Sacramento County Superior Court
The Sacramento County Superior Court handles criminal cases, civil disputes, family matters, probate proceedings, traffic cases, and other court business. This article explains how to identify the right division, search for a case, locate a hearing, request records, prepare court forms, and arrange assistance before visiting a courthouse or participating remotely.
The Sacramento Superior Court website provides access to official case systems, calendars, filing information, jury services, and court notices. The appropriate service depends on your case type and the task you need to complete. Looking up a case, confirming a hearing, requesting copies, and filing documents are separate processes.
Which Division Handles Your Matter?
Identifying the correct division helps you select the right search system, forms, and assistance. Several divisions deal with subjects that can overlap in everyday conversation, but their court procedures and online services are organized separately.
Civil, Small Claims, and Evictions
The Civil Division handles noncriminal lawsuits involving money, title to or possession of real property, and claims seeking compensation for a civil wrong. Small Claims handles cases requesting damages up to $12,500. The court provides separate small claims searches, calendars, forms, and assistance, so select that case type when working with an existing small claims matter.
Unlawful detainer is the court’s term for landlord-tenant eviction proceedings. The court describes its unlawful detainer service as handling cases requesting damages up to $35,000. These cases have specific online access restrictions, including requirements for identifying the parties and property. Do not expect an eviction case to appear through the same public calendar process used for other civil matters.
Criminal and Traffic Cases
The Criminal Division handles felony and misdemeanor cases brought on behalf of the State of California in Sacramento County. Criminal case information and criminal hearing information are available through separate search functions.
The Traffic Division provides services for paying a ticket, scheduling a court appearance, and requesting traffic school. Its case search offers driver license, citation, and case-number options. Select the identifier that matches the information on your paperwork rather than entering a citation number into a case-number field.
Family, Juvenile, and Probate Matters
Family matters include divorce or dissolution, legal separation, parentage, child custody and visitation, support, domestic violence, elder abuse, emancipation, and underage marriage. Family Law also has its own case searches and hearing calendar.
The Juvenile Division has specific jurisdiction over children and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Juvenile hearing searches and juvenile records information are separate from the adult criminal services.
Probate covers decedents’ estates, trusts, guardianships of minors, and conservatorships for people unable to provide for their personal needs or manage their financial resources. Probate case searches and hearing searches require an account.
Appeals From Court Decisions
An appeal is a review of a trial court’s decision by the Superior Court’s appellate division or a District Court of Appeal. The court maintains an Appeals service category. If your task concerns review of a decision, select the appeals information rather than treating it as a new filing in the original case category.
Courthouse Locations and Service Counters
Sacramento Superior Court operates at multiple locations. The official courthouse directory provides location-specific information about operating hours, telephone numbers, and available services. Match the courthouse and department shown on your court paperwork with the location information before traveling.
The court’s facilities include the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse, Carol Miller Justice Center, Juvenile Courthouse, Lorenzo Patiño Hall of Justice, and William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. Street addresses appear in the office list at the end of this article.
Some assistance has a specifically identified location. Civil Self-Help Services operates at the downtown Tani Cantil-Sakauye courthouse. The Family Law Facilitator’s Office and family law and probate self-help services are at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. Jury Services identifies its Jury Assembly Room as being on the first floor of the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye courthouse.
Available amenities also vary. The downtown courthouse and the family relations courthouse have children’s waiting rooms. Copy machines are identified at the downtown courthouse, Carol Miller Justice Center, Juvenile Courthouse, and Lorenzo Patiño Hall of Justice. Review the individual location’s service information when planning an in-person visit.
Online Case Searches by Case Type
The court’s case search page separates searches by division. Choose the case type first, then use the search method offered for that division. The available identifiers and account requirements differ.
Criminal: Select Criminal Case Search.
Civil: Create an account when prompted before using Civil Case Search.
Family Law: Search by name, case number, or filing date.
Probate: Create an account when prompted before using Probate Case Search.
Traffic: Search by driver license number, citation, or case number.
Small Claims: Create an account when prompted before using Small Claims Case Search.
Unlawful Detainer: Create an account and enter the specific party names and property address associated with the case. Select “Limited Civil” as the case type.
Have the information needed for your selected search available before opening the system. For a family filing-date search, use the filing date associated with the matter. For an eviction search, the property address is part of the access requirement; a party name alone does not satisfy the stated requirements.
Case searches serve a different purpose from calendar searches. If your immediate question is when a matter will be heard, move to the appropriate hearing calendar or, for unlawful detainer parties, the case portal.
Hearing Dates and Department Calendars
The official court calendar page provides hearing searches for criminal, civil, family law, probate, traffic, juvenile justice, and small claims matters. These searches use the department and hearing date. Civil, probate, and small claims calendar searches require an account.
Family Court Services has a separate search for mediation appointments by scheduled date. A mediation appointment search serves a different purpose from the Family Law hearing calendar. Select the service that corresponds to the event you need to confirm.
Unlawful detainer calendar information is not publicly available. Parties may view their court dates through the case portal system. If you are a party to an eviction case, use that route for court-date information instead of relying on a public calendar search.
Keep the department number and event date together when preparing for an appearance. Both are used in hearing searches, and both are also needed when arranging an interpreter. The department number also helps court staff coordinate certain disability accommodations.
Court Records and Copy Requests
The court records directory directs users to instructions for viewing records and requesting copies. It has separate categories for civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, small claims, traffic, and unlawful detainer records, along with information about court-record confidentiality.
Select the record category that matches the case. A criminal records request belongs under Criminal Records, while documents from a divorce or custody matter belong under Family Court Records. Juvenile records have their own instructions.
An online case search and a request for copies are separate services. If you need documents from a file, follow the record-viewing and copy-request instructions for that case type rather than stopping at the case information screen. Review the applicable confidentiality information as part of that process.
Forms, Filing, and Court Fees
The court’s Forms & Fees section organizes local forms into folders for civil, court reporters, criminal, family law, juvenile court, probate, small claims, traffic, unlawful detainer, and miscellaneous matters. Forms appear in number order within each folder.
If you know a form number or part of its title, the court suggests using Ctrl+F to search the displayed document names. Open the relevant case-type folder first so that the keyword or number search is directed at the appropriate group of forms. The same section provides access to the fee schedule and fee waiver information.
Electronic Filing Options
Electronic filing means submitting legal documents to the court through an electronic filing system instead of delivering paper documents to the courthouse. Sacramento Superior Court’s E-Filing page provides separate entries for civil, criminal, probate, small claims, and unlawful detainer cases.
Follow the entry for your case type. The court specifically states that electronic filing service providers do not apply to criminal cases. Do not use instructions intended for a civil filing service as the procedure for a criminal submission.
Keep document submission separate from record searches and hearing arrangements. The case search system locates case information, electronic filing submits documents, and remote appearance information addresses participation in court proceedings.
Initial Fee Waiver Requests
The court’s fee waiver instructions explain the application forms, covered costs, and responsibilities after a decision. To request an initial waiver, file an original and one copy of both the Request to Waive Court Fees, form FW-001, and the Order on Court Fee Waiver, form FW-003.
The application is signed under penalty of perjury. It must identify your current street address or another address where the court can contact you, your occupation, your employer, and the basis for your claimed eligibility. Incomplete or illegible forms can result in denial.
Applicants receiving financial assistance may attach documentation such as a medical card or assistance-program award letter. The court explains that this documentation is not required with the initial application, but it may request supporting information later.
An initial waiver can cover specified filing, copying, certification, notice, and other court costs described in the court’s instructions. Additional costs, including jury fees and certain court-appointed expert or witness expenses, are addressed through the Request to Waive Additional Court Fees, form FW-002, and the related order. Follow the court’s separate instructions for those requests.
Deadlines After a Waiver Decision
If a fee waiver is denied, you have 10 days from the date on the notice to pay the filing fees, provide additional information requested by the court, or request a hearing about eligibility. The court supplies the hearing-request form with the denial notice. If none of these actions is taken within that period, the documents you filed will be voided.
A person granted a waiver must notify the court within five days of a change in financial circumstances that affects the ability to pay all or part of the waived fees. The court may then schedule a hearing about payment of future fees and costs.
The instructions also address civil settlements of $10,000 or more. In those cases, the court has a lien on the settlement for the waived fees and may not dismiss the case until the lien is paid.
Self-Help for People Without Attorneys
The court’s self-help services provide free procedural information to people representing themselves. The assistance available depends on the subject of the case and the scope of the particular service.
Civil Self-Help Services assists with simple civil-case issues, provides general information, and helps people prepare their own civil forms. The Family Law Facilitator’s Office and Self-Help Center provide information about completing and processing forms and understanding procedures involving custody, support, divorce, legal separation, parentage, stepparent adoption, and domestic violence restraining orders.
Probate self-help addresses guardianships and limited conservatorships of the person. Its stated scope is narrower than the full range of probate matters, which also includes estates and trusts.
The court also provides an Advisory Clinic for Small Claims & Unlawful Detainer and a mediation program for those case types. Mediation allows parties to work toward a compromise instead of having a judge decide the outcome. The court explains that a solution reached through the program is binding and enforceable in court, much like a judgment.
Other self-help topics include name and gender changes, expungement, restraining orders, and CARE Act Court. Restraining orders have different eligibility requirements and procedures depending on the type requested. Select the topic matching your situation before preparing forms.
Remote Appearances and Virtual Services
The remote appearances page organizes information for civil, family and probate, juvenile, small claims, and unlawful detainer proceedings. It also provides a Traffic Virtual Public Counter entry and general remote appearance guidance.
For civil matters, the court states that remote appearance information can be found on the tentative ruling. Review the instructions associated with your particular proceeding. The Traffic Virtual Public Counter is identified separately from the remote appearance categories, so select the traffic service when your task concerns that counter.
Language Assistance for Court Proceedings
Parties and witnesses may request free court interpreter services for proceedings in all case types. Interpretation is also available for case-related activities, such as mediation and self-help workshops, in some case types.
The interpreter request instructions ask users to request assistance as early as possible. A late request may postpone proceedings if an interpreter is unavailable. Prepare the following information:
The language requested.
The proceeding date and time.
The department number.
The name of the party needing interpretation.
The case number.
The requester’s contact information.
Family law and probate requests use the Family Law and Probate Hearings interpreter request form. For other requests, the court directs users to contact the Interpreter’s Office by telephone or email.
Interpreters help parties and witnesses understand and participate in proceedings. They do not complete or file documents, provide legal advice, or refer people to attorneys. Document preparation questions should go through the appropriate forms or self-help service.
Disability Accommodations and Advance Requests
The court provides accommodations for people with disabilities participating in court programs, services, and activities. Its facilities include accessibility features, and service animals are welcome at all court facilities.
Under the court’s accommodation procedures, requests must be made as far in advance as possible and at least five business days before the accommodation is needed. The court may waive that requirement at its discretion, but an untimely request may be difficult to accommodate.
You may complete the Request for Accommodations by Persons with Disabilities and Order, form MC-410, and submit it to the ADA Coordinator for the courthouse you will visit. The form is available through the court and at court facilities.
Assistive listening devices and real-time reporting require coordination of the day, time, and department with the courthouse ADA Coordinator. For an American Sign Language interpreter at a court hearing, contact the Interpreter’s Office. Other ASL needs are directed to the ADA Coordinator at the courthouse being visited.
If you disagree with an accommodation determination, a review may be requested within 10 days of the response date. The court identifies California Rules of Court, rule 1.100(g), as the source of the review procedures.
Jury Reporting and Assistance
Jury Services provides juror group reporting instructions, parking and transportation information, summons information, and procedures for submitting a disqualification, excuse, or postponement request. It also provides options for updating information, signing up for email notifications, and requesting special accommodations.
Use the juror group reporting instructions for reporting information. A jury summons concerns jury service, which is separate from a party’s case hearing or a witness appearance.
The Jury Assembly Room is open for in-person assistance Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live telephone agents are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Court Locations and Office Contacts
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse
500 G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Carol Miller Justice Center
301 Bicentennial Circle
Sacramento, CA 95826
Juvenile Courthouse
9605 Kiefer Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95827
Phone: (916) 876-7753
Lorenzo Patiño Hall of Justice
651 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse
3341 Power Inn Road
Sacramento, CA 95826
Phone: (916) 875-3400
Jury Services
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse
500 G Street, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 874-7775
Interpreter’s Office
Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse
500 G Street, Fourth Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 874-8455
ADA Coordinator — Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse, Main Jail, and Hall of Justice
500 G Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 874-6867
ADA Coordinator — William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse
3341 Power Inn Road
Sacramento, CA 95826
Phone: (916) 875-3471
ADA Coordinator — Carol Miller Justice Center
301 Bicentennial Circle
Sacramento, CA 95826
Phone: (916) 875-1692
ADA Coordinator — Juvenile Courthouse
9605 Kiefer Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95827
Phone: (916) 875-5686