Mariposa County Dissolution Records

Dissolution of marriage records for Mariposa County are stored at the Superior Court at 5088 Bullion Street in Mariposa. Call (209) 966-6599 to reach the clerk's office. The court maintains all case files for dissolution cases filed in this small Sierra foothill county. You can request certified copies by visiting the courthouse during business hours or sending a mail request. Mariposa County serves a small population near Yosemite National Park. Court staff can help you locate records and provide copies of documents from your dissolution file. Most records are public unless sealed by court order.

Mariposa Superior Court

5088 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338. Call (209) 966-6599. Visit www.mariposa.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law for family law division info. The family law page explains procedures, forms, and how to get help with your case.

Mariposa is one of California's smallest counties by population. The courthouse handles all types of cases including family law matters. Staff know most people who come in and try to help with questions. The office hours run weekdays from morning to late afternoon. Call ahead to confirm hours before you drive there, as the county is in a rural area.

The clerk's office keeps all dissolution files. Older cases are on paper. Newer ones may be electronic. You can ask staff to search for a case by party name or case number. They pull the file and let you review it at the courthouse. If you need copies, staff make them while you wait or send them by mail if you request remotely.

Getting Record Copies

Certified copies cost $15 for the decree plus $0.50 per page. If staff spend more than 10 minutes looking for your case, a search fee of $15 applies. The court accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Make checks out to Mariposa Superior Court. Credit cards may work for some payments but not all.

For mail requests, write a letter with the names of both spouses, the case number if you know it, and the filing date. Explain what docs you need. Include a check for estimated costs and a stamped return envelope. Staff search for the case, pull the file, make copies, certify them, and mail them back. This takes two to four weeks. In-person visits are much faster. You can get copies the same day if the file is available.

Public agencies pay a lower certification fee of $10 instead of $15. This applies to government offices that need records for official use. Regular members of the public pay the standard $15 fee.

Filing for Dissolution in Mariposa County

To file in Mariposa County, you must live in California for six months and in the county for three months before filing. The filing fee is about $435 to $450. Fee waivers are available if you have low income or receive public benefits like food stamps or SSI. Fill out a fee waiver request form and submit it with your petition. The court reviews your income and decides if you qualify.

California is a no-fault state for dissolution. You do not have to prove your spouse did anything wrong. Most people file based on irreconcilable differences. Fill out form FL-100, the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. List both spouses, the date of marriage, and whether you have kids. File it at the Mariposa courthouse and pay the fee. The clerk stamps your petition and assigns a case number.

Serve the petition and summons to your spouse within 60 days. You cannot serve it yourself. Use a process server, the sheriff, or another adult who is not involved in the case. After service, file the Proof of Service form with the court. Your spouse has 30 days to file a response. If no response comes, you can ask for a default judgment. If they respond, the case continues with both parties.

Both parties must exchange financial disclosures. Use forms FL-140, FL-141, FL-142, and FL-150. These forms list all income, assets, debts, and expenses. Serve copies to your spouse and file proof of service. The court cannot finalize the dissolution until six months pass from the date of service. During that time, you may file motions for temporary orders on custody, support, or property use. Attend any hearings the court schedules. At the end, the judge signs a final judgment that ends the marriage and divides property.

Self-Help and Legal Resources

Mariposa County has limited self-help services due to its small size. Check the court website for info on forms and procedures. The family law facilitator can answer basic questions but does not give legal advice. Legal aid groups in nearby counties may serve Mariposa residents. Call to see if you qualify for free or low-cost help. Some groups handle cases involving domestic violence, child custody, or support disputes.

Note: California courts use standardized forms for all dissolution cases, so you can find most forms online at the state judicial council website.

Nearby Counties

Tuolumne County to the north. Madera County to the west. Merced County to the northwest.