Alameda County Court Records

Alameda County's Superior Court generates, compiles, and maintains all documentation related to local civil, traffic, and criminal proceedings, collectively referred to as Alameda County court records.

Under California law, including the Government Code and Rules of Court, recordkeeping is a legal obligation designed to foster accountability and transparency in government activities. For this reason, government entities retain different types of records that may be disseminated publicly, such as the court records (kept by the judicial system), arrest information (accessible through law enforcement), vital records (available through local and state registrars), and more.

The preservation of court records, in particular, allows the public to understand how cases are prosecuted or litigated, as well as learn from and hold the legal system accountable.

Are Alameda County Court Records Public?

Yes. Public access to court records is a fundamental part of the California courts' policy, historically recognized under common law and formally established in the California court rules, specifically Rules 2.400 - 2.507.

Consequently, various parties can readily locate, examine, and copy Alameda County court records. Nonetheless, certain case documents and details are exempt from public access. Examples include

• Search warrants
• Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
• Medical reports and similar files
• Adoption proceedings
• Pre-sentence reports
• Expunged criminal records
• Sealed records

Other exceptions are listed in Appendix 1 and Section 10.3.1 of the California Trial Court Records Manual.

What Information is Available in Alameda County Court Records?

Alameda County court records include both "case information" and "case documents". Case information refers to the basic details about a case, such as party names, case type, case status, assigned judge, and filing/hearing dates. This information is usually available via the court's online case summary system or a public access terminal at the courthouse.

On the other hand, case documents comprise the actual filings in a case, such as motions, affidavits, decrees, jury lists, warrants, verdicts, responses, opinions, memoranda, indictments, writs of execution, certificates of service, witness lists, and complaints. These are available via a direct request to the clerk of the court's office, but unofficial copies from certain court cases may be available online. Ultimately, the contents of a case file depend on the type of proceeding.

Alameda County Court Records Search

Alameda County court records can be accessed through different channels:

• Online Access: The Alameda County Superior Court provides online case record portals that interested members of the public can use to find case information or obtain non-confidential copies of case documents. These portals include the
• eCourt Public Portal (civil, probate, and family law cases): Viewing case information is free; downloading and printing documents costs a fee, but a half-page preview is available at no cost. No user registration required.
• Criminal Online Records Search (a.k.a Odyssey Portal) (non-confidential criminal case information): User registration is required; however, individuals can search the court's criminal case calendar without creating a user account.
• eFileCA (the California courts' electronic filing portal): Upon account registration, case parties can easily open cases, e-file documents, and view e-filed documents.
• Online Traffic Ticket Lookup & Payment: This system allows users to find and pay tickets/citations issued in Alameda County.

An online search can typically be conducted with a case participant's name or case number.

• In-Person Access: Public access terminals and indexes are available for public research at the Alameda County Superior Court locations. No fees are charged for researching and viewing cases. Generally, cases are viewed at the courthouse where they were filed or heard. Contact numbers for the relevant Records Unit to contact can be found on the superior court's website, where the information is organized by case type or court division.
• Mail and Phone Requests: Alameda County offers online and in-person options for viewing or obtaining non-confidential court records. Direct mail requests are mostly for certified copies, such as those required for immigration purposes that need an actual signature and court seal. Phone calls are primarily for confirming record availability, viewing locations, and research & copy fees.

Fees for Court Records in Alameda County

In Alameda County, the public can search for and view court records online or in person without fees. Fees apply for copies or staff-assisted record searches/retrieval. The Alameda Superior Court accepts credit card, check, cash, or money order payments; however, cash or credit card payments cannot be mailed. The court's Fees page has the most current charges for court records.

Alameda County Courthouse Locations

The Superior Court in Alameda County, responsible for adjudicating all cases filed in the county, is situated at these locations:

Cases heard in each courthouse are listed on the Court Locations & Contact Information page.

Criminal Records Access in Alameda County

Comprehensive criminal history checks in Alameda County are handled by the California Department of Justice. These checks are constrained to the subject of the record and authorized applicant agencies; the general public cannot retrieve these records. However, public criminal records can be obtained from local agencies, like the superior court.

The Alameda County Superior Court processes requests for non-confidential criminal case documents and information. Records from 1974 onwards can be accessed on public terminals at select court locations. Those who do not know the presiding court may call any of the following criminal divisions:

• East County Hall of Justice: (925) 227-6700
• Fremont Hall of Justice: (510) 818-7501
• Hayward Hall of Justice: (510) 690-2703
• Rene C. Davidson Courthouse: (510) 891-6009
• Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse: (510) 627-4700

Additionally, non-confidential Alameda criminal case documents can be ordered online through the Public Records Web Portal for Criminal Record Requests (copies are mailed to requestors), and criminal case information since 2005 can be accessed via the court's Odyssey Portal. The Odyssey Portal is free with a registered user account, but access does not include documents.

While criminal case records in Alameda are mainly processed online or in person, those needing a letter with an authentic signature and court seal for immigration purposes will need to send a mail request to the following address:

The application should include the requester's name, complete mailing address, and phone number, along with the defendant's name, birth date, and docket number. A check or money order for $1 (per letter, drawn on a US bank) and payable to "Alameda Superior Court" must also be enclosed.

Alameda County Probate Records

Probate records in Alameda County detail proceedings concerning the personal and financial affairs of children and adults, including wills, trusts, estate administration, powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships. These records are maintained by the Alameda County Superior Court and are disseminated in person, online, and via mail to interested members of the public.

For cases filed after January 31, 2006 (excluding guardianship proceedings, conservatorships, and confidential documents), remote access is available through the eCourt Public Portal. Most searches on the portal are conducted by name or case number. Searching by case number is free, but a name search attracts charges. Users who know the probate case number can also download and print non-confidential, non-sealed case documents. The cost is $1 per page for the first five pages and 50 cents per page thereafter (a $50 cap applies per document).

For in-person access, one can call/visit any of the following numbers:

• Rene C. Davidson Courthouse: Public terminals are available at the Civil Division
• George E. McDonald Courthouse: (510) 891-6005
• Berkeley Courthouse: (510) 647-4439

Certified copies can be requested by mailing a completed Civil Records Request Information form, the required fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, to

The form can also be filled out and submitted at the courthouse where a case was filed or heard. For additional assistance/questions regarding probate record requests, one can email AskRecordsManagement@alameda.courts.ca.gov.

Alameda County Family Court Records

Family law cases in Alameda County encompass a range of issues affecting children and families, such as child custody, child and spousal support, divorce, paternity, legal separation, elder abuse, and adoption.

Although limited family case information is available online through the eCourt Public Portal, family case documents are not disseminated online in Alameda. To access these documents, parties are advised to visit the presiding courthouse to use public access terminals (if provided) or mail/drop off the Civil Records Request Information form.

The following contacts can assist with family court records access:

• Rene C. Davidson Courthouse: Public terminals are available at the Civil Division
• Hayward Hall of Justice: (510) 690-2702
• George E. McDonald Courthouse: (510) 891-6005

Federal Court Records in Alameda County

There is no dedicated federal courthouse in Alameda County. Instead, the county is served by the following federal courts:

• The United States District Court, Northern District of California, and
• The United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California

Federal trials and hearings in the district court are held at the San Francisco and Oakland courthouses. Bankruptcy cases originating from Alameda County are heard at the Oakland courthouse.

Records of federal court proceedings are accessible to the public per the judiciary's policy through the following channels:

• PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): This system provides access to most federal court records upon registration and payment of the required fees.
• Public Access Terminals: Self-service computers are available in the relevant clerk of the court's office (i.e., where the case was filed). Access is free, but printing from a public terminal costs 10 cents per page.
• Voice Case Information System: This offers 24/7 phone access to federal court records at no charge.
• Federal Records Centers (FRCs): For paper case files created before 1999.
• National Archives and Records Administration: For older historical records.

Notwithstanding, some documentation, such as juvenile records and information about ongoing investigations, remains nonpublic and is only available to authorized entities.

Note: The Alameda County court system, which encompasses the superior court, is a state judicial system and operates separately from the federal judiciary.