Fresno County
Spanning a total of 6,011 square miles, Fresno County is located in central California and it is home to 1,017,162 people according to the 2023 Population Estimate Program. It was formed in 1856 from parts of three counties and is known as an agricultural hub due to its fertile land.
The only trial court in Fresno County is the Superior Court of Fresno. It comprises nine divisions including the civil, criminal, small claims, juvenile, probate, family, appeal, traffic, and jury service divisions. Through its Civil Division, the Superior Court handles non-criminal matters relating to the recovery of money and property, disputes involving money, collection of damages for injury, and protection of civil rights. On the other hand, the Criminal Division handles infractions, felonies, and misdemeanor cases.
Legal issues including divorce, elder abuse, division of marital property, child and spousal support are examples of cases handled by the Family Division. Also, this division can help establish paternity or issue domestic violence restraining orders. All matters related to probate, trust, conservatorship, estate administration, and mental health are within the jurisdiction of the Probate Division. The Juvenile Division conducts hearings for criminal offenses committed by persons under the age of 18. Additionally, this court handles juvenile status offenses and juvenile dependency issues such as abuse and neglect.
Cases filed with the Small Claims Division involve compensation for actual damages. This division typically resolves disputes involving businesses or public entities if the claim does not exceed $6,250. In contrast, disputes involving only individuals can be resolved for up to $12,500.
Fresno County's official court records are maintained and provided to the public by the Superior Court of Fresno. Official court records and other public court documents that are not accessible online by the public are available in the courthouse. Furthermore, through the Odyssey Portal, Fresno County residents can remotely access:
- Small claims records
- Felony records
- Misdemeanor records
- Traffic court records
- Civil court records
By visiting the Archive Department of the court with a photo ID, you can research and make copies of Fresno County non-confidential historical court records.
