Court records of Santa Barbara County, California, are available through several channels. SantaBarbaraCourt.us allows quick access to public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, the Superior Court of the county offers an online case records search, and the Court Records department serves visitors in person. Public terminals in court buildings are also open for case viewing during business hours.
Santa Barbara Court System & Jurisdictions
California operates a unified Superior Court system — one court per county. The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara handles virtually all categories of cases at the state level.
Here are the main court divisions and the types of cases they handle:
- Criminal Division — felonies, misdemeanors, probation violations. The online criminal case index is currently unavailable; to view a file, you need to visit the Records window in person.
- Civil Division — claims over $25,000, contract disputes, tort cases.
- Small Claims — claims up to $12,500 (for individuals). The procedure is simplified, and an attorney is not required.
- Family Law — divorce, child custody, alimony, domestic violence. Many documents in this category have restricted access.
- Probate — estate cases, guardianship, conservatorship.
- Traffic — traffic violations, fines, DUI cases (DUI falls under the criminal division).
Federal cases — bankruptcy, violations of federal law — are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, not the county's Superior Court.
Santa Barbara Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week can be checked in several ways. The quickest is to use the Case Records Search page on the court's website by entering the case number or party's last name.
If the case number is unknown:
- Go to the court records search page.
- Enter the participant's last and first name.
- Open the desired case in the search results — scheduled hearing dates will be displayed there.
The court also publishes information about office hours and schedule changes on the main page of its website. Note: during holidays and shortened workdays, phone hours and access to public records may be limited.
There are restrictions on viewing electronic court records from outside the courthouse. As explained by the Judicial Branch of California, not all types of cases are available for remote viewing — for example, family cases and domestic violence cases are often closed to online access.
How to Get a Copy of a Santa Barbara Court Document
The court issues two types of copies: regular (uncertified) and certified. A certified copy has the court's official seal and confirms the authenticity of the document — it is required for submission to other institutions, immigration procedures, or appeals.
Ways to Obtain Copies
- In person. Visit the Court Records department during business hours. Fill out the Copy Request Form — instructions are available on the Court Records page.
- By mail. Send the completed copy request form along with payment to the appropriate office address (see below).
- Online. Some civil records can be found through online search, but obtaining a certified copy usually requires an in-person visit or a mail request.
Addresses of Court Records Departments
For a mail request, specify the case number, document names, number of copies, and type (regular or certified). Include a self-addressed envelope and payment.
Criminal cases require an in-person visit — the online criminal records index is currently unavailable.
Santa Barbara Court Records Fees & Payment
The fees are determined by the California Government Code (Government Code § 70600 et seq.) and local court rules. Below is an approximate table of the main fees — it is recommended to verify exact amounts directly with the court clerk.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular copy of a document (per page) | $0.50 |
| Document certification | $40 per document |
| Registry search (by name, for a period up to 5 years) | $15 |
| Registry search (each additional 5 years) | $15 |
| Copy of court judgment | $0.50 per page + certification fee |
The court accepts payment by check, money order, and typically credit/debit cards when visiting in person. Checks and money orders should be made payable to "Clerk of the Superior Court." Cash is not accepted at all windows — confirm in advance.
If you need information about arrest warrants, contact the county sheriff at (805) 681-4330. For searching individuals in custody, there is an online Who Is In Custody tool provided by the Sheriff's Office.