Butte County Public Records /Butte County Court Records

Butte County Court Records

What Is Butte County Court Records

Court records in Butte County encompass the complete body of official documents generated, filed, and maintained by the judicial system in connection with legal proceedings. These records are created and preserved by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte, which serves as the unified trial court for the county following California's 1998 court consolidation under Trial Court Funding Act.

Court records include, but are not limited to, the following document types:

Case files and dockets — the official index of all filings and actions taken in a case
Pleadings — complaints, answers, cross-complaints, and demurrers
Motions and supporting papers — written requests submitted to the court for rulings
Orders and judgments — the court's formal written decisions
Transcripts — verbatim records of proceedings prepared by court reporters
Exhibits — physical or documentary evidence admitted during hearings or trials
Sentencing records — documents reflecting criminal penalties imposed by the court
Minute orders — brief summaries of courtroom proceedings

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained by Butte County agencies. Property records, for example, are held by the Butte County Assessor-Recorder, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are maintained by the County Clerk-Recorder. Court records are exclusively generated through judicial proceedings and are custodied by the clerk of the court.

The Superior Court of California, County of Butte, maintains records across all subject matter divisions, including civil, criminal, family law, probate, traffic, juvenile delinquency, and juvenile dependency matters. Prior to unification, separate municipal and justice courts operated within the county; records from those predecessor courts are now held by the Superior Court.

Superior Court of California, County of Butte 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928 (530) 532-7002 Superior Court of California, County of Butte

Are Court Records Public In Butte County

Court records in Butte County are presumptively open to the public under California law. California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550, establishes that court records are open to inspection by the public unless a specific statute, court rule, or court order provides otherwise. Additionally, California Government Code § 6253 affirms the public's right to inspect and copy public records, a principle that extends broadly to judicial branch documents.

The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:

Most civil case files, including unlimited and limited civil matters
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Judgments, orders, and minute orders
Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
Hearing schedules and court calendars
Probate filings, including wills admitted to probate and inventories
Small claims filings and judgments

Members of the public should note that federal court records — maintained by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California — are governed by separate federal rules and are accessed through the federal PACER system, not through the Butte County Superior Court. State court records and federal court records are entirely separate systems with distinct access procedures.

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under California law. These include juvenile case files, sealed records, records pertaining to adoptions, mental health proceedings under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, and records ordered confidential by a judicial officer. California Rules of Court, Rule 2.551, governs the procedures by which records may be sealed upon a showing of good cause.

How To Find Court Records in Butte County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Butte County may access them through several established channels. The Superior Court provides both in-person and online access to non-confidential case information.

In-Person Access at the Clerk's Office

Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the clerk's office during regular business hours. Requestors should bring the case number, party name, or other identifying information to facilitate retrieval. Certified copies and plain copies are available for a fee as established by the court's fee schedule.

Visit the clerk's office at the main courthouse location
Present a completed copy request form for document reproduction
Pay applicable per-page copy fees at the time of the request
Allow additional processing time for older or archived records

Written or Mail Requests

Requestors who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the clerk's office. The request should identify the case by number or party name, specify the documents sought, and include payment or a payment authorization for applicable fees. The court's copy request form is available for download and should be used when requesting document reproductions.

Online Access

The Superior Court currently provides online case information through its public portal, allowing members of the public to search non-confidential case records without visiting the courthouse. Detailed instructions are provided in the section below.

How To Look Up Court Records in Butte County Online?

The Superior Court of California, County of Butte, maintains an online portal through which members of the public may search non-confidential case information. The case information search portal allows users to look up all non-confidential, non-sealed case types, including civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic matters.

Steps to search court records online:

Navigate to the online services portal on the Superior Court's official website
Select "Case Information" from the available service options
Enter the case number, party name, or other available identifying information into the search fields
Review the case summary, which typically includes the case type, filing date, parties, and a list of docket entries
Note that document images may not be available for all cases through the online portal; in-person or written requests may be required for full document access
Use the "Court Calendars" feature to identify upcoming hearing dates associated with a case

The online portal does not provide access to confidential, sealed, or juvenile records. Traffic case information and payment options are also accessible through the court's online services platform.

How To Search Butte County Court Records for Free?

California law guarantees members of the public the right to inspect public court records at no charge. Under California Government Code § 6253, public records must be made available for inspection free of charge during regular office hours. Fees may be charged only for the duplication of records, not for inspection alone.

The following no-cost access options are currently available:

Online case search — The Superior Court's case information portal is free to use and requires no account registration for basic case lookups
In-person inspection — Members of the public may review case files at the clerk's office counter without charge; fees apply only when copies are requested
Court calendars — Hearing schedules are publicly accessible at no cost through the court's online services page

Fees are assessed for certified copies, plain paper copies, and certain research services performed by court staff. The current fee schedule is published on the court's online services page.

What's Included in a Butte County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally encompass all documents filed with or generated by the court in connection with a proceeding.

Civil Case Records typically include:

Complaint and summons
Defendant's answer or responsive pleadings
Motions, oppositions, and supporting declarations
Court orders and rulings
Judgment and any post-judgment filings
Proof of service documents

Criminal Case Records typically include:

Complaint or indictment
Arrest and booking information (where filed with the court)
Bail and release orders
Plea agreements
Trial transcripts and exhibit lists
Sentencing orders and probation terms

Family Law Records typically include:

Petition for dissolution, legal separation, or nullity
Financial disclosure declarations
Child custody and visitation orders
Support orders
Final judgment of dissolution

Probate Records typically include:

Petition for probate and will (if any)
Inventory and appraisal of estate assets
Creditor claims
Orders for final distribution

Small Claims Records typically include:

Plaintiff's claim form
Defendant's response
Judgment

Traffic Records typically include:

Citation information
Plea and disposition
Fine and bail records

Self-represented litigants seeking guidance on required forms may consult the court forms library and form packets available on the Superior Court's website.

How Long Does Butte County Keep Court Records?

The Superior Court of California, County of Butte, retains court records in accordance with retention schedules established under California Rules of Court, Rule 10.1028, which authorizes the Judicial Council to set minimum retention periods for trial court records.

Current retention periods under California law include:

Felony criminal records — Retained permanently
Misdemeanor and infraction records — Generally retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition
Civil unlimited jurisdiction records — Retained for a minimum of 10 years after final judgment
Civil limited jurisdiction records — Retained for a minimum of 5 years after final judgment
Family law records — Retained for a minimum of 10 years; records involving minor children may be retained longer
Probate records — Retained permanently in many instances due to their ongoing legal significance
Small claims records — Retained for a minimum of 5 years after final judgment
Juvenile records — Subject to special confidentiality and destruction provisions under California Welfare and Institutions Code § 781

Records that have exceeded their retention period may be destroyed pursuant to court order and applicable Judicial Council guidelines. Requestors seeking older records should contact the clerk's office directly to confirm availability.

Types of Courts In Butte County

California operates a unified trial court system. Following consolidation, Butte County is served by a single Superior Court with multiple courthouse locations. The court hierarchy in California proceeds as follows: Superior Court (trial level) → California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District → California Supreme Court.

Superior Court of California, County of Butte — Chico Courthouse 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928 (530) 532-7002 Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Superior Court of California, County of Butte

Superior Court of California, County of Butte — Oroville Courthouse One Court Street, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 532-7002 Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Superior Court of California, County of Butte

California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District 914 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 654-0209 California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District

California Supreme Court 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 865-7000 California Supreme Court

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California — Fresno Division 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 499-5600 U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

What Types of Cases Do Butte County Courts Hear?

The Superior Court of California, County of Butte, exercises general jurisdiction over all case types arising within the county. The court currently accepts electronic filings in civil, family, probate, criminal, traffic, juvenile delinquency, and juvenile dependency cases.

Civil Division — Hears unlimited civil cases (disputes exceeding $35,000), limited civil cases, and small claims matters
Criminal Division — Handles felony, misdemeanor, and infraction cases, including DUI, domestic violence, theft, assault, and drug offenses
Family Law Division — Adjudicates dissolution of marriage, legal separation, nullity, child custody, child support, spousal support, and domestic violence restraining orders
Probate Division — Administers decedents' estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters
Traffic Division — Processes traffic infractions, misdemeanor traffic offenses, and related matters
Juvenile Delinquency Division — Hears cases involving minors alleged to have committed criminal offenses under Welfare and Institutions Code § 602
Juvenile Dependency Division — Handles cases involving allegations of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment under Welfare and Institutions Code § 300

How To Find a Court Docket In Butte County

A court docket is the official chronological index of all filings, hearings, and actions taken in a case. Members of the public may access docket information through the following methods:

Online Search

Visit the case information portal on the Superior Court's website
Enter the case number or party name to retrieve the docket
Review the list of docket entries, which reflects filing dates, document types, and hearing dates

In-Person at the Clerk's Office

Appear at either the Chico or Oroville courthouse clerk's office during public counter hours
Request docket information by case number or party name
Staff will provide access to the case file index for inspection

Court Calendars

The court's online services page includes a court calendars feature that allows members of the public to identify scheduled hearings by date, department, or case number

Which Courts in Butte County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and whose judgments carry a presumption of validity. Under California law, the Superior Court is a court of record as established by California Constitution, Article VI, § 4.

Prior to the unification of California's trial courts in 1998, justice courts and municipal courts operated within Butte County. Justice courts, which handled minor civil and criminal matters in rural areas, were generally not courts of record in the traditional sense, meaning their proceedings were not transcribed verbatim and appeals were heard de novo (anew) in the superior court. Municipal courts occupied an intermediate status.

At present, all trial court functions in Butte County are consolidated within the Superior Court, which is a court of record. There are no currently operating courts within Butte County that are classified as courts not of record. Small claims proceedings, while informal in nature and conducted without formal rules of evidence, are heard within the Superior Court's small claims division and are therefore part of a court of record. Decisions in small claims cases may be appealed to the superior court's appellate division for a new hearing.