How to Search Fresno County Court Records
The Fresno Superior Court runs an online Case Management and Information System. The starting point is the Case Information landing page at fresno.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information. From there, the "Access Case Information" link opens the dynamic portal at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov. The portal covers civil, family, probate, small claims, criminal, and traffic cases. It does not show sealed, juvenile, or other restricted files. Have a case number ready, or the full legal name of a party and a second identifier such as date of birth for common names.
- Open fresno.courts.ca.gov and click "Access Case Information" to open the portal.
- Read the public-access notice. The portal hides nonpublic and restricted files.
- Enter the case number in the Case ID field, or type the full legal name of a party.
- For civil cases, drop the final three letters (judge initials) from a case number copied off a court notice. Search 03CECG00001, not 03CECG00001 SJK.
- Narrow by case type or filing date if the portal exposes filters.
- Review docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. New unlawful detainer cases stay hidden for 60 days.
- For a certified copy, request the record in person or in writing from the clerk.
Bulk users can order a monthly case index instead. Each report costs $70 and is limited to one month of data. The bulk index leaves out Social Security numbers, financial data, warrants, victims, witnesses, ethnicity, age, gender, ID numbers, driver's license, and date of birth under California Rules of Court 2.503 and 2.507.
Public Portal Search Fields
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case ID / Case Number | Text | Best single search. Strip trailing judge initials on civil case numbers. |
| Party Name | Text | Use the full legal name. Common names will return many hits. |
| Case Type | Dropdown | Civil, Family, Probate, Small Claims, Criminal, Traffic when shown. |
| Filing Date / Date Range | Date filter | Narrows by file date when the portal exposes the filter. |
| Search | Button | Runs the dynamic query against the case database. |
The Fresno County Judicial System
California runs a unified trial-court system. Each of the 58 counties has one Superior Court of general jurisdiction. There are no county courts at law, no justice of the peace courts, and no separate municipal courts. After the 1998 to 2001 trial-court unification, all local trial work moved into the Superior Court. Fresno's state trial court is the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno. Appeals go to the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, which sits in Fresno and covers nine counties. The Supreme Court of California is the top state court.
Fresno Superior Court hears felony, misdemeanor, infraction, civil limited, civil unlimited, small claims, family, probate, juvenile, and restraining order matters. Civil limited cases are $35,000 or less. Misdemeanors can carry up to one year in county jail. Felonies can carry state prison. The court is run by an Executive Officer, and the Presiding Judge sets the assignments across divisions.
Case flow: Superior Court › Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District › California Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of California, County of Fresno | Fresno County trial court of general jurisdiction | Criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, small claims, restraining orders, collaborative. |
| Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District | Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne | Intermediate appeals from superior court rulings in nine central counties. |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California | Federal trial court covering Fresno | Federal criminal, federal civil, civil rights, habeas, federal question, and diversity cases. |
Fresno County Courthouses
The court runs from three main downtown buildings, plus the ACTION Center inside the Downtown courthouse and a separate Archives Facility on E Street. The Downtown courthouse handles criminal matters and juvenile dependency. B. F. Sisk handles civil, family, probate, small claims, unlawful detainer, restraining orders, and self-help. M Street handles traffic and criminal infractions.
"M" Street Courthouse
2317 Tuolumne Street
Fresno, CA 93721-1220
(559) 457-1700
Downtown clerk hours run 8 AM to 4 PM. B. F. Sisk clerk hours split: Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 3 PM, Friday 8 AM to noon. Probate sits on the third floor of B. F. Sisk at (559) 457-1888; Family Court is on the second floor at (559) 457-2100. The Self-Help and Family Law Facilitator line is (559) 457-2143. Archives are at 1963 E Street, (559) 457-4903.
Types of Court Records Available in Fresno County
The Superior Court produces every adult court record in the county. Records fall into broad case types tied to the division that hears the case. Each division uses a different set of forms and follows a different filing path. Some files are open to the public. Others are sealed or limited by statute.
- Court records cover the broad case file kept by the clerk, including pleadings, motions, orders, and minute orders.
- Arrest and criminal records show felony, misdemeanor, and infraction cases filed by the District Attorney.
- Court dockets list the register of actions and hearing entries for each case.
- Warrant records reflect arrest, bench, search, and probation warrants tied to criminal or traffic files.
- Family law and divorce records hold dissolution, custody, support, and restraining order files.
- Probate records cover wills, trusts, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships.
- Traffic records hold citations, bail, plea, and disposition data from the M Street court.
- Public records outside the court are routed through the county and Sheriff CPRA portals.
- Inmate records and released inmate data are kept by the Sheriff, not the court.
What Information Is in a Fresno County Court Record
A Fresno case record runs across many fields. The public docket gives you the bones of the case. The full case file may add pleadings, declarations, minute orders, and exhibits. The case index, which is the bulk monthly export, holds fewer fields and strips out personal data under state rules. Use the table below as a guide to what you should expect to see online.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court ID for the case. Civil examples follow the 03CECG00001 format; the trailing three letters on notices are judge initials, not part of the ID. |
| Filing Date | The date the case was opened with the clerk. |
| Parties | Plaintiff and defendant in civil, petitioner and respondent in family or probate, or "People v." in criminal. |
| Case Type | Civil limited, civil unlimited, small claims, family, probate, criminal, traffic, juvenile, or appeal. |
| Charges or Cause | Criminal counts or the cause of action in a civil complaint. |
| Hearing Information | Date, time, department, courtroom, and judicial officer. |
| Disposition | Conviction, dismissal, judgment, settlement, or other outcome. |
| Sentence or Judgment | Fine, jail or prison time, probation, damages, or final order. |
| Current Status | Pending, active, disposed, dismissed, sealed, stayed, or closed. |
Public Access Laws for Fresno County Court Records
California public-records law sits on two layers. County and Sheriff records use the California Public Records Act, now recodified at Government Code section 7920.000 and following. Court case records are governed by court rules under the California Rules of Court and by case-specific statutes. The state constitution also speaks to a general right of public access. The court's online portal is one window into this framework. Certified copies must come from the clerk's office.
Key Statutes:
California Government Code § 7920.000 names the California Public Records Act and sets the modern framework for public access to county and agency records.
California Government Code § 7922.000 sets the policy and balancing test that records are open unless a specific exemption or overriding public interest supports withholding.
California Government Code § 7923.600 protects certain law enforcement investigatory records from CPRA release, which often controls Sheriff file access.
California Government Code § 6200 makes theft, destruction, or falsification of public records by an officer a felony, and the court cites it in its electronic record disclaimer.
California Penal Code § 851.5 gives an arrested person at least three completed phone calls and is cited on the Sheriff's jail phone page.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every case is open. Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 makes juvenile case files confidential except for people listed in the statute or by court order. Section 781 covers sealing of qualifying juvenile records. Family Code section 9200 keeps adoption files private. Sealed warrants, ongoing investigations, mental health files, conservatorship medical reports, and parts of domestic violence files may also be limited.
California uses several relief paths for old criminal records. Penal Code 851.91 lets a person petition to seal an arrest that did not lead to conviction. Penal Code 851.93 sets up automatic relief for many qualifying arrests. Penal Code 851.8 supports a higher factual innocence petition. Penal Code 1203.4 allows post-conviction dismissal relief after probation or sentence completion. To view a sealed record, a person must show legal standing and file a motion in the court that holds the file.
Specialty Courts in Fresno County
Fresno's Collaborative Courts Division runs several treatment-based courts that mix judicial supervision with social services. The Veterans Treatment Court started on June 17, 2016 and runs as an intense 12 to 18 month program for justice-involved veterans charged with selected felony or misdemeanor offenses. It is a joint effort of the Superior Court, Public Defender, DA, Probation, VA Central California Health Care System, and community partners. The DUI Court works with eligible drivers as a post-plea track, and the Drug Court calendar currently sits at M Street.
The court began accepting petitions under the CARE Act on December 2, 2024. CARE matters cover court-ordered care plans for people with qualifying behavioral health conditions and tie into probate and collaborative court calendars. The court also runs Adult Behavioral Health Court, Mental Health AB1810 Court, Family Behavioral Health Court, and Unity Court. The Public Defender represents many clients in these tracks, including persons committed to mental health treatment, persons under conservatorship, and persons unable to consent to medication.
Fresno County Sheriff and Jail
The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office is led by Sheriff John Zanoni, sworn in as the 26th Sheriff on January 2, 2023. The main office is at 2200 Fresno Street, (559) 600-8400. The jail system runs three current facilities after the South Annex closed on December 14, 2024: Main Jail at 1225 M Street (max 1,064), North Annex Jail at 1265 M Street (max 432), and the new West Annex at 2208 Merced Street (300 beds). The West Annex opened in December 2024 at a cost of $100 million with an $80 million state grant. The jail has operated under a federal consent decree since 1993.
Fresno County Sheriff
Sheriff John Zanoni
2200 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721
Records: (559) 600-8400
Inmate Info: (559) 475-9491 or (559) 600-8600
fresnosheriff.org
District Attorney Lisa A. Smittcamp
2100 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 600-3141
fresnoda.org
For the full custody roster, the Sheriff's Fresno County inmate records page lists how to search the Inmate Information Center, leave a paid voicemail, and deposit commissary funds. For active warrants, see the warrant records page. The DA's Office, run by Lisa A. Smittcamp since 2015, prosecutes Fresno criminal cases and operates Victim Services. The District Attorney is in a third term ending in 2028 after AB 759 aligned terms with the gubernatorial cycle.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage licenses are not court records. The Fresno County Clerk, James A. Kus, issues public and confidential marriage licenses by appointment only. The Clerk's office charges $58 for a public license, $69 for a confidential license, and $21 for a civil ceremony at the Clerk's office. Public marriage certificate copies are issued by the Fresno County Recorder for $17. Marriage rules are set by Family Code section 400. Certified vital record copies follow Health and Safety Code section 103526. Divorce records are not Clerk records; they live in the court file as family law records. Probate cases are filed at the third floor of B. F. Sisk and tracked through the probate records page.
- Testator
- The person who made the will. The case style in Fresno probate often reads "Estate of [Testator]."
- Executor
- The person named in a will to gather the estate, pay debts, and distribute property under court supervision.
- Conservator
- A person appointed by the court to manage the care or finances of an adult who cannot manage on their own.
- Guardian
- A person appointed to care for a minor or to manage a minor's estate.
Fresno County Court Records Fees
The Clerk's office posts a fee schedule covering plain copies, certified copies, search fees, and bulk index orders. The civil filing fee structure follows the statewide fee schedule kept by the Judicial Council. Fees can change with new state legislation. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card depending on the counter.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | $0.50 |
| Certified copy per document | $40 plus per-page copy fee |
| Records search fee | $15 per name per year |
| Case index report (monthly) | $70 |
| Public marriage license | $58 |
| Confidential marriage license | $69 |
| Civil ceremony at Clerk's office | $21 |
| Public marriage certificate copy (Recorder) | $17 |
How to Interpret Fresno County Court Records
A docket can look thick with abbreviations. The register of actions is a date-stamped list of filings, hearings, minute orders, and rulings. A "minute order" is the clerk's brief note of what happened in court that day. A "disposition" is the outcome of a case or count. A charge is not the same as a conviction. Charges can be dropped, dismissed, reduced, or sent to diversion. The plea field tells you what the defendant entered; the disposition tells you how the case ended.
Common disposition codes include "Guilty," "Not Guilty," "Nolo Contendere," "Dismissed," and "Dismissed in Furtherance of Justice." Civil files use "Judgment Entered," "Default Judgment," "Dismissed With Prejudice," and "Settled." Family files often show "Judgment of Dissolution" or "Status Only." Probate files use "Letters Issued," "Inventory Filed," and "Final Distribution Order." When in doubt, call the right division clerk and ask.
Accuracy, Updates, and Record Limitations
The court tells the public that the online file is not the official record. The portal pulls data from the case management system on a schedule, so an entry filed today may not show up until the clerk processes it. Sealed, juvenile, adoption, mental health, and other restricted files may not appear at all. Older cases may live in the Archives Facility on E Street and may need a written request. The court ran a case management system upgrade on March 26, 2026, so older Court Connect screenshots and instructions should not be used.
Note: Always confirm a docket entry, charge, or disposition with the clerk's office at the right courthouse before you act on what you see online. The online system can lag, and certified copies still come from the court.
History of Fresno County Courts
Fresno County was created in 1856. The local court system once ran on a split structure of superior, municipal, and justice courts. The trial court unification of the late 1990s folded the municipal and justice work into the Superior Court. The Downtown courthouse at 1100 Van Ness has long served as the central criminal court. B. F. Sisk on O Street was a federal courthouse before being handed to the state. It now holds civil, family, probate, small claims, unlawful detainer, restraining order, and self-help work.
Technology has reshaped record access. Fresno used an older Court Connect system before moving to the modern public portal, with a fresh upgrade in March 2026. Jail history is woven in too: the federal consent decree dates to 1993 and still drives bed planning. The South Annex closed on December 14, 2024 and the West Annex opened the same week. The Fifth District Court of Appeal also sits in Fresno.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Fresno County court records online?
Start at the Fresno Superior Court Case Information page and use the public portal link. Search by case number when you can. For civil case numbers copied from a court notice, drop the last three letters before searching. Those letters are the judge's initials and not part of the case ID. The court's example: search 03CECG00001, not 03CECG00001 SJK.
Are online Fresno court records official certified copies?
No. The court states that online data is not the official record of the court and is offered as a public service subject to change. To get an official certified copy, request the specific document in person or in writing from the clerk's office at the right courthouse.
Why can't I find an eviction case online?
Unlawful detainer cases are blocked from public online access for 60 days after the complaint is filed under state rules. After that window, the case may show up in the portal if it is otherwise public. If the case is still hidden, the file may be sealed or limited under a separate court order.
Where do I go for traffic tickets?
The "M" Street Courthouse, 2317 Tuolumne Street, Fresno, CA 93721-1220, handles traffic and criminal infractions. The line is (559) 457-1700. Clerk hours are 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday. The court urges visitors to make childcare plans before they come because the building is not built for waiting children.
Where do I find someone in Fresno County Jail?
Use the Sheriff Inmate Information Center, or call (559) 475-9491 or (559) 600-8600. The center lists people in custody by last name.
Who is the Fresno County Clerk?
James A. Kus is the Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters. The Clerk handles marriage licenses, fictitious business names, notary registrations, and elections. The Clerk does not hold court case files; those sit with the Superior Court clerk.
More on the Fresno County Court Records FAQ page.