Stanislaus County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Stanislaus County?

Public records in Stanislaus County are defined according to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), codified under Government Code § 7920.000 et seq. The law defines public records as "any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics."

Stanislaus County maintains numerous types of public records accessible to citizens, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments maintained by the Stanislaus County Assessor-Recorder's Office
Vital Records: Birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name statements
Tax Records: Property tax information and assessment records
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results maintained by the Registrar of Voters
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of County Board of Supervisors and other county commissions
Budget and Financial Documents: County financial reports, budgets, and expenditure records
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs and certain incident reports where permitted by law
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, permits, and zoning information

Each record type is maintained by specific county departments. For example, the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder maintains vital records and property documents, while the Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus maintains court records and provides judicial administrative records upon request.

Is Stanislaus County an Open Records County?

Stanislaus County adheres to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), which establishes the public's right to access government records. Under Government Code § 7921.000, "access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state."

The county follows this mandate by providing access to public records through various departments and online portals. The CPRA requires that public records be open for inspection during regular office hours, and Stanislaus County complies with this requirement across its agencies.

Key provisions of the law applicable to Stanislaus County include:

Public agencies must respond to records requests within 10 days, with a possible 14-day extension in unusual circumstances
Agencies must assist requesters in making focused and effective requests
Electronic records are subject to disclosure in any electronic format in which the agency holds the information

Stanislaus County also complies with California's Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.), which ensures public access to meetings of local government bodies. This "sunshine law" requires that meetings of public bodies be open and public, with agendas posted in advance.

The county maintains a commitment to transparency while balancing privacy concerns and exemptions provided by state law.

How to Find Public Records in Stanislaus County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Stanislaus County may follow these steps to access various document types:

For Court Records:

Visit the Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus website
Access the online case search portal for publicly available court records
For records not available online, submit a judicial administrative records request form
Visit the courthouse in person to review case files at public terminals

For Vital Records:

Contact the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder's Office for birth, death, and marriage certificates
Submit a completed application form with required identification
For older vital records, contact the California Department of Public Health - Vital Records

For Property Records:

Visit the Stanislaus County Assessor-Recorder's Office
Use the online property information search portal on the county website
Submit a written request for copies of specific documents

For Other County Records:

Identify the department that maintains the desired records
Submit a written public records request to the appropriate department
Include specific information about the records sought to facilitate processing
Provide contact information for response

For records requests to any county department, requesters may use the county's standard public records request form or submit a written request containing:

Requester's name and contact information
Clear description of records sought
Preferred format for receiving records (electronic or paper)
Date range of records, if applicable

Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or via email to the appropriate department. County staff are available to assist with formulating requests to identify responsive records efficiently.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Stanislaus County?

Stanislaus County charges fees for certain public records in accordance with California law. Under the California Public Records Act, agencies may charge fees covering the "direct costs of duplication" or a statutory fee, if applicable.

Current standard fees for common record types include:

Copies of General Documents: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
Certified Copies of Vital Records:
- Birth Certificates: $28.00 per copy
- Death Certificates: $21.00 per copy
- Marriage Certificates: $15.00 per copy
Property Records:
- Recorded Documents: $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for each additional page
- Certified Copies: Additional $2.00 per document
Court Records:
- Case File Copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified Court Documents: $25.00 plus copy fees
- Complex Document Searches: $15.00 per name/case

The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, and credit card (in most departments). Some departments may have additional convenience fees for credit card transactions.

It is important to note that while fees may be charged for copies, pursuant to Government Code § 6253, public records must be open for inspection free of charge during regular business hours. Additionally, electronic records that already exist in electronic format may be provided at no charge if distributed via email or electronic transfer.

Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances where the request is deemed to primarily benefit the general public. Such waiver requests must be made in writing at the time of the records request.

Does Stanislaus County Have Free Public Records?

Stanislaus County provides free access to certain public records in compliance with California law. Under the California Public Records Act, all public records are available for inspection at no charge during regular business hours of the respective county departments.

Free public records services in Stanislaus County include:

In-Person Inspection: Members of the public may inspect most non-exempt records at no cost by visiting the appropriate county office during business hours
Online Court Case Information: Basic case information is available through the Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus online portal
Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Available on the county website at no charge
County Budget Documents: Financial reports and budget information accessible online
Property Assessment Information: Basic property information available through the Assessor's online database
Election Results and Voter Information: Available through the Registrar of Voters website

The Stanislaus County Superior Court provides public access terminals at courthouse locations where visitors may view court records at no charge. Similarly, the County Clerk-Recorder's Office maintains public terminals for searching property records without fees.

While inspection is free, fees may still apply for obtaining copies of records as detailed in the previous section. Additionally, certain specialized searches requiring significant staff time may incur research fees even if copies are not requested.

Who Can Request Public Records in Stanislaus County?

Under the California Public Records Act, any person may request access to public records maintained by Stanislaus County. There is no requirement that the requester be a California resident or U.S. citizen to access public records.

Key eligibility information includes:

Requesters do not need to state the purpose of their request for most public records
Identification is generally not required to inspect public records, though it may be needed for certain sensitive or restricted records
Requesters may remain anonymous for general public records requests, though contact information is needed if copies are to be mailed
Non-residents have the same rights to access public records as California residents

For certain record types, additional requirements may apply:

Vital Records: Pursuant to Health and Safety Code § 103526, certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates are only available to specified individuals with a direct interest in the record (family members, legal representatives, etc.)
Criminal History Information: Access is restricted to authorized agencies and the subject of the records
Juvenile Court Records: Generally confidential with limited access to parties directly involved in the case

When requesting records about oneself, proper identification is typically required to ensure privacy protection. When requesting records about others, certain personal information may be redacted in accordance with privacy laws.

Business entities, media organizations, and government agencies may also request public records through authorized representatives.

What Records Are Confidential in Stanislaus County?

Stanislaus County maintains certain records that are exempt from public disclosure in accordance with the California Public Records Act. Under Government Code § 7927.000 through § 7929.610, numerous exemptions exist to protect privacy, safety, and other important interests.

Records that are generally confidential in Stanislaus County include:

Personnel Records: Employee medical information, performance evaluations, and personal contact information
Law Enforcement Records: Active investigation files, confidential informant information, and certain intelligence information
Juvenile Records: Court records and law enforcement records pertaining to minors
Health and Medical Records: Protected under HIPAA and state medical privacy laws
Social Services Records: Child welfare cases, adult protective services, and public assistance records
Sealed Court Records: Cases ordered sealed by a judge, including certain expunged criminal records
Attorney-Client Communications: Legal advice and strategy documents between county counsel and county departments
Preliminary Drafts and Notes: Internal working documents not retained in the ordinary course of business
Security Information: Critical infrastructure details, security procedures, and vulnerability assessments
Private Personal Information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver's license numbers

The Judicial Branch of California maintains additional confidentiality rules for court records, including family law matters involving child custody, domestic violence cases, and mental health proceedings.

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, county agencies will redact the confidential portions and release the remainder when possible. The county applies a balancing test in some cases, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the public interest in nondisclosure as required by law.

Stanislaus County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder
1021 I Street, Suite 101
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 525-5250
Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder

Public Counter Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Services Provided:

Recording of property documents
Issuance of marriage licenses
Filing of fictitious business name statements
Birth, death, and marriage certificates
Military discharge recordings
Notary public oaths and bonds

Stanislaus County Assessor's Office
1010 10th Street, Suite 2400
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 525-6461
Stanislaus County Assessor

Public Counter Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays

Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus
800 11th Street
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 530-3100
Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus

Court Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed on weekends and court holidays