Superior Court

Santa Clara County CA Superior Court handles civil lawsuits, criminal cases, family matters, probate proceedings, juvenile cases, small claims, and traffic infractions. The correct courthouse, clerk’s office, and online service depend on the type of case and the task you need to complete. This article explains how to identify the responsible division, access case information, request records, prepare electronic filings, locate hearing services, resolve traffic questions, and respond to a jury summons.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Services

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara provides access to its divisions, court forms, self-help services, hearing information, and clerk’s offices. Its website also provides court closure notices, local rules, language access information, and links to courtroom calendars. These services serve different purposes: searching for a case does not file a document, reserve a hearing, or request a copy of a court record.

Before selecting a service, identify your case type and the task you need to complete. Someone seeking a divorce record needs a different clerk’s office from someone asking about a criminal proceeding or a traffic citation. For an existing case, keep the case number and any hearing information available when reviewing the court’s services or contacting the responsible office.

Which Division Handles Your Matter?

The court’s division directory explains the responsibilities of each division. Selecting the appropriate division helps you locate the correct forms, records instructions, calendar information, and clerk’s office.

Civil Lawsuits and Small Claims

Civil cases concern private rights. They may involve recovery of money or property, enforcement of a contract, damages for an injury, or protection of a civil right. Civil cases are generally heard at the Downtown Superior Court and Old Courthouse. The court identifies a specific exception for non-CEQA writs of mandate, which are heard in Department 66 at the Family Justice Center Courthouse effective September 22, 2025.

The court describes small claims limits of $6,500 for a business filing a claim and $12,500 for an individual filing a claim. It identifies civil cases worth $35,000 or less as limited jurisdiction cases and those worth more than $35,000 as unlimited jurisdiction cases. These categories help distinguish the court’s services, but the dollar amount alone does not explain every filing requirement.

Small claims hearings take place at the Downtown Superior Court. The process uses simpler rules and informal hearings, and attorneys are not allowed at the hearing. The court offers a Small Claims Advisor and small claims self-help information for people who need assistance understanding the process.

Unlawful detainer cases concern the right to occupy property and are a special type of civil proceeding. Civil harassment restraining orders also fall within the court’s civil services. The court provides separate self-help information for eviction cases and civil harassment requests, so the general civil lawsuit materials should not be treated as interchangeable with those procedures.

Family, Probate, and Juvenile Matters

The Family Division handles divorce, legal separation, nullity, parentage, domestic violence restraining orders, support, child custody, and visitation. Family Court Services handles custody and visitation mediation services and provides information about related programs and classes. The Family Clerk’s Office and Family Court Services have separate responsibilities and contact numbers.

The Probate Division handles matters involving estates of deceased people, wills and trusts, adoption, conservatorships, guardianships, and name changes. Probate clerk services and probate calendars are separate from family court services, even though both divisions handle matters affecting adults and children.

The Juvenile Division has two distinct branches. Juvenile Justice handles cases involving children under age 18 who are accused of violating the law. Juvenile Dependency handles cases involving children who are abused or neglected. Dependency clerk services are at the Family Justice Center Courthouse, while juvenile justice clerk services are at the Juvenile Justice Courthouse.

Criminal Cases and Traffic Infractions

The Criminal Division handles misdemeanor and felony proceedings. Criminal cases are brought by the State through the District Attorney, and the prosecuting attorney presents the charge against the defendant. Criminal court services operate at several locations, including the Hall of Justice, Palo Alto Courthouse, and the Family Justice Center’s Drug Court.

Traffic Court handles infractions such as speeding, equipment violations, and expired licenses. More serious vehicle-related offenses, including DUI, reckless driving, and vehicular manslaughter, are handled as criminal matters. A case involving a vehicle therefore does not automatically belong in Traffic Court.

Court case information and inmate booking information are separate systems. The court’s criminal case services concern proceedings and court records; the Sheriff’s services concern custody and booking information. Keep that distinction in mind when deciding which agency can answer your question.

Appeals and Appellate Services

The Appellate Division decides appeals in misdemeanor, traffic, and limited civil jurisdiction cases only. The court’s contact directory separately identifies an Appeals Unit for civil unlimited, probate, family, juvenile, and criminal felony matters. The type of underlying case determines which appeal service is relevant.

Courthouse Locations and Clerk Hours

The official courthouse locations page identifies buildings by case type and department number. Downtown Superior Court houses civil, probate, and small claims Departments 1–16. The Old Courthouse houses civil Departments 17–22. The Family Justice Center Courthouse serves family, juvenile dependency, drug court, traffic, and self-help matters in Departments 60–79.

The Hall of Justice houses criminal Departments 23–54. Juvenile Justice Departments 80–83 are at the Juvenile Justice Courthouse, and criminal Departments 84–89 are at the Palo Alto Courthouse. The South County Morgan Hill Courthouse is identified as temporarily closed on the court’s location information. Confirm the location for your particular hearing rather than relying on a general description of where a division operates.

Courthouse building hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Clerk’s office and telephone business hours are shorter: Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. A building being open does not mean its clerk’s counter is available throughout those hours. The court also publishes holiday and closure information through its website.

Online Case Information and Access Limits

The Case Information Online page provides access to the court’s searchable public portal. The portal includes civil, small claims, probate, some family cases, traffic and local ordinance cases, and criminal cases. It can provide case and calendar information, but access varies by case type and applicable law.

Case documents, including filings, are generally not available online. Finding a case entry does not necessarily give you access to its pleadings, orders, or other documents. Records open to public inspection may be viewed online when available or at courthouse public access terminals.

Confidential family matters cannot be searched in the same way as public cases. The court identifies restrictions involving adoptions, mental health issues, and custody petitions for parents who have not married. Confidentiality rules also affect access to other court records. An unsuccessful public search should not be treated as proof that no proceeding exists.

Complex civil litigation documents are a specific exception to the general limits on online filings. The court has moved those documents into its Case Information Portal and states that access is currently available without charge, while noting that access fees may be charged in the future.

Copies, Certified Records, and Transcripts

Information for a Records Request

Copies of pleadings must be obtained from the courthouse where the case was filed, either in person or by mail. When asking court staff to conduct a search, provide the following information:

The case number.
The case name or full names of the parties.
The title of each requested document.
The filing date of each requested document.

The court charges a search fee if you cannot provide all the information required for a staff search. Copies obtained from the clerk cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies also carry fees. Identify whether you need an ordinary copy or a certified copy when contacting the appropriate clerk’s office.

A mailed request should include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Checks must be payable to the Superior Court. If the total fee is unknown, the court permits a check marked “Not to exceed” a specified amount, such as $5.00 or $10.00. Include the case number, full party names, document titles, and filing dates, if known.

The court also accepts requests for case information downloaded from its public portal onto a CD. A Civil Case Index CD or digital copy request may take 1–10 business days to process, depending on request volume and format. That processing range applies to those index requests and should not be assumed to apply to every court record request.

Photography of Public Court Records

Effective January 1, 2026, the court explains that California law permits members of the public entitled to inspect a record at the courthouse to photograph it with personal equipment as a method of copying. This includes paper records made available for inspection and electronic records displayed on public access terminals.

The permission is limited to copying accessible court records. Confidential, sealed, or restricted records may not be photographed. Photography may also be prohibited in courtrooms, secure areas, or other locations as directed by court staff or judicial officers. Permission to photograph a public record does not authorize recording a court proceeding.

Transcripts and Electronic Recordings

A transcript or recording of a proceeding is different from a copy of the documents filed in the case. Proceedings may be recorded by a court reporter or electronically, and the available format depends on the recording method. The court’s online services include a transcript and recording request form and a way to identify a court reporter by hearing date and department.

Requests for transcripts prepared by privately retained reporters in civil and probate matters must be made directly to the reporter. For court transcript services, use the dedicated transcript request process rather than a general request for pleadings or case-file copies.

Court Forms and Electronic Filing

The court’s Forms & Filing section organizes local forms, court fees, payment methods, filing questions, and electronic filing information. Its website also provides options for completing forms at home. Preparing a form and submitting it to the court are separate tasks; consult the filing instructions for the relevant case type.

The electronic filing requirements state that e-filing is mandatory for attorney-represented parties in complex civil cases, unlawful detainer cases, subsequent civil harassment filings, and other limited and unlimited civil case types. Criminal e-filing is permissive.

Electronic filing operates through an electronic filing service provider, which acts as an intermediary between the filer and the court’s case management system. The court’s e-filing page explains how to begin and directs users to tutorials, filing questions, and local electronic filing rules. Questions about a filing should go to the division responsible for the case.

Documents should be submitted as searchable PDFs, with searchable PDF/A preferred. A searchable document allows its text to be located electronically; merely creating an image scan does not necessarily meet that standard. The court’s document standards should be reviewed before submission.

The court continues to accept specified documents in hard copy, including abstracts, writs, family judgments and defaults, out-of-state commissions, sister state judgments, and certain local forms. Its hard-copy list also includes ex parte filings, but attorneys are required to e-file probate ex parte petitions effective September 17, 2021. The specific exception matters when deciding how to submit a document.

Hearing Dates, Calendars, and Rulings

The court’s online services directory separates case searches from hearing reservations, calendar schedules, and tentative rulings. CourtSchedule allows users to reserve court dates for civil, eviction, or traffic cases. The Civil Calendar Dates service displays estimated available dates for Civil Law & Motion and Discovery calendars.

Estimated available dates and information about an existing hearing serve different purposes. For an existing case, review its case or calendar information. For a reservation, follow the CourtSchedule instructions applicable to the case type.

Probate, conservatorship, and guardianship matters have an online calendar schedule. Certain civil and probate departments also publish tentative rulings, accessible after 2:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing. The court offers an email or text hearing reminder service for upcoming court dates.

Family Ex-Parte is another separate online service. It provides Document Examiner lists showing whether a fee waiver or ex parte request that was dropped off is ready for pickup. Those lists are not a substitute for the general case portal or courtroom calendar.

Remote Appearances and Department Rules

The remote hearing page organizes access links by department number and case type, with morning and afternoon sessions where applicable. The court uses Microsoft Teams for remote appearances. Match the department and session to your hearing information before selecting a link.

Remote appearance options are not uniform across every calendar. Telephone-only appearances in civil hearings require prior court approval. All calendars heard in Department 4 require an in-person appearance. The remote hearing page identifies in-person or remote appearance options for Traffic Departments 63 and 108.

The court provides separate procedures for family long cause hearings and trials, along with assistance for people who cannot join Teams for a family hearing at the Family Justice Center. Review the instructions for your case type rather than assuming that a link alone establishes how you may appear. State and local court rules prohibit recording proceedings without a court order.

Traffic Citations, Payments, and Assistance

The Traffic Division’s ticket information explains that a courtesy notice usually arrives 45–60 days after a citation, although it can take longer. If no notice has arrived by the date written at the bottom of the citation, check the court’s online traffic records to determine whether the citation has entered the court’s computer system.

If the citation does not appear or you have not received a courtesy notice within 90 days, contact the court during normal business hours for information. The citation and courtesy notice are separate documents, so retain the ticket while waiting for the notice and reviewing the court’s records.

Traffic services include payment information, fine reduction requests, traffic school information, fix-it ticket instructions, and hearing reservations. Payment options include online, telephone, and in-person methods. Electronic payments and courthouse drop boxes allow traffic payments while Traffic Court is closed, including holidays.

The Virtual Traffic Counter lets users speak face-to-face with a traffic clerk online. It is a clerk assistance service, distinct from a remote court hearing. The court also identifies separate instructions for traffic cases in collection. Review those collection instructions before choosing a payment route. Criminal and juvenile payment and collection activities are addressed through a separate court notice.

Self-Help and Restraining Order Services

The court’s self-help services provide information about the Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator’s Office, topic-specific court processes, completing forms at home, court terminology, and Small Claims Advisor assistance. These services are useful when the question concerns forms or the steps in a proceeding rather than locating an existing record.

Restraining order information is organized by the type of matter. The court provides domestic violence information through family services and civil harassment information through its civil services. It also maintains a Restraining Order Help Center at the Family Justice Center Courthouse. Review the appropriate topic before preparing paperwork, since these requests do not all follow the same process.

Jury Summons and Reporting Instructions

The official jury duty page provides access to the Online E-Juror Portal and instructions for responding to a summons. All jurors must respond. The portal supports verification or updating of personal information, requests for postponement, excusal or disqualification, and review of reporting instructions.

Prospective jurors should arrange to be available for the week they are on standby. Availability is required until they are excused from jury selection. People selected as sworn jurors or alternates must serve for the duration of the trial and arrange their schedules accordingly.

Jury service may require attendance Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jury assistance office hours are also 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, while telephone assistance follows the shorter clerk telephone schedule. Jury duty questions belong with the Jury Commissioner; the Civil Grand Jury office is a different office.

The court does not send jury summonses by email, text, or other electronic communication. Its jury warning tells recipients not to provide Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or bank or credit card information in response to electronic messages claiming they have been summoned.

Court Offices and Contact Information

Civil Clerk’s Office
191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-882-2100

Civil Records Unit
191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-882-2450

Small Claims Clerk’s Office
191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-882-2352

Probate Clerk’s Office
191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-882-2654

Probate Examiners
191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-882-2668

Hall of Justice Clerk’s Office
190–200 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110
408-808-6611

Palo Alto Clerk’s Office
270 Grant Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-462-3810

Family Justice Center Drug Court Clerk’s Office
201 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-491-4811

Family Clerk’s Office Records Unit
201 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-534-5711

Family Calendar Unit
201 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-534-5710

Family Court Services Clerk’s Office
201 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-534-5760

Juvenile Dependency Clerk’s Office
201 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-491-4711

Juvenile Justice Clerk’s Office
840 Guadalupe Parkway, San Jose, CA 95110
408-808-6211

Traffic Court Clerk’s Office
301 Diana Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
408-556-3000

Restraining Order Help Center
201 North First Street, First Floor, San Jose, CA 95113
408-882-2926

Superior Court FAQs

Are there alternatives to a civil trial?

Yes. The court’s civil dispute resolution information describes several alternatives, including mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, and settlement conferences. These fall under alternative dispute resolution, or ADR. If you are looking for ways to resolve a dispute outside a trial, review the court’s explanations of the different processes before choosing one; mediation and binding arbitration are separate options, not interchangeable services.

The court’s online services directory also includes a Mediator/ADR Search for civil ADR providers, judicial arbitrators, neutral evaluators, and family ADR providers. Choose the category that matches your matter. A family dispute calls for the family listings, while a civil lawsuit calls for the relevant civil service.

Can I clear a conviction or seal criminal records?

The court identifies record clearance and sealing as separate matters. Many criminal and infraction convictions may qualify for clearance, but the court does not say every conviction qualifies. Its criminal record clearance and sealing information links to California’s official “Clean Your Record” guidance. Review that guidance to determine which request fits your circumstances rather than assuming a sealing application is the correct paperwork for clearing a conviction.

For requests to seal court records in the Criminal Division, Criminal Local Rule 16 applies. The court provides application and proposed order forms online, and judicial officers decide sealing requests. Criminal court records are presumed open unless confidentiality is required by law, so submitting an application does not itself establish that the records are sealed.