Shasta County Dissolution Records

Dissolution of marriage records for Shasta County are kept at the Superior Court at 1515 Court Street in Redding. Call (530) 245-6789 or email FamLaw@shasta.courts.ca.gov for family law assistance. The court serves communities in Northern California including Redding and surrounding areas. All case files include petitions, responses, financial disclosures, and final judgments. Most dissolution records are public documents accessible by requesting copies from the clerk's office. You can visit the courthouse in person or send a mail request for certified copies. Shasta County serves approximately 180,000 residents across a large geographic area in the northern part of California near the Oregon border.

Shasta Superior Court

1515 Court Street, Redding, CA 96001. Call (530) 245-6789. Email FamLaw@shasta.courts.ca.gov for family law questions. Visit www.shasta.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-law-division for the family law division page. The page explains procedures, forms, and resources for dissolution cases.

The family law division handles all dissolution filings and record requests. Staff search for cases by party name or case number. Office hours run weekdays from morning to late afternoon. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting. Shasta County is in Northern California and serves the Redding area and surrounding communities.

The clerk's office keeps all dissolution files. Older cases are on paper. Newer ones may be electronic. To request records, provide both spouses' names and the case number if you have it. If you do not know the case number, give the filing date or approximate year. Staff search through the files and locate your case. You can review docs at the courthouse or request certified copies by mail.

Fees and Copies

Certified copies cost $15 for the decree. Extra pages are $0.50 each. Search fees of $15 apply if staff spend over 10 minutes looking for your case. Bring the case number to help staff find the file faster and avoid search fees. The court accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Make checks payable to Superior Court of California, Shasta County.

For mail requests, send a letter with both spouses' full names, the case number if you know it, and the filing date or approximate year. State what docs you need. Include a check for estimated costs and a stamped return envelope. Staff search for the case, make copies, certify them, and mail them back. Processing takes two to four weeks.

In-person visits are faster. Go to the courthouse in Redding and ask for help at the family law division. Staff can pull the file while you wait if it is available. Review the docs and decide what you need. Pay for copies and certification at the counter. You can leave with certified copies the same day in most cases.

Public agencies pay $10 for certified copies instead of $15. This discount applies to government offices requesting records for official purposes.

Filing a Dissolution

To file in Shasta County, live in California for six months and in the county for three months. Filing fee is about $435 to $450. Fee waiver available if you have low income or receive public benefits. Fill out a fee waiver application and submit it with your petition. The court reviews your financial info and decides if you qualify. If approved, you do not pay the filing fee.

California uses no-fault dissolution. You do not need to prove wrongdoing. Most people file based on irreconcilable differences. Fill out form FL-100, the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Include info about both spouses, the marriage date, separation date, and any children. File it at the Redding courthouse with the fee or waiver request. The clerk stamps your petition and assigns a case number.

Serve the petition and summons to your spouse within 60 days of filing. Use a process server, sheriff, or another adult not involved in the case. You cannot serve the papers yourself. After service, file a Proof of Service form with the court. Your spouse has 30 days to respond. If they do not respond, you can request a default judgment. If they respond, the case continues with both parties.

Both parties must exchange financial disclosures using 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. California law requires these disclosures in all dissolution cases. The court cannot finalize the dissolution until six months pass from the date of service. During that time, file motions for temporary orders if needed. Attend any hearings the court schedules. At the end, the judge signs a final judgment that dissolves the marriage and divides assets and debts.

Self-Help Resources

Shasta County has a family law facilitator who can help with forms and procedures. The facilitator does not give legal advice but can answer questions about which forms to use. Check the court website for office hours. Legal aid groups serve low-income residents with family law issues. Call to see if you qualify for free or low-cost help. Some groups handle cases involving domestic violence, custody, or support disputes.

Note: All California courts use the same state judicial council forms for dissolution, which you can download from the court website or get at the courthouse.

Cities in County

Shasta County includes Redding. All residents file at Shasta County Superior Court in Redding.

Nearby Counties

Siskiyou County to the north. Lassen County to the east. Tehama County to the south. Trinity County to the west.