Court records for San Luis Obispo County, California, are available through several channels. SanLuisObispoCourt.us allows you to find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be searched through the official online tools of the Superior Court, directly at the court clerk's office, or through public terminals in the courthouse.
San Luis Obispo Court System & Jurisdictions
California operates a unified trial court system — the Superior Court. San Luis Obispo County is served by one Superior Court (Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo), which handles all categories of cases at the county level. There are no separate district or magistrate courts here.
The Superior Court is divided into several divisions, each specializing in certain types of cases:
- Criminal Division — felonies, misdemeanors, probation violations, and arrest warrants.
- Family Division — divorces, legal separations, paternity, child custody, child support, and protective orders in domestic violence cases.
- Civil Division — claims over $12,500, real estate disputes, contract disputes.
- Small Claims Court — cases with claims up to $12,500 for individuals.
- Probate Division — wills, estate management, guardianships, and conservatorships.
- Traffic Division — traffic violations, fines, ticket disputes.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, violations of federal law) are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, not the local Superior Court.
San Luis Obispo Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week, use the re:SearchCA platform. After registering in the system, registered users gain remote access to public court records, including dates and times of scheduled hearings.
How to find the hearing schedule:
- Go to the Online Case Lookup page on the Superior Court's website.
- Register or log in to the re:SearchCA system.
- Enter the case number or party's last name.
- In the search results, view the section with scheduled hearings.
You can also call the court clerk's office directly or visit the courthouse in person — public terminals in the lobby provide access to the hearing calendar. For criminal cases, additional information can sometimes be found through the district attorney's public case search.
How to Get a Copy of a San Luis Obispo Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types: regular (uncertified) and certified. A certified copy bears the court's official seal and confirms the document's authenticity — it is usually required for submission to another court, a government agency, or for immigration procedures.
Online
Through the re:SearchCA platform, you can view and, in some cases, download uncertified copies of documents. Not all documents are available in electronic format — some older cases are stored only in paper form.
In Person or by Mail
To obtain a certified copy, contact the Superior Court clerk's office:
What you need for the request:
- Case number (if known) or full name of the party and approximate filing date.
- Specify which type of copy is needed — regular or certified.
- Pay the appropriate fee (cash, check, or money order; confirm the possibility of card payment).
Send mail requests to the address of the clerk's office listed above. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to "Clerk of the Superior Court."
Access Restrictions
Not all records are public. Juvenile cases, sealed cases, certain family cases, and mental health records have restricted access according to California law.
San Luis Obispo Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court documents are set according to California Government Code § 70626 and local court rules. Below are approximate rates — it is recommended to verify exact amounts directly with the court clerk's office, as they may change.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Case index search (by name, for a period up to 5 years) | $5 per name |
| Regular copy of a document (uncertified) | $0.50 per page |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $40 per document |
| Copy of the first page of a certified document | $40 (includes certification) |
| Each additional page of a certified copy | $0.50 |
| Case viewing through public terminal | Free |
Payment methods:
- In person — cash, check, money order. Confirm the possibility of payment by credit or debit card with the clerk's office.
- By mail — check or money order payable to "Clerk of the Superior Court."
- Online — some fees can be paid through the electronic filing system, if this function is available for the selected case type.
Source: California Government Code § 70626 and the fee schedule of the Superior Court of San Luis Obispo. It is recommended to check current rates on the official court website or by calling the clerk's office.