Napa County, California court records are available through several channels. NapaCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about court cases in the county. Additionally, the official Napa County Superior Court portal, the court clerk's office, and public terminals in the courthouse provide access to case materials, hearing calendars, and documents. Below is a practical guide to the county's court system, record search, and obtaining document copies.
Napa Court System & Jurisdictions
California operates a unified trial court system — the Superior Court. This means that Napa County does not have separate District Court, Magistrate Court, or County Court at the state level. Napa County Superior Court handles all categories of cases:
- Criminal Cases — felonies, misdemeanors, traffic infractions.
- Civil Cases — limited jurisdiction claims (up to $25,000) and unlimited jurisdiction claims (over $25,000).
- Small Claims — disputes up to $12,500 for individuals.
- Family Law — divorce, custody, alimony, paternity establishment. Details on filing documents are available on the Family Law Filing page.
- Probate — inheritance cases, adult guardianship, conservatorship.
- Traffic Violations — fines can be paid or contested through Case Lookup / Pay Traffic Tickets.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal criminal charges, claims under federal law) are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, not the county's Superior Court. General information about the state's judicial branch can be found on the California Courts portal.
Napa Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The daily calendar of Napa County Superior Court hearings is available online. The court publishes the schedule of cases for the current day and up to 14 business days in advance.
To find a specific hearing:
- Go to the Case Lookup and Self Service page.
- Use the search calendar — specify the party's name or case number.
- The system will show the date, time, and courtroom of the hearing.
If you have been referred to the probation department and are unsure about the date, call the court directly at (707) 299-1100. The Court Dates page on the county's website also contains contact information for schedule clarification.
The calendar is updated daily. However, last-minute changes — rescheduling, cancellations — occur, so it's advisable to verify the information before heading to court.
How to Get a Copy of a Napa Court Document
Court cases in California are generally public records according to California Rules of Court, rule 2.400(a). Some categories — juvenile cases, sealed records, certain family documents — have restricted access.
Certified and Non-Certified Copies
A certified copy bears the official seal of the court clerk and confirms the document's authenticity. A non-certified copy is a regular photocopy for informational purposes. For most legal procedures (filing with another court, immigration cases), a certified copy is required.
Ways to Obtain
- Online: basic case information (status, hearing dates, charges) can be viewed through Research & Records on the court's website. Full document copies usually require a request.
- In Person: visit the clerk's office in the courthouse. Bring the case number or the party's full name and approximate filing date.
- By Mail: send a written request specifying the case number, document type, number of copies, and a check for the appropriate amount.
Clerk's office address:
For property, marriage, and other official county records, contact the Recorder–County Clerk. The archive of official records dating back to 1848 is available through the Official Records portal.
Napa Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court document copies in California are set by Government Code § 70626–70634. Below are the main rates typically applied in Superior Court:
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Non-certified copy (per page) | $0.50 |
| Document certification | $25 per document |
| Search by name in the clerk's database | $15 per name |
| Copy of court judgment — first 5 pages | $25 (includes certification) |
| Each additional page over 5 | $0.50 |
Specific amounts may vary. Before sending a mail request, confirm the current fee amount by calling the clerk's office at (707) 299-1100.
Payment Methods:
- In person — cash, check, money order. Some clerk's offices accept credit and debit cards.
- By mail — check or money order payable to "Napa County Superior Court."
- Online — payment of traffic violation fines is available through the Case Lookup / Pay Traffic Tickets portal.
Note: Fees for Recorder–County Clerk records (property documents, marriage certificates) differ from court fees and are governed by a separate fee schedule.