Nevada County
Nevada County was established in 1851 during the California Gold Rush. It is located in the Sierra Nevada region and spans approximately 957.8 square miles. As of 2022, the county had a population of about 102,322. Nevada City, the county seat, and Grass Valley are the two largest cities in the county. Nevada County's court system consists solely of the Superior Court.
The Nevada County Superior Court is responsible for adjudicating all legal disputes in the county. It is divided into several sections, each focusing on a certain case type, including criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, small claims, and traffic. The Superior Court Criminal Division handles most misdemeanors, felonies, drug-related cases, and sexual offenses. The Civil Division is subdivided based on the amount in dispute; the Limited Civil Division deals with cases involving claims below $25,000, while the Unlimited Civil Division addresses cases exceeding $25,000. Civil cases with damages under $7,500 fall under the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Division. Legal issues related to divorce, child support and custody, spousal support, and domestic abuse are handled by the Family Division. The Probate Division handles cases involving conservatorships, guardianships, wills, and estate administration. While the Juvenile Division is responsible for cases involving juvenile delinquency, abuse, and neglect. The Traffic Division deals with infractions of traffic rules.
Nevada County court records are created during legal proceedings, and they contain information on filings, motions, transcripts of hearings, judicial decisions, and orders for criminal and civil matters from the county. These records include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Family Records
- Traffic Records
The County Court Clerk's Office manages public records and provides public access to court documents per California Rule of Court 2.400(a). This fosters transparency and accessibility in the judicial process. However, certain records, such as those related to juveniles, mental health, grand jury proceedings, and adoptions, are considered confidential and are exempt from public inspection. Public records are available through an online search index maintained by the county government. Public members can also request records by using the Record Request Form. Alternatively, case files and documents can be accessed during business hours at the viewing kiosk in the courthouse at:
201 Church Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 362-4309
