| Superior Court | San Bernardino Superior Court — Court Access Portal (CAP) |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 (Civil Division); Criminal Division, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0240 |
| Phone | Civil Division (909) 708-8678; Criminal Division (909) 384-1888 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $0.50 per page (Government Code § 70627) |
| Certified copy fee | $0.50 per page plus a $40 certification fee (Government Code §§ 70626–70627) |
The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino is the county's single trial court, covering the largest county by area in the contiguous United States. Its main civil and criminal divisions are at 247 West Third Street in the city of San Bernardino, with branch courthouses serving outlying communities such as Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and Barstow.
Online access to case records runs through the Court Access Portal (CAP), a separate registration system from the court's main website. Registering lets you view minute orders, purchase copies of documents, and buy name-search credits; documents cost $0.50 per page to view remotely.
The common mistake is looking for case records on the main sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov site itself — that site is mostly informational and links out to CAP, where the actual searching and document purchasing happens.
Search San Bernardino County court records online
Superior Court
San Bernardino Superior Court — Court Access Portal (CAP)
- Cost
- Free registration; $0.50 per page to view documents remotely; fees for name-search credits
- Coverage
- Case information, minute orders, and purchasable document images across case types for registered users
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
One Clerk of the Superior Court serves the whole county; there is no separate county clerk. The main court website (sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov) links to CAP rather than hosting search directly.
What is available online
The Court Access Portal (CAP) is the primary way to view case information, minute orders, and purchase document images or name-search credits online; the main court website is mostly a directory and links to CAP. Only records that are legally public can be viewed, and viewing most documents remotely costs $0.50 per page. We could not confirm public counter hours for the San Bernardino Justice Center from an official page during this review.
Which clerk has your record
In California, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the California page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Courts (58, one per county) | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Civil lawsuits of any amount, including small claims; Family law, including divorce and custody | Clerk of the Superior Court of the county |
| Appellate Division of the Superior Court | Appeals from misdemeanor, infraction, and limited-jurisdiction civil cases decided in that county's Superior Court | Clerk of the Superior Court of the county |
Request records in person or by mail
San Bernardino County clerk offices
247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 (Civil Division); Criminal Division, 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0240
Phone: Civil Division (909) 708-8678; Criminal Division (909) 384-1888
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Online. Register a free account on the Court Access Portal (cap.sb-court.org) with your name, phone number, and email, then search and purchase document access or name-search credits as needed.
In person or by mail. Contact the division that handled the case: the Civil Division or Criminal Division at 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415 (note the different ZIP suffixes for each division's mail), or the branch courthouse where the case was filed. Include the case number, documents needed, and whether certification is required.
Certified copies. Certified copies must be requested from the clerk in person or by mail; CAP provides document images but not certified copies.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in California |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $0.50 per page (Government Code § 70627) |
| Certified copy | $0.50 per page plus a $40 certification fee (Government Code §§ 70626–70627) |
These are the statewide fees set in the Superior Court fee statutes (Government Code, Title 8, Chapter 5.8). Individual courts may also charge separately for a records search that takes more than ten minutes ($15, Government Code § 70627) or for name searches and document downloads on their online portals, which vary by county. Confirm the total with the specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
California court records are presumed open under the common-law right of access and the First Amendment, as applied by the California Supreme Court in NBC Subsidiary (KNBC-TV), Inc. v. Superior Court (1999). California Rules of Court, rules 2.550–2.551, set the standard and procedure a party must meet to have a court seal a record: the court must find an overriding interest that outweighs the public's right of access, a substantial probability that interest will be harmed without sealing, that sealing is narrowly tailored, and that no less restrictive alternative exists. A record is not sealed merely because the parties agree to it.
The California guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I actually search San Bernardino County court cases online?
Through the Court Access Portal (CAP) at cap.sb-court.org, a separate system from the main court website. Register a free account, then search and pay for document access or name-search credits as needed.
How much does it cost to view a San Bernardino court document online?
Remote document viewing through CAP costs $0.50 per page. Separate fees apply for name-search credits.
Is there one clerk for civil and criminal cases in San Bernardino County?
There is one Clerk of the Superior Court, but civil and criminal cases are handled by separate divisions with different phone numbers at the same 247 West Third Street address, so calling the right division saves time.
Does San Bernardino County have branch courthouses?
Yes. In addition to the San Bernardino Justice Center, the court has branch locations serving areas such as Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and Barstow, given the county's large geographic size.
Sources
- Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino — https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/
- Court Access Portal (San Bernardino Superior Court) — https://cap.sb-court.org/
- Case Information & Documents (San Bernardino Superior Court) — https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information-documents
- Judicial Branch of California — About California Courts — https://courts.ca.gov/about
- California Courts Appellate Court Case Information — https://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/
- California Department of Justice — Record Review (Criminal History) — https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review
- California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550 — Sealed Records — https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/two/rule2_550
- California Rules of Court, Rule 2.551 — Procedures for Filing Records Under Seal — https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/two/rule2_551
- Penal Code § 851.91 — Petition to Seal an Arrest Record — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=851.91
- Penal Code § 1203.4 — Withdrawal of Plea and Dismissal (Expungement) — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=1203.4
- Government Code § 70626 — Certification Fee — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=70626
- Government Code § 70627 — Copy and Records-Search Fees — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=70627
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all California counties.