Kings County, CA Courts and Public Records
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The Superior Court of California, County of Kings is the county's single trial court, handling criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family, probate, mental health, and juvenile cases.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Superior Court of California, County of Kings |
| Main Address | Kings County Courthouse, 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230 |
| Main Phone | (559) 582-1010 |
| Website | www.kings.courts.ca.gov |
| Presiding Judge | Kathy Ciuffini (term start not stated) |
| Judicial Officers | 9 authorized judges and 2 subordinate judicial officers (11 total authorized judicial positions) as of June 30, 2025 (Judicial Council, FY 2024-25) |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Hanford) |
| Handles | Criminal (felony and misdemeanor), traffic, civil (unlimited and limited), small claims, family law, probate, mental health, and juvenile cases |
| Does NOT Handle | Federal cases, DMV matters, and parking tickets, which are handled by other agencies |
| Online Case Search | Case Index Search |
| Criminal Records Requests | In person or by mail at 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford; electronic record requests are not accepted |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | kings.epay-it.com |
How to Search Kings County Court Records
Have the full name, the case number if you know it, and approximate dates ready before you search Kings County court records.
Online
Go to Case Index Search at portal.kings.courts.ca.gov.
Search by party name or case number to view case information.
Best for: Quick case status lookups
In Person
Go to 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230.
Use the on-site public computers to search by name or case number.
Ask the records division for copies, which cost $0.50 per page.
Best for: Certified copies and on-site searches
By Mail
Send a written request or the Request for Record Search and Copies form.
Include a stamped return envelope and a check, money order, or cashier's check.
Mail to 1640 Kings County Dr., Hanford, CA 93230.
Best for: Requests when you cannot visit in person
Search by Name on CaliforniaCourtAccess.org
Go to CaliforniaCourtAccess.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types at once without a case number.
Confirm results in the official court portal, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Kings County Court Statistics (FY 2024-25)
Kings County's Superior Court received 24,717 new filings in fiscal year 2024-25 and reported 25,932 dispositions. Its filings per authorized judicial position rank 43 of 58 counties.
24,717
Total filings in FY 2024-25 (FY 2023-24: 22,348)
25,932
Total dispositions in FY 2024-25 (FY 2023-24: 21,966)
2,247
Filings per judicial position (rank 43 of 58 counties; 1 = most)
+10.6%
Change in total filings vs FY 2023-24 (22,348)
| Metric | FY 2024-25 | FY 2023-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | 24,717 | 22,348 | +10.6% |
| Total Dispositions | 25,932 | 21,966 (incomplete) | +18.1% |
| Criminal Filings (includes traffic) | 18,486 | 16,637 | +11.1% |
| Civil Filings (includes small claims) | 3,035 | 2,404 | +26.2% |
| Family Law Filings | 2,136 | 2,162 | -1.2% |
| Probate Filings | 203 | 179 | +13.4% |
| Mental Health Filings | 234 | 284 | -17.6% |
| Juvenile Filings (delinquency and dependency) | 403 | 475 | -15.2% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | 11.0 | 11.0 | No change |
The largest driver of the change was criminal (+1,849 filings), followed by civil (+631). Dispositions flagged as incomplete by the court are marked (incomplete) and the disposition change should be read with caution.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Kings County?
Total filings in Kings County moved down over the five fiscal years shown; dispositions are shown beside filings.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024-25 | 24,717 | 25,932 | +10.6% |
| FY 2023-24 | 22,348 | 21,966 (incomplete) | +6.4% |
| FY 2022-23 | 21,001 | ~17,729 | +0.2% |
| FY 2021-22 | 20,962 | 19,733 | -18.3% |
| FY 2020-21 | 25,646 | 19,505 | +1.5% |
Total filings changed -3.6% between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25, from 25,646 to 24,717. The largest annual change was -18.3% in FY 2021-22. The latest change, FY 2024-25, was +10.6%, led by criminal filings (+1,849). Dispositions flagged as incomplete are marked (incomplete) and years flagged by the court should be read with caution.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Kings County?
Criminal cases make up the largest share of Kings County filings at 74.8% of the 24,717 filed in FY 2024-25.
| Case Type | Filings FY 2024-25 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 18,486 | 74.8% | +11.1% |
| Traffic infractions | 14,297 | 57.8% | +6.6% |
| Traffic misdemeanors | 1,053 | 4.3% | +31.5% |
| Felonies | 1,603 | 6.5% | +36.1% |
| Nontraffic misdemeanors and infractions | 1,533 | 6.2% | +23.6% |
| Civil | 3,035 | 12.3% | +26.2% |
| Unlimited civil | 836 | 3.4% | +23.5% |
| Limited civil (includes unlawful detainer) | 2,105 | 8.5% | +30.7% |
| Small claims | 94 | 0.4% | -19.0% |
| Family law | 2,136 | 8.6% | -1.2% |
| Mental health | 234 | 0.9% | -17.6% |
| Probate | 203 | 0.8% | +13.4% |
| Juvenile delinquency | 217 | 0.9% | -2.7% |
| Juvenile dependency | 186 | 0.8% | -26.2% |
| Appeals and habeas corpus | 220 | 0.9% | +6.3% |
Felonies cases were the fastest-growing category at +36.1%, while juvenile dependency cases fell fastest at -26.2%.
How Does Kings County Compare With California Overall?
Kings County accounted for 0.47% of the 5,306,078 cases filed statewide in California superior courts in FY 2024-25, and its filings grew 10.6% while statewide filings grew 8.5%.
| Metric | Kings County | California | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | 24,717 | 5,306,078 | 0.47% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | +10.6% | +8.5% | +2.1 points vs state |
| Filings per judicial position | 2,247 | 2,636 | -14.8% vs state |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | 2,476 | 1,741 | +42.2% vs state |
| Criminal share of filings (includes traffic) | 74.8% | 70.1% | +4.7 points vs state |
| Civil share of filings (includes small claims) | 12.3% | 19.5% | -7.3 points vs state |
| Family law share of filings | 8.6% | 5.9% | +2.8 points vs state |
Kings County's criminal share is higher than the statewide share and its civil share is lower. Its filings per judicial position are below the statewide figure.
Kings County Crime Statistics (2024)
These figures cover all law enforcement agencies in Kings County as reported to the California Department of Justice for 2024. Total reported crimes fell from 2,455 in 2023 to 2,370 in 2024, a change of -3.5%.
734
Violent crimes reported in Kings County in 2024
1,636
Property crimes reported in Kings County in 2024
~473.8
Violent crime rate per 100K (population 154,913); California ~477.1
-3.5%
Change in total reported crimes vs 2023 (2,455 to 2,370)
| Offense | 2024 | Rate per 100K (2024) | 2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | ~3.9 | 12 | -50.0% |
| Rape | 63 | ~40.7 | 80 | -21.2% |
| Robbery | 62 | ~40.0 | 41 | +51.2% |
| Aggravated assault | 603 | ~389.3 | 523 | +15.3% |
| Violent crimes total | 734 | ~473.8 | 656 | +11.9% |
| Burglary | 263 | ~169.8 | 283 | -7.1% |
| Larceny-theft | 1,099 | ~709.4 | 1,129 | -2.7% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 274 | ~176.9 | 387 | -29.2% |
| Property crimes total | 1,636 | ~1056.1 | 1,799 | -9.1% |
Kings County recorded a violent crime rate of ~473.8 and a property crime rate of ~1056.1 per 100K in 2024, compared with ~477.1 and ~2069.1 statewide.
Kings County Courthouse Locations
Kings County has one Superior Court location listed on the court's website. Check your notice or case paperwork for the department before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Superior Court (Kings County Courthouse) (Hanford) | 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230 | (559) 582-1010 | Traffic, Criminal, and Civil divisions phone hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm); records requests by mail; General Complaint Form; jury service information |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Kings County?
The Superior Court of California, County of Kings handles most case types in the county, while federal courts and agencies such as DMV and parking authorities handle their own matters.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic ticket | Superior Court, Traffic Division | Check the ticket for the court date and payment options listed in the section below. |
| Parking ticket | The agency that issued the ticket | The Superior Court does not handle parking tickets. |
| Misdemeanor | Superior Court, Criminal Division | Misdemeanor cases are counted within the court's criminal filings. |
| Felony | Superior Court, Criminal Division | Felony cases are counted within the court's criminal filings. |
| DUI | Superior Court, Criminal Division | DUI charges are criminal cases, so check the charge on your paperwork. |
| Domestic violence | Superior Court, Family Law | Domestic violence matters are counted within family law filings. |
| Civil lawsuit | Superior Court, Civil Division | Unlimited and limited civil cases are counted in the court's civil filings. |
| Small claims | Superior Court, Small Claims | Small claims cases are counted within civil filings in court statistics. |
| Divorce | Superior Court, Family Law | Marital cases are counted within family law filings. |
| Child custody or support | Superior Court, Family Law | Child support cases are counted within family law filings. |
| Probate or estate | Superior Court, Probate | Probate cases include conservatorship and guardianship matters. |
| Juvenile case | Superior Court, Juvenile | Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are heard by the court. |
Are Kings County Court Records Public?
Yes, most Kings County Superior Court records are public, with exceptions set by California Rules of Court, rules 2.500 to 2.507, which govern public access to electronic trial court records.
Public records
Most case files, including dockets, filings, and orders, are open for inspection subject to the court's procedures.
Restricted or confidential records
Juvenile, sealed, and confidential records are restricted under California law, and some family, probate, and mental health records have limited access.
Online access
Search case information at Case Index Search by name or case number. Online search does not make every document available, so request copies from the court for documents not online.
In-person access
Visit 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230, where on-site public computers allow searches by name or case number.
Fees
Copies cost $0.50 per page, certified copies $40.00, and searches over 10 minutes $15.00, and payment is required in advance.
How to Search Kings County Court Records Online
Use the official Kings County portal to search cases by name or case number, then request documents the portal does not show.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, traffic, civil, small claims, family law, probate, or juvenile.
- Open Case Index Search.
- Search by party name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case information, such as status and scheduled dates.
- Contact the court at (559) 582-1010 to request documents that are not available online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Case Index Search | Case information and status | Documents may require a copy request |
| Traffic | Case Index Search; pay at kings.epay-it.com | Case information and status | Payment is separate from record search |
| Civil | Case Index Search | Case information and status | Documents may require a copy request |
| Small claims | Case Index Search | Case information and status | Documents may require a copy request |
| Family law | Case Index Search | Case information for family law cases | Confidential details are restricted |
| Probate | Contact the court at (559) 582-1010 | Case information requested from the clerk | Confirm availability with the clerk |
| Juvenile | Contact the court at (559) 582-1010 | Restricted by California law | Access requires the court's approval |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Kings County
Kings County Superior Court accepts traffic ticket and criminal fine payments online through its payment portal.
- Online: Pay traffic tickets and criminal fines at kings.epay-it.com. Confirm fees and accepted card types on the payment page.
Parking tickets are handled by the agency that issued them, not by the court's Traffic Division.
Kings County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Kings County court records?
Use Case Index Search to look up cases by name or case number, or visit the court at 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford.
Are Kings County court records public?
Yes, most are, under California Rules of Court, rules 2.500 to 2.507, but juvenile, sealed, and confidential records are restricted.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search by name or case number in Case Index Search, or call the court at (559) 582-1010.
How do I find a court date?
Check your ticket or notice first, then search the case in the case information portal or call (559) 582-1010.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Pay online at kings.epay-it.com. Confirm fees on the payment page before you pay.
How many cases are filed in Kings County each year?
Kings County recorded 22,348 filings in FY 2023-24, +6.4% from 21,001 in FY 2022-23.
What is the most common type of case?
Criminal cases, including traffic, at 16,637 filings or 74.4% of the FY 2023-24 total.
Is crime in Kings County rising or falling?
Total reported crimes fell 3.5% in 2024, from 2455 in 2023 to 2370 in 2024, according to California DOJ data.
Courts in the County
Kings County Superior CourtMore Info
| Address: | 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA, 93230 |
| Phone Number: | 559-582-1010 |
| Website: | https://www.kings.courts.ca.gov/ |
Useful Links
- Kings County Superior Court - Official Website: Access official court services, case information, local rules, and contact details for Kings County Superior Court.
- Court Services - General Information: Overview of court services, including filing, juror information, and small claims in Kings County, California.
- Tulare County Law Library - Resources for Kings County: Find legal research resources and materials relevant to Kings County, available at nearby Tulare County Law Library.
- California Courts Self-Help Center: Resource for individuals representing themselves, providing information on procedures, forms, and guidance on California state laws.
- Odyssey Portal - Case Information: Search for and access case information for Kings County Superior Court through the statewide Odyssey case management system.
- Find My Court - California Courts: Use this tool to locate any California court, including Kings County Superior Court, based on residence or case type.
- California Rules of Court: Understand statewide rules, procedures, and forms applicable to civil, criminal, and family law cases within California jurisdictions.
- State Bar of California - Find Legal Help: Provides a directory of attorneys and legal help resources in Kings County, ensuring qualified legal assistance is accessible.
- Kings County Community Action Organization: Offers community programs and resources, including legal aid and self-help services, targeting the residents of Kings County.
- California Department of Social Services - Civil Justice Resources: Resources for individuals seeking assistance with civil justice issues within California, including Kings County.
- Public Law Center - Legal Services: A nonprofit providing free legal services to low-income individuals and families in California, including Kings County residents.
- FindLaw - California Court System Overview: Explains the structure and functioning of the California court system, including details valuable for Kings County cases.
- LawHelpCA.org - Resource for Legal Help: Provides resources and referral information for a variety of legal concerns, emphasizing services available in Kings County, California.
- Official California Legislative Information: Access the full text of California laws, including codes that govern court procedures and operations in Kings County.
- Equal Access Program - Judicial Branch of California: Promotes equal access to the judicial system, offering help to those without legal representation, applicable to Kings County residents.
- Kings County Sheriff - Court Services Division: Information on law enforcement services related to court orders, restraining orders, and warrants in Kings County.
- Kings County Local Rules - Superior Court: Detailed local rules for litigation, procedures, and special court programs specific to Kings County, California.
- U.S. Trustee Program - Department of Justice: Federal oversight of bankruptcy proceedings, relevant for cases initiated in Kings County bankruptcy courts.
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: Jurisdiction includes Kings County, providing key opinions and resources on appellate proceedings in federal cases.
- National Association of Consumer Advocates: Assists consumers with accessing legal services, with resources relevant for consumer-related cases in Kings County, California.
Table of Contents
- Kings County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Kings County Court Records
- Kings County Court Statistics (FY 2024-25)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Kings County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Kings County?
- How Does Kings County Compare With California Overall?
- Kings County Crime Statistics (2024)
- Kings County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Kings County?
- Are Kings County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Kings County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Kings County
- Kings County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links