Court records in Butte County, California are maintained by the clerk of the Superior Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. ButteCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Butte County. You can also search records directly through the Butte County Superior Court case information portal, visit the clerk's office in person, or use statewide resources provided by the Judicial Branch of California.
Butte County Court System Overview
Butte County is served by the Superior Court of California, County of Butte. Under California's unified trial court system, each county has one superior court with jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. Butte County Superior Court operates two courthouse locations — the main courthouse in Oroville and a second facility in Chico. Appeals from the Superior Court go to the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, based in Sacramento. The Presiding Judge oversees court administration with support from a Court Executive Officer.
Courts Serving Butte County
| Court | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Butte County Superior Court — Oroville | One Court Street | Main courthouse; handles all case types |
| Butte County Superior Court — Chico (North Butte) | 1775 Concord Avenue | Handles criminal, traffic, and other assigned matters |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California | 501 I Street, Suite 4-200 | Federal cases; Butte County falls within this district |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of California | 501 I Street, Suite 3-200 | Federal bankruptcy filings |
What Types of Cases Butte County Courts Hear
The Butte County Superior Court has broad jurisdiction. The court accepts electronic filings across most case types. Cases heard include:
- Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions
- Civil litigation (unlimited and limited)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust disputes
- Juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency
- Traffic violations and DUI matters
- Adoptions and emancipation petitions
District Court Cases in Butte County
In California's unified court system, there is no separate district or magistrate court at the county level — the Superior Court handles all trial-level matters. Felony cases are typically initiated by the Butte County District Attorney filing a complaint or information. After a preliminary hearing (or grand jury indictment), the case proceeds to trial before a Superior Court judge. Civil cases with an amount in controversy exceeding $25,000 are classified as unlimited civil cases and follow more complex procedural rules, including case management conferences and mandatory discovery timelines. Cases are assigned to individual judges, and the Presiding Judge manages judicial assignments based on caseload and subject matter.
Magistrate Court Cases in Butte County
California does not use a separate magistrate court. Instead, Superior Court judges and commissioners handle the full range of matters that other states might assign to a magistrate division. This includes:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Felony arraignments and preliminary hearings
- Small claims cases (up to $10,000 for individuals; $5,000 for businesses under California Code of Civil Procedure §116.221)
- Limited civil cases (up to $25,000)
- Traffic violations and DUI arraignments
Commissioners may preside over certain hearings, including traffic, small claims, and unlawful detainer matters. The North Butte County Courthouse in Chico handles a significant share of criminal and traffic calendars.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Butte County
Family Law
Divorce (dissolution of marriage), legal separation, custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, and paternity cases are all heard by the Superior Court. Self-help form packets are available for many family law filings, including dissolution and custody modifications.
Probate
The probate division handles decedent estates, guardianships of minors and adults, conservatorships, and trust matters. Probate hearings are typically held at the Oroville courthouse. Petitions for guardianship and conservatorship require specific Judicial Council forms, which are available through the court's court forms page.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency (Welfare and Institutions Code §602) and juvenile dependency (child protective) cases (Welfare and Institutions Code §300) are heard by the Superior Court. Juvenile records are confidential under California law and are not accessible through the public case information portal.
How Cases Move Through the Butte County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins when a complaint, petition, or citation is filed with the clerk. Criminal cases are initiated by the District Attorney or law enforcement; civil cases by the plaintiff.
- Assignment: The clerk assigns the case a number, and it is allocated to a judicial officer based on case type and courthouse location.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned and enter a plea. Civil cases receive a case management conference date. Family law and probate matters are set for an initial hearing.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties engage in discovery, file motions, and may participate in settlement conferences or plea negotiations. The court may hold status conferences to manage the calendar.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to jury or bench trial, or are resolved through plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or dismissal.
- Post-Judgment: In criminal cases, sentencing follows a conviction. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from the Superior Court go to the Third District Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Butte County
The Butte County Superior Court is administered by the Presiding Judge and the Court Executive Officer. Local rules governing practice and procedure are adopted by the court and supplement the statewide California Rules of Court. Check the court's online services page for links to local rules, calendars, and tentative rulings.
Public Access to Records
Under the California Public Records Act and California Rules of Court, rule 2.503, most court records are generally public. You can search non-confidential, non-sealed case types — including civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic — through the online case information system. Sealed records, juvenile records, and certain family law filings are restricted. The Judicial Branch public records policy outlines statewide access rules, and the California Department of Justice provides guidance on public records requests under state law.
Attending Hearings
Most hearings are open to the public. Some proceedings may be available via remote appearance — contact the clerk's office to ask whether a specific hearing allows telephonic or video participation.
Requesting Copies
To obtain copies of court documents, submit the court's Copy Request form to the clerk's office with the required case information and applicable fees.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Butte County
- Case Information Search: Look up non-confidential case records online through the Butte County Superior Court case information portal.
- Court Calendars and Tentative Rulings: View hearing schedules and tentative rulings through the court's online services page.
- Court Forms and Self-Help: Access Judicial Council forms, local forms, plea forms, and self-help form packets on the court website.
- Clerk of Court / Copy Requests: Use the copy request form to order certified or uncertified copies of court documents.
- CDCR Inmate Search: Search for individuals in California state prison custody using the California Incarcerated Records & Information Search (CIRIS).
- Butte County Sheriff-Coroner: The Butte County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement records, booking information, and coroner inquiries.
- Chico Police Arrest and Crime Data: The City of Chico provides an arrests and crime map portal with arrest information and crime statistics.
- Butte County Official Website: The Butte County government website provides access to the Clerk-Recorder's office, property tax information, parcel lookup, and public records act requests.
- Property Tax Records: Search property tax billing and payment information or use the parcel lookup tool for property details.
- California Sex Offender Registry: The California DOJ maintains the Megan's Law database at meganslaw.ca.gov for public sex offender information.
- Criminal History Information: Personal criminal history records can be requested through the Butte County Sheriff's Department fingerprint services or the California DOJ.
For additional help finding court records in Butte County, visit ButteCourt.us.