Judicial records of Kings County, California, are available through several channels. KingsCACourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be searched through the official online portal of the Kings County Superior Court, directly at the court clerk's office, or through public terminals located in the courthouse in Hanford.
Kings Court System & Jurisdictions
California operates a unified trial court system — the Superior Court. Kings County is served by one Kings County Superior Court, which handles all categories of cases at the county level. Appeals from this court are directed to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, and then to the Supreme Court of California.
The Superior Court of Kings County has jurisdiction over the following types of cases:
- Criminal Cases — from misdemeanors to felonies, including DUI and theft.
- Civil Cases — unlimited jurisdiction claims (over $25,000) and limited jurisdiction claims (up to $25,000).
- Small Claims — disputes up to $10,000 for individuals or up to $5,000 for businesses.
- Family Law — divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders.
- Probate Cases — estate management, adult guardianship, conservatorship.
- Traffic Violations — fines, ticket disputes, license suspension cases.
- Juvenile Cases — offenses and child protection cases.
Federal cases, such as violations of federal law or bankruptcy, are handled separately — in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Kings County Court does not handle them.
Kings Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or this week, use the public portal of the Kings County Superior Court. The portal allows you to search cases by number, party name, or date and view scheduled hearings.
Here's how to find information about upcoming hearings:
- Go to the court portal.
- Enter the case number or party name in the search field.
- Open the case card — it lists the dates of upcoming hearings, room number, and judge's name.
Hearing schedules may also be posted on the Forms & Filings page, where current schedules for various court departments are published. If information about a specific case is not available online, contact the court clerk's office by phone or in person.
How to Get a Copy of a Kings Court Document
The Records Division of the court maintains all active and archived public court documents. Copies can be obtained in three ways.
Online
Through the public portal, you can view case information and some documents. To obtain official copies, fill out the records request form on the court's website, providing your name, email, and case number (if known).
In Person
Visit the Records Division office at:
Bring the case number or sufficient identifying information (party names, approximate filing date). The clerk will locate the case and make copies on-site.
By Mail
Send a written request to the court's address, specifying:
- Your full name and return address
- Case number or party names
- Type of document you need
- A check or money order to cover the copying fee
Certified vs. non-certified copies. A regular (non-certified) copy is suitable for personal review. A certified copy — with the court's seal and clerk's signature — is usually required for submission to other government agencies, immigration procedures, or legal purposes. Certification costs extra.
Some records have restricted access: juvenile cases, sealed cases, certain family cases, and medical records are not public. Under the California Public Records Act, state residents have the right to access public records, but the court may deny access if the record falls under legislative exceptions.
Kings Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies of court documents are set according to the California Government Code. The Records Division page contains the current fee schedule. Below are the main rates:
| Service | Fee | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First 10 pages of a document copy | Free (first page) + $0.50 for each subsequent page up to 10th | Government Code § 70627 |
| Copy over 10 pages (each additional) | $0.50 per page | Government Code § 70627 |
| Document certification | $40.00 per document | Government Code § 70626 |
| Case search by request (per name or case number) | Depends on the type of request; check with the clerk | Government Code |
Note: fees are subject to change. Before sending a mail request, check the current rates on the records division website or call the clerk's office.
Payment methods. When visiting in person, the court accepts cash, checks, and money orders. For online services (e.g., traffic fines), credit and debit cards are available. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to Kings County Superior Court — sending cash by mail is not recommended.