Court records of Kern County, California, are available through several channels. KernCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, you can use the online case search on the official website of the Kern County Superior Court, visit the court clerk's office in person, or use public terminals in the courthouse.
Kern Court System & Jurisdictions
California operates a unified trial court system — the Superior Court. In Kern County, this role is fulfilled by the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, with the main office in Bakersfield and several branches in Delano, Lake Isabella, Mojave, Taft, and Shafter. All state-level cases — from small claims to serious criminal charges — are handled by this court.
Which cases go to which division:
- Criminal Cases — felonies and misdemeanors, including DUI.
- Civil Cases & Small Claims — disputes up to $12,500 are handled by the Civil and Small Claims Division; cases with a higher amount are handled by the general jurisdiction civil division.
- Family Law — divorce, child custody, alimony, domestic violence.
- Probate Cases — will validation, estate management, adult guardianship.
- Traffic Violations — fines, traffic violations, appeals.
- Juvenile Cases — juvenile offenses and child protection cases.
Federal cases — bankruptcy, federal law violations — are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, not the local Superior Court. If you're unsure which court your case belongs to, the California Courts guide can help determine the correct jurisdiction.
Kern Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
You can check the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week in several ways.
- Online Case Search. Go to the Case Information Search page, enter the case number or party name — the system will show the scheduled hearing dates and case status. Note: the data on the site is not an official court record.
- Phone Inquiry. Call the clerk's office of the required division and provide the case number — the clerk will inform you of the date and time of the next hearing.
- In-Person Visit. Each courthouse has public terminals where you can view the hearing calendar for free.
The Online Services portal also contains links for appointment booking, electronic document filing, and other schedule-related services.
How to Get a Copy of a Kern Court Document
The court issues two types of copies: certified — with the clerk's seal and signature, suitable for official use, and uncertified — regular photocopies for informational purposes.
Channels for Obtaining
- Online Request. Through the Request Case Documents page, you can request copies of documents in probate, civil, small claims, eviction, and other categories. Follow the instructions on the page.
- Written Request by Mail. Send a completed Judicial Records Request form along with a check payable to "Kern County Superior Court." Since the exact copying fee cannot be determined in advance, the court recommends leaving the amount fields blank.
- In Person. Visit the court clerk's office — you have the right to view the case for free or ask the clerk to find it for a separate fee.
Main courthouse:
Full access to court files via the Internet is currently unavailable — the court only provides basic case information online. To obtain full documents, one of the channels described above is required.
Access Restrictions
Most civil and criminal cases are public. However, some categories of records are restricted or sealed:
- Juvenile cases
- Adoption cases
- Sealed court orders
- Certain mental health cases
According to the public access rules of the California judiciary, the clerk may refuse to issue copies if the case falls under legislative restriction.
Kern Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are determined according to the California Government Code. The official court website states that court records are provided at 50 cents per page. Below are the main fees typically applied:
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Copying court documents | $0.50 per page |
| Certification of copy | $40 per document (according to Gov. Code § 70626) |
| Case search by clerk | A fee is charged — check the court's fee schedule for the exact amount |
| Copy of own criminal history (through DOJ) | $25 (submitted through California DOJ) |
Payment Methods: check payable to "Kern County Superior Court" (for mail requests) or check with the clerk's office during an in-person visit — some divisions accept cash, checks, and money orders. For online requests, the payment method is specified on the respective form.
If you only need basic information — party names, hearing dates, filed documents — the free online case search or self-viewing of the case in the courthouse does not require payment.