Kings County
Kings County, located in the southern part of California's Central Valley, was established in 1893. Named after the Kings River, the county has a total area of 1,391 square miles and is home to 152,486 residents. Hanford serves as the county seat and is the largest city in the county.
The court system in Kings County features only the Superior Court, which handles all criminal and civil cases within the county. The Kings County Superior Court has jurisdiction over criminal proceedings, civil disputes, family law matters such as divorce and child custody, probate issues, and juvenile delinquency cases. Civil cases involving more than $25,000 are handled by the Civil Division of the Superior Court, while the Criminal Division hears misdemeanors, felonies, and other criminal cases.
Other divisions of the Superior Court include the Family, Juvenile, Small Claims, and Traffic Divisions. These divisions oversee legal matters, including juvenile delinquencies, traffic violations, domestic relation cases, and small claims issues. The court also has an Appellate Division that handles appeals of limited civil cases involving an amount not more than $25,000.
Kings County public court records are official documents that are created during the legal process and maintained by the courts. These records include case filings, court dockets, pleadings, motions, judgments, and trial transcripts. Kings County court records are made available per the California Public Records Act. The types of records available for public access include:
- Criminal court records
- Civil court records
- Family law records
- Probate records
Certain records, such as juvenile cases, adoption records, and mental health cases, are confidential and only accessible by authorized individuals. Public court records are accessible through the Kings County Superior Court Clerk's Office, which records and maintains these documents. Individuals can request records by contacting the clerk's office via phone, email, or visiting in person at:
Kings County Superior Court Clerk
516 Third Avenue, Room E-609
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 296-9300
Email: clerksofficecustomerservice@kingcounty.gov
Kings County court records are also accessible online through the California Courts Case Information portal. Viewing Kings County public court records online is free, but obtaining certified or physical copies from the Clerk's Office often incurs fees.
