifically tells users to contact the appropriate Court District for older cases.
If the physical file is off-site
The court’s public-file instructions say a file that must be ordered from the court’s records center can take up to a week to reach the courthouse.
If you see a thin physical folder
The court warns that some physical case files may no longer contain every document because many records are available only electronically during the transition to digital records.
A Public Court Record Can Still Be Unavailable From Your Home Computer
The court’s records guide makes an important distinction between public access and remote electronic access. Some material that can lawfully be viewed at the courthouse cannot be displayed through CAP from outside the courthouse.
Case information and qualifying document images may be available online.
The court says some publicly available records must be viewed at the courthouse with jurisdiction.
Sealed, adoption, juvenile and other confidential files require authorization or special procedures.
Named party requesting restricted documents
The court instructs a named party seeking restricted material to present a driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification for verification. For a confidential-case copy request by mail, include a copy of identification with the request.
Juvenile records
Juvenile file access uses specialized procedures. The court’s records guide refers users who do not otherwise qualify for access to form JV-570 rather than treating juvenile files as ordinary CAP records.
Adoption records
The court states that adoption files can be viewed only by parties with a court order permitting access.
No San Bernardino Case Appeared? Use This Recovery Order
Change one thing at a time. That makes it possible to tell whether the problem is the name, date range, case type, historical coverage, filing district or access restriction.
The court says middle name is optional. A wrong middle name can hide an otherwise correct result.
The case filing date may differ from the incident, arrest, separation or hearing date you remember.
CAP returns up to 200 name records. Use a reliable case type or filing period to reduce them.
The official FAQ says alias-name searching is not built into Name Search.
The court specifically warns that pre-1998 civil case data can be limited online.
Ask the record-holding district whether in-person inspection is the proper route.
- Check existing paperwork for a case number. This is the fastest way to bypass name ambiguity.
- Search first and last name without a guessed middle name. Keep both required filing dates populated.
- Widen the filing-date range. Do not confuse filing date with hearing date.
- Use Advanced Search only with a reliable case type. Do not choose a category simply because it sounds plausible.
- Search another known name separately. CAP does not automatically provide alias searching.
- Verify which court district should hold the file. San Bernardino County cases are distributed among several locations.
- For older or incomplete records, contact the district. Ask whether the record is electronic, on-site or stored at the records center.
“I am trying to locate a San Bernardino County [case type] matter involving [name], probably filed around [year]. I could not locate it through CAP. Can you confirm whether this is the correct district and whether an older or non-remote file requires a clerk search or in-person request?”
Family Law Records: Call the Family Law Division, Not the Civil Clerk or Family Court Services
Family-law searches often become confusing because the courthouse has several services with similar names. For a San Bernardino District divorce, custody or other family-law case file, the Family Law Division is the records route.
Family Law Division — San Bernardino District
351 North Arrowhead Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0245
Phone: 909-521-3136
Building hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
The division offers appointments specifically for copy requests and file viewing
The court’s current Family Law location page provides a dedicated Copy Requests & File Viewing appointment option. If you already know the case number, that can be more efficient than arriving with only a name and asking staff to determine what record you need.
Mail the record request to the right division
The Family Law page warns that mailed documents need the correct division and ZIP+4 information so the submission reaches the proper clerk’s office:
Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino
San Bernardino District – Attn: Family Law
351 N. Arrowhead Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0245
Drop-box detail
The Family Law location page says its main-entrance drop box accepts properly completed documents with check or money-order payment—no cash. A document deposited before 4:00 p.m. is marked received the same date.
Downtown parking can be limited
The court lists several nearby lots, including three-hour parking at the San Bernardino Justice Center lot and all-day options near Mt. View/4th Street and other nearby blocks. Check the current court parking information before relying on a specific lot.
How to Request an Actual San Bernardino Court Document
Do not send a vague request for “everything about this person.” Find the case first, identify the exact filing and then ask for the copy type you actually need.
Use CAP to locate it before asking court staff to perform a manual search.
Examples: final judgment, divorce decree, sentencing order, complaint or minute order.
Ask the receiving agency whether a certified copy is actually required.
Copy, research, certification, exemplification and postage charges can apply differently.
Current San Bernardino records-related fees
| Service | Current published amount | User tip |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary copy | $0.50 per page | A two-sided document counts as two pages in the court’s file-viewing guidance. |
| Certified Family Law Judgment | $15 plus copy charges | The current Copy Request Form specifically lists a certified divorce decree at $15 per decree. |
| Other certification | $40 per certified document plus copy charges | Do not pay for certification if an ordinary copy satisfies your purpose. |
| Compare copy with original | $1 per page | This is different from ordinary copying. |
| Exemplification | $50 plus copy charges | Use only when the receiving authority specifically requires this higher authentication. |
| Research | $15 if the search exceeds 10 minutes | Finding the case number yourself can reduce the need for a broad staff search. |
Mail request checklist
- Use the court’s current Copy Request Form.
- Include the case number and parties’ names.
- List the specific document or documents requested.
- Include filing-date information when known.
- Ask the correct district for a fee estimate and payment instructions.
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with adequate postage.
- For an entitled requester seeking confidential-case copies by mail, include required photo-ID documentation.
“I need a [certified/uncertified] copy of [document title] in case [case number]. Please confirm the current copy, certification and mailing total and the correct payment method before I submit the request.”
If you are unsure whether you need a docket, judgment, decree or certified copy, see Court Record Types Explained before ordering.
Viewing Files at the Courthouse: Five at a Time Does Not Mean Five Per Day
San Bernardino’s file-viewing rules are unusually specific and useful for researchers. The clerk limits how many files are released to one customer at once, but the court does not state a five-file daily maximum for ordinary customers.
Ordinary customer: five cases at one time
The court says a customer can have up to five cases available for viewing at a time. After reviewing those files, the customer returns to the end of the line to request additional files.
There is no daily customer file limit in the current instruction sheet
The court expressly says there is no limit to how many court files a customer can view in a day. The five-case rule is therefore a batch limit, not a daily cap.
Professional researchers: up to 25 at one time
A verified professional researcher may request up to 25 files at a time. The court requires professional verification status.
Mark pages with the supplied paper clips
The court says paper clips are provided so users can mark the pages or groups of pages they want copied. The clerk makes the copies after the file is returned to the window.
Never remove documents from the court file
Files and documents must remain under clerk control and must not be removed or altered.
Remote Civil Documents Cost $0.50 Per Page—But Only Publicly Viewable Documents Qualify
For civil cases, the court currently offers remote document access at $0.50 per page. It also makes clear that only documents legally permitted for public viewing can be accessed remotely.
Use a docket entry to identify the correct document before buying
- Open the correct case.
- Review the docket or document list.
- Identify the exact filing by title and date.
- Confirm it is the filing that answers your question.
- Purchase only the needed remote image when available.
Need What Was Said at a Hearing? A Transcript Is Not the Same as a Case Copy
A docket shows that a hearing occurred. A transcript records the spoken proceeding when a reporter created the record. San Bernardino has a separate transcript-request process.
Information to prepare for an official-reporter transcript request
- Your name and telephone number
- Case name
- Case number
- Date of proceeding
- Name of judge
- Courtroom number
- Courthouse where the hearing or trial occurred
- Subject line: Transcript Request
The court says the official reporter will provide an estimate of cost and payment arrangements. It advises allowing about one week to be contacted with that estimate.
Do Not Use “Administrative Records Request” to Ask for a Court Case
This is an easy routing mistake. San Bernardino Superior Court has an Administrative Records Request page, but the court explicitly says it is not for case records.
Examples of the distinction:
Complaint, court order, judgment, docket, family-law decree, criminal filing or other case document.
Records about judicial administration that fall within the court’s Rule 10.500 process.
San Bernardino County Birth Certificates Come From the Recorder-Clerk, Not Superior Court
This search variation deserves its own route because the county’s Recorder-Clerk expressly says it does not maintain court records, divorce filings or traffic tickets.
San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk
Hall of Records
222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Recorder-Clerk Services: 909-387-8306
Current birth-certificate price
The county currently lists a San Bernardino County birth certificate at $34.
Mailed certified-copy application must be notarized
For a certified copy by mail, the county instructs applicants to complete the application and obtain notarization. An informational copy does not require the same notary acknowledgment.
Current mail charges effective July 1, 2026
Current county mail fee listed for standard mailing.
Current county priority-mail fee.
How long does a mailed vital-record request take?
The Recorder-Clerk currently lists approximately 3–4 weeks for mailed birth, death and marriage certificate requests, measured from receipt by the office.
Online vital-record ordering can also take time
The county’s Vitals Access route warns that additional service fees apply and online processing may take up to 2–3 weeks.
Special delay for 1972–1977 birth certificates
San Bernardino County warns that Social Security numbers must be redacted from birth certificates from 1972 through 1977 before issuance, which can delay those requests.
Need a divorce decree instead?
The Recorder-Clerk explicitly directs divorce-decree searchers back to the court because the Recorder-Clerk does not maintain court records.
San Bernardino Court Records Phone Numbers: Call the Division That Holds the Matter
There is no single countywide records number that is best for every case. Verify the filing district in CAP, then call the correct division.
| Record / division | Current contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Civil — San Bernardino District | 909-708-8678 247 W. Third Street |
Civil case, older civil record or district-specific file questions. |
| Criminal — San Bernardino District | 909-384-1888 247 W. Third Street |
Criminal division case and clerk routing. |
| Family Law — San Bernardino District | 909-521-3136 351 N. Arrowhead Avenue |
Divorce, family-law copy and file-viewing questions. |
| Recorder-Clerk Vital Records | 909-387-8306 222 W. Hospitality Lane |
Birth, death and marriage certificates—not court cases. |
| CAP technical problem | courts-capfeedback@sb-court.org | Portal error messages or technical search problems. The court says case questions will not receive a reply through this technical contact. |
Do not assume downtown San Bernardino holds every county case
San Bernardino County also operates courts in locations including Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, Fontana, Joshua Tree, Needles and Barstow. Check the filing location before traveling.
San Bernardino Justice Center: Civil and Criminal Record Visits
San Bernardino Justice Center
247 West Third Street
San Bernardino, CA 92415
The court currently lists Civil Division building/service hours as Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., excluding court holidays.
Driving from I-215
The court’s current Civil Division directions say to exit I-215 at Second Street, travel east, turn left onto North Arrowhead Avenue, and find the Justice Center at the southeast corner of Third Street and Arrowhead Avenue.
Parking choices published by the court
- Justice Center parking lot at Arrowhead Avenue and Third Street — three-hour parking.
- Mt. View and Fourth Street — all-day parking.
- Arrowhead Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets — all-day parking.
- South side of Second Street between Arrowhead Avenue and Mt. View — all-day parking.
- Arrowhead Avenue and Fifth Street — three-hour parking.
10 Practical Questions About San Bernardino County Court Records
What is the official San Bernardino County court records portal?
The Superior Court uses the Court Access Portal, commonly called CAP. Start there for public case information rather than a third-party people-search or background-check page.
Is San Bernardino County court-record name searching free?
Yes. San Bernardino Superior Court eliminated public CAP name-search fees effective December 1, 2023. A public CAP login is still required for party-name and business-name searching.
Can I search CAP without creating an account?
The public Case Information screen provides case-number and citation searches. The court’s Name Search FAQ says a party-name search requires registration and login.
Why does San Bernardino Name Search require two dates?
The court requires both Filing Date From and Filing Date To. If the exact filing date is unknown, use a reasonable broader range. Do not substitute the hearing or incident date unless it is also the filing date.
Can I search San Bernardino court cases by date of birth?
No. The court’s current Name Search FAQ says DOB searching is unavailable in the public name-search function and cites California Rule of Court 2.507(c).
How many name-search results does CAP return?
The court says it provides up to 200 records. If the list is too broad, narrow it with a reliable filing period or case type rather than assuming records beyond the display do not exist.
How much is an ordinary San Bernardino court-record copy?
The court’s current records guidance and Copy Request Form list ordinary copies at $0.50 per page. Certification, exemplification, research and mailing can add separate charges.
How much is a certified San Bernardino divorce decree?
The current Copy Request Form lists a Certified Divorce Decree at $15 per decree, with applicable copy charges. Confirm the final amount with the record-holding Family Law clerk before sending payment.
How many court files can I inspect in one day?
The court says ordinary customers may receive five cases for viewing at one time, then return to the line for more. Its current instruction sheet says there is no limit on how many court files a customer may view in a day.
Where do I get a San Bernardino County birth certificate?
Use the San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk, not Superior Court. The county currently lists a $34 birth-certificate fee and separate mail, in-person and online ordering procedures.
Use a Court-Record Search as a Navigation Tool, Not an Identity Verdict
San Bernardino CAP can help locate a public case, but a same-name result is not sufficient proof that you have identified the intended person.
- A criminal charge is not automatically a conviction.
- A civil complaint is not automatically a judgment.
- A filed motion is not automatically granted.
- A docket entry is not necessarily the full text of the filing.
- An online result is not a certified copy.
- A blank CAP screen does not automatically mean no courthouse-accessible record exists.
- Do not attempt to bypass sealed, juvenile, adoption or other restricted-record rules.
PublicCourtRecords.org is not a consumer reporting agency. Review the site’s FCRA and Consumer Reporting Notice before attempting to use public-record information for employment, tenant, credit, insurance, licensing or other eligibility decisions.
Official Sources Checked for This San Bernardino Court Records Guide
For this site’s editorial verification process, see the live Source Verification and Manual Checking Policy.
CAP access, name-search rules, current free-search status, registration instructions, remote-access limitations, older-case coverage, copy charges, file-viewing rules, Family Law contact information, transcript procedure and Recorder-Clerk birth-record requirements were reviewed against current official court and county sources.
Court interfaces, forms, fees, office hours, parking, file locations and public-access rules can change. The current San Bernardino Superior Court or San Bernardino County record custodian controls when its instructions differ from this guide.