Records of divorce in Kern County, California, are available through several channels. KernCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about divorce cases in this county. Additionally, records are kept at the Kern County Superior Court, which issued the rulings, as well as at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH – Vital Records). Searches can be conducted online, in person at the court, by mail, or through the state vital records office.
Kern Divorce Records Search
The primary custodian of divorce court records in Kern County is the Superior Court of California, County of Kern. This is where divorce decrees, property settlement agreements, child custody orders, and all related procedural documents are stored.
Basic case information — party names, filing dates, status — can be checked through the online case search. Note: the data on the site is not an official court record and is provided for convenience only.
Separately, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH – Vital Records) maintains divorce certificates, but only for the period from 1962 to June 1984. These records contain only the fact of divorce, without case details.
Kern County Superior Court — Main Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Kern
In California, divorce cases (dissolution of marriage) are handled by the Superior Court. In Kern County, this is the only trial court with jurisdiction over family matters. After the court issues a ruling, the divorce decree remains in the case file, which is kept by the court clerk's office.
What you need determines where to go:
- Full court record (court ruling, agreements, custody orders) — contact the Kern County Superior Court Clerk's Office. You can visit the court in person and review the case for free or request copies for a fee.
- Divorce certificate (confirmation only) — for records from 1962–1984, contact CDPH – Vital Records. For divorces before 1962 or after July 1984, the certificate is issued only by the court that handled the case.
Superior Court of California, County of Kern — Clerk's Office
California Department of Public Health – Vital Records
To request documents from a case through the court, you can also use the online document request form. The Divorce & Separation section on the court's website contains additional resources for self-navigation of the process.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Kern
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Self-review of case at court | Free | Same day |
| Case search by court clerk | According to court fee schedule | Depends on workload |
| Copies of judicial records | $0.50 per page | Depends on request volume |
| Certified copy of court ruling | $25 for the first document + $25 for each additional | 7–10 business days |
| Divorce certificate from CDPH (1962–1984) | $21 | Approximately 12–20 weeks by mail |