How to Search San Luis Obispo County Court Records
The court runs case lookup through re:SearchCA, a Tyler Technologies portal. San Luis Obispo was the first California county on the platform. The launch date was January 4, 2024. The portal is free. Remote use needs an account. Kiosks at each branch do not need an account.
Before you start, have the case number ready. If you do not have one, use the party name. Date range helps narrow results. The portal pulls from the court's case management system. Some criminal, family, and domestic violence documents are limited to courthouse kiosks under California Rule of Court 2.503.
Screenshot from slo.courts.ca.gov:
The Superior Court home page links to Online Case Lookup, court leadership, and branch addresses. The Online Case Lookup page at slo.courts.ca.gov/online-services/online-case-lookup sends you to re:SearchCA.
- Open researchca.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/ or use the court's Online Case Lookup link.
- Register or sign in with an eFileCalifornia account. Skip this step at a courthouse kiosk.
- Enter a party name or case number. Pick San Luis Obispo as the court.
- Narrow by case type and filing date if results are too broad.
- Open the case to view the register of actions and docket entries.
- For documents not shown online, use a courthouse kiosk or request a copy by mail.
- Mail copy requests go to 1035 Palm Street, Room 385, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Call (805) 706-3600 to check status.
The portal expects the fields below.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign in / register | Account | Yes for remote use | Free eFileCalifornia account. |
| Search case data | Search box | Yes | Party name, case number, or date. |
| User role | Account setting | Yes | Public, attorney of record, registered user. |
| Courthouse kiosk | On-site terminal | No account needed | Kiosks at all three branches. |
| Attorney Request Access | Menu action | Yes for case-party attorneys | Granted within one business day. |
More search help sits on the San Luis Obispo County court records page.
The San Luis Obispo County Judicial System
San Luis Obispo County uses one trial court: the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo. The court is unified. There is no separate municipal court. Thirteen judges and two commissioners share the bench. Hon. Tana Coates is Presiding Judge. Hon. Jesse Marino is Assistant Presiding Judge. Michael Powell is Court Executive Officer.
Appeals from San Luis Obispo County go to the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Six in Ventura. The California Supreme Court hears the final tier of state cases. Federal matters from this county go through the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with appeals to the Ninth Circuit.
Case flow: Superior Court › Court of Appeal (Division Six, Ventura) › California Supreme Court
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County | Trial court for the county | Civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, small claims |
| Court of Appeal, 2nd District, Div. Six | Intermediate appellate, Ventura | Appeals from Superior Court |
| California Supreme Court | State high court | Discretionary review and capital cases |
| U.S. District Court, Central District of CA | Federal trial court | Federal civil and criminal cases |
| Bankruptcy Court, Northern Division | Federal, Santa Barbara | Chapter 7, 11, 13 cases from the county |
The San Luis Obispo Superior Court page has a deeper look at judges and assignments.
San Luis Obispo County Courthouses
The court runs three open branches and a juvenile services center. Each branch holds concurrent county-wide jurisdiction under the court's local rules. The downtown San Luis Obispo location is headquarters. Paso Robles serves the North County. Grover Beach serves the South County. The Veteran's Memorial Branch at 801 Grand Avenue is temporarily closed.
Screenshot from slo.courts.ca.gov/general-information/location-contact-info:
The court posts counter hours of Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to noon. Phone hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to noon.
Civil, Family & Criminal Branch
1050 Monterey Street, Room 220
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
(805) 706-3600
Juvenile Services Center
1065 Kansas Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
(805) 706-3600
Court Administration / Annex
1035 Palm Street, Room 385
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
(805) 706-3600
Clerk-Recorder (not the court)
1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
(805) 781-5080
Types of Court Records Available in San Luis Obispo County
The Superior Court holds case files for civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, traffic, and small claims. Each case type maps to a court division and a set of forms. Public access depends on case type. Some files are open to anyone. Others are sealed or limited by statute.
The Clerk-Recorder is a separate office. It holds marriage licenses, vital records, recorded property documents, and fictitious business names. Confusing the two is a common mistake. Court case records live with the Superior Court. Recorded documents live with the Clerk-Recorder.
- Criminal records - Felony, misdemeanor, and infraction cases filed by the District Attorney.
- Civil records - Lawsuits, unlimited and limited, small claims under $12,500, and unlawful detainer (eviction) files.
- Family and divorce records - Dissolution, custody, support, paternity, and domestic violence cases.
- Probate records - Estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships filed at the Civil & Family Law Branch.
- Traffic records - Citations, fines, and traffic infraction filings handled at all three branches.
- Juvenile records - Delinquency and dependency cases at the Kansas Avenue Juvenile Services Center. Mostly sealed.
- Court dockets - Calendars, registers of actions, and hearing schedules across all divisions.
- Public records - General public records under the California Public Records Act.
What San Luis Obispo County Court Records Show
A San Luis Obispo County Court record lists the case number, parties, case type, and a register of actions. Each entry has a date, event code, and filer. The court redacts items required by California court rules.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | Unique court ID tied to one matter. Format varies by case type. |
| Filing Date | Date the case opened with the clerk. Sets statute of limitations clocks. |
| Parties | Plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, or "the People" in criminal cases. |
| Charges / Cause | Charge code in criminal files. Cause of action in civil files. Petition type in family. |
| Register of Actions | Date-stamped docket entries. Filings, hearings, rulings, and orders. |
| Hearings | Date, time, department, and judge for each scheduled appearance. |
| Disposition | How the case ended: dismissed, convicted, acquitted, judgment for plaintiff, etc. |
| Sentence / Judgment | Jail time, probation, fines, awards, or terms of a family order. |
| Bail | Bond amount set or posted in a criminal case. |
Public Access Laws for San Luis Obispo County Court Records
California treats court files as presumptively open. The California Public Records Act sets the rule for executive-branch records. Court records sit under the California Rules of Court and case law. Records can be sealed by court order. Some records are sealed by statute, like juvenile files.
Key statutes:
Gov. Code § 7920.000 - Short title of the California Public Records Act, the main state open-records law.
Gov. Code § 7922.000 - Balances public interest in disclosure against privacy and other harms.
Gov. Code § 7922.600 - Agencies must help requesters identify the records they want.
Gov. Code § 7923.600 - Sets the public access rule for law enforcement records.
Welf. & Inst. Code § 827 and California Rule of Court 5.551 - Limit access to juvenile case files.
California Rules of Court 2.500-2.507 cover electronic court records. Rules 2.550-2.551 cover sealing motions.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Some San Luis Obispo County Court files are closed by law. Juvenile delinquency and dependency files are sealed under Welfare and Institutions Code section 827. Adoption files are confidential. Family court mental health evaluations, child custody recommending counseling reports, and many domestic violence filings have access limits. Probate guardianship and conservatorship case files can include sealed mental health records.
Criminal records may be sealed under Penal Code section 851.91 for arrests not leading to conviction. Penal Code section 1203.4 allows relief after probation, sometimes called expungement. Sealed records remain on file but do not show in public results. To view a sealed record you must petition the court and show good cause under California Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551. Megan's Law sex offender data is published by the state at meganslaw.ca.gov under Penal Code § 290.46.
Specialty Courts in San Luis Obispo County
The Superior Court runs collaborative programs for cases that need more than a standard sentence. These include Veterans' Treatment Court for vets with service-related issues. The CARE Act program handles civil court referrals for adults with untreated mental illness. The AB109 Re-Entry Collaboration tracks people released under realignment.
Family Court Services helps with custody and visitation cases. It sits in Room 224 of the main courthouse. The number is (805) 706-3608. Mediation and recommending counseling are part of the family case flow. Specialty courts share judges and staff with regular departments.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff and Jail
Sheriff Ian Parkinson leads the Sheriff's Office at 1585 Kansas Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. The main number is (805) 781-4550. Jail is (805) 781-4600. Records and Warrants Unit is (805) 781-4588. The Records Unit number for crime reports is (805) 781-4140. The Sheriff motto reads "Sworn to serve since 1850."
To find someone in custody, use Who's in Custody. The 30-Day Booking Log lives at slosheriff.org/WebLogs/BookingLog. Inmate resources, including TouchPay and NCIC video visits, are at slosheriff.org/jail-information/inmate-resources. For full roster details see San Luis Obispo County inmate records, and check warrant records for active warrants. Jail count data and trends live on the jail population page. People recently let out are covered on the released inmates page.
Screenshot from slocounty.ca.gov/departments/district-attorney:
District Attorney Dan Dow files criminal cases for the county. The office sits at 1035 Palm Street, 4th Floor. Phone is (805) 781-5800.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Marriage licenses and certificates come from the Clerk-Recorder at 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120. Divorce files are Superior Court family cases, not Clerk-Recorder records. Probate cases are filed at the Civil & Family Law Branch, 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220. See the marriage and divorce records page and the probate records page for the full process.
- Testator
- The person who made a will. The "decedent" is the person who died.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to handle the estate. Court issues Letters Testamentary.
- Administrator
- Court-appointed person who handles an estate with no will. Receives Letters of Administration.
- Conservator
- Court-appointed person who manages affairs of an adult unable to do so.
- Petitioner
- Person who files a family or probate case to ask the court for an order.
- Dissolution
- The California legal term for divorce.
San Luis Obispo County Court Records Fees
Fees are set by state law and the local fee schedule. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 plus $0.50 per page. A research fee of $15 applies when staff search takes more than ten minutes, under Government Code section 70627(c). The full civil and bail schedules sit on the court's Fee & Bail Schedules page.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | $0.50 |
| Certified copy | $40 plus $0.50/page |
| Records search (over 10 min) | $15 |
| Petition for Probate | $435 |
| Lodge a Will | $50 |
| Probate appeal | $775 |
| Marriage certificate (2026) | $19 |
| Birth certificate | $34 |
| Death certificate | $26 |
| Recording first page | $14 |
| Recording each added page | $3 |
Fee waivers exist for low-income filers. The court provides Form FW-001.
How to Interpret San Luis Obispo County Court Records
Docket entries use short codes. "ROA" means register of actions. "ARR" means arraignment. "PHRG" means preliminary hearing. "JMT" means judgment. A charge is not a conviction. A defendant is presumed innocent until the court enters a finding of guilt or accepts a plea. Read the disposition line to see how the case ended.
Case numbers point to the case type. Family cases start with letters tied to the division. Criminal felony numbers differ from misdemeanor numbers. If the case shows "Dismissed," the charge did not result in a conviction. "Convicted - guilty plea" is a conviction. "Acquitted" means a jury or judge found the defendant not guilty.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Court records update on court time. New filings can take a day or more to show in re:SearchCA. Some older files were never scanned. The court posts a known issue called "Online Case Lookup Errors," noting that some cases may be missing data. If a result looks wrong, call the clerk at (805) 706-3600.
Note: Always confirm details with the originating court office before relying on any online court record for legal, employment, housing, or credit decisions.
History of San Luis Obispo County Courts
San Luis Obispo County is one of California's historic coastal counties, founded in 1850. The Superior Court succeeds the older county trial-court structure that existed before California unified its municipal and superior courts. The court today runs from the downtown San Luis Obispo headquarters with branches in Paso Robles and Grover Beach. The Sheriff's office traces its origin to 1850 as well.
The court hit a modern milestone on January 4, 2024 when it became the first California county to launch Tyler Technologies re:SearchCA. The platform now serves as the public case lookup system. The court has also added e-filing, text reminders, remote hearings, and courthouse kiosks. The bench currently has thirteen judges and two commissioners.
Self-Help and Legal Aid Resources
The court runs a Self-Help section that covers family law, divorce, custody, support, restraining orders, small claims, evictions, name changes, guardianship, conservatorship, probate, criminal law, and appeals. The statewide site lives at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov. The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association posts a lawyer referral list at slobar.org. Public defender contracts go to San Luis Obispo Defenders at (805) 541-5715. The county Public Defender office page lives at slocounty.ca.gov/departments/public-defender.
Victims of crime can call the District Attorney's Victim/Witness office at (805) 781-5821 or the hotline 866-781-5821. Email is da.contactus@co.slo.ca.us. State Victim Compensation Board local resources sit at victims.ca.gov. County population is 282,424 per the 2020 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search San Luis Obispo County court records online?
Go to the court's Online Case Lookup page and click through to re:SearchCA. Remote use needs a free eFileCalifornia account. Courthouse kiosks at all three branches do not need an account and give wider access to documents in criminal, family, and domestic violence files. Search by party name or case number. Filter by case type and date if results are wide.
Does San Luis Obispo County have a district clerk?
No. California does not use the district clerk model. Court case records are kept by the Superior Court clerk and Court Executive Officer Michael Powell. The Clerk-Recorder is a separate county office that holds marriage licenses, vital records, recorded property documents, and fictitious business names. For divorce, criminal, civil, probate, and docket records, start at the Superior Court.
How do I get copies of court files?
Find the case number. Review the file at a public computer if you need to. Order copies at the court counter or by mail. Mail to Superior Court, 1035 Palm Street, Room 385, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Copies cost $0.50 per page. A $15 research fee applies if the search takes more than ten minutes. Include a stamped self-addressed envelope for mail returns.
What are the main court addresses?
The Civil & Family Law and Criminal Branches sit at 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Phone is (805) 706-3600. The Paso Robles Branch is at 901 Park Street. The Grover Beach Branch is at 214 South 16th Street. The Juvenile Services Center is at 1065 Kansas Avenue.
How do I find an inmate in San Luis Obispo County Jail?
Use the Sheriff's Who's in Custody search. Results include booking number, name, gender, booking date, projected release, bail, and charges. The 30-Day Booking Log shows recent bookings. For someone no longer in custody, call Records at (805) 781-4588. For release timing, call the jail at (805) 781-4600.
Where do I get a marriage license?
At the Clerk-Recorder, 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120. Both parties must appear in person with valid ID. You may start the application online through the self-service portal. The license is valid for 90 days and works anywhere in California.
Where do I file a probate case?
All probate matters file at the Civil & Family Law Branch, 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220. Probate covers estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. The Petition for Probate fee is $435. Will lodging is $50 after death. Many small estates do not need full probate.
How do I find out if I have a warrant?
Call the Sheriff Records and Warrants Unit at (805) 781-4588. Limited adult warrant data, like charges, bail, and the issuing agency, is generally available. If you think the warrant may be a court error, call the Superior Court at (805) 706-3600. Do not assume an online absence means no warrant exists.
More answers live on the San Luis Obispo County Court Records FAQ page.
