Court records in Fresno County, California, are maintained by the clerk of the Superior Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. FresnoCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Fresno County. You can also search records directly through the Fresno Superior Court's case information system, visit the clerk's office in person, or submit requests through the County of Fresno government portal.
Fresno Court System Overview
Fresno County is served by the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, which is the trial court of general jurisdiction for all state-level cases. California's trial court system was unified in 1998, consolidating former municipal and superior courts into a single Superior Court in each county. Appeals from Fresno Superior Court go to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, which covers nine central California counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne. For federal matters, Fresno County falls within the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, which maintains a courthouse in downtown Fresno. The main Fresno County Superior Court building — the B.F. Sisk Courthouse — is located at 1130 O Street, Fresno, CA 93721. The court's general phone number is (559) 457-4943. Regular business hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., though specific departments may vary.
Courts Serving Fresno
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of California, County of Fresno (B.F. Sisk Courthouse) | 1130 O Street, Fresno, CA 93721 | (559) 457-4943 |
| Fresno County Superior Court – North Annex | 1100 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, CA 93724 | (559) 457-4943 |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (Fresno Division) | 2500 Tulare Street, Suite 1501, Fresno, CA 93721 | (559) 499-5600 |
The Superior Court also operates outlying court facilities in communities such as Coalinga, Firebaugh, Kerman, Reedley, and Selma for certain case types. Federal bankruptcy cases for the Fresno area are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California. Federal case records are accessible through PACER.
What Types of Cases Fresno Courts Hear
Fresno County Superior Court handles virtually all state-level case types, including:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions
- Civil: General civil litigation, small claims, and unlawful detainer (eviction)
- Family law: Divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, and paternity
- Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trusts
- Juvenile: Delinquency and dependency (child protective) matters
- Traffic: Moving violations, fix-it tickets, and DUI arraignments
The federal court in Fresno hears federal criminal cases, civil rights claims, bankruptcy filings, and other matters arising under federal law. The sections below explain how each category works within Fresno's court system.
District Court Cases in Fresno
Because California uses a unified trial court system, there is no separate "district court" at the state level — the Superior Court handles all case types. Felony criminal cases typically begin with an arraignment and preliminary hearing before a judicial officer. If the defendant is held to answer, the case proceeds to trial before a Superior Court judge. Civil cases with no dollar-amount limitation are filed directly in Superior Court. Cases are assigned to specific departments based on case type — for example, criminal departments 95 and 96 handle certain criminal proceedings. Judges are assigned through the court's internal calendaring system, and the presiding judge oversees case management and judicial assignments across the court.
Magistrate Court Cases in Fresno
California does not have a separate magistrate court division in the way some other states do. Instead, all misdemeanors, infractions, traffic violations, and DUI arraignments are heard by Superior Court judges or commissioners. Small claims cases in California have a jurisdictional limit of $10,000 for individuals (or $5,000 for businesses and certain entities). Limited civil cases — those seeking $25,000 or less — follow streamlined procedures. Unlawful detainer (eviction) cases also move on an expedited timeline. Preliminary hearings for felony charges are conducted by judicial officers within the Superior Court. High-volume case types such as traffic and small claims are often assigned to dedicated departments or courtrooms to manage caseload efficiently.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Fresno
Family Law: Divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence restraining orders, and termination of parental rights are handled by the Family Law Division of Fresno Superior Court. Parties can file using the court's Odyssey Guide & File e-filing system or in person at the clerk's office.
Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes are heard in the probate department. Petitions are filed with the Superior Court clerk, and hearings are scheduled before a designated probate judge.
Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency and dependency (child welfare) cases are heard in the juvenile division. Juvenile court records are confidential under California law and are not available through the public case information system. The Fresno County Probation Department works closely with the juvenile court on supervision and services.
How Cases Move Through the Fresno Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins when a complaint, petition, or information is filed with the clerk. Criminal cases are initiated by the Fresno County District Attorney; civil cases by the plaintiff or petitioner.
- Assignment: The clerk assigns the case to a department based on case type. A case number is generated and the matter is placed on the court calendar.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and advised of charges. Civil cases receive a case management conference or scheduling order.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in settlement negotiations or plea discussions. The court may hold status conferences to manage timelines.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to jury or bench trial, or are resolved through plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or dismissal.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from Fresno Superior Court go to the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Fresno
The Presiding Judge of Fresno Superior Court oversees judicial administration, with support from the Court Executive Officer (the court's top administrative official). Local rules governing practice and procedure in Fresno Superior Court are available through the court's website.
Public access to court records in California is governed by the California Rules of Court (particularly Rules 2.500–2.507) and the California Public Records Act. Most court records are generally open to the public, with exceptions for:
- Sealed records
- Juvenile case files
- Certain family law and mental health records
- Records subject to a court confidentiality order
Members of the public can attend hearings in person at the courthouse. Some Fresno Superior Court departments offer remote hearing options — contact the court at (559) 457-4943 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to ask about electronic appearance procedures for a specific department.
For archived case files, the court's Archives Department can pull non-confidential files and provide copies for a fee. Bulk data requests, such as case indexes, are handled through the court's case index ordering process.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Fresno
- Online Case Search: The Fresno Superior Court Case Information system allows public searches of case details. For civil cases, remove the final three letters from the case number before searching.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: The California Courts Self-Help Center provides forms, instructions, and guidance for self-represented litigants. The Fresno County Law Library offers additional legal research resources.
- Clerk of Court / Public Records Requests: The clerk's office at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse processes requests for certified copies and court documents. County-level public records requests can be submitted through the County of Fresno public records request portal.
- Police Records: Incident reports and police records from the City of Fresno can be requested through the Fresno Police Department Records Division at 2323 Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
- Criminal History Review: Individuals can request their own California criminal history record through the California Department of Justice by submitting fingerprints and a $25 processing fee.
- Inmate Search: The California Incarcerated Records & Information Search (CIRIS) tool allows public searches for individuals in state prison. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation also provides parole and facility information.
- Record Cleaning: Information on dismissing or reducing convictions, sealing records, and other relief is available through the California Courts record-cleaning guide.
- Vital Records: The Fresno County Recorder maintains recorded documents. Statewide vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) are available through the California Department of Public Health.
- Property Records: The Fresno County Assessor handles property valuations, and the Fresno County recorded documents portal provides access to deeds and other property filings.