Humboldt County Superior Court

Introduction:

The Humboldt County Superior Court is a city courthouse serving the residents of Humboldt County, California. It is located within the court of appeal in the first district, and the appeal from the northern state district goes to the ninth circuit United State Court of appeal. The courthouse was established in 1889, but it was demolished in 1956. A new courthouse with a jail was built in 1956 and is serving nowadays to the county people. The court’s mission is to resolve fights, disputes and enforcements of law appropriately and provide justice to everyone. It has jurisdiction over criminal, small claims, probation, juvenile, appeal, civil, family, traffic, and vehicle matters. They provide services like online payment, forms, fines, record searching, transcript request and many more, so it is optional to go to court for these services. This court also provides self-help for a different division. Proper dressing is required during the court session, and wearing a mask is mandatory. The court doors were open at 8:30 pm; if you have a court appearance, you can visit the court before the schedule because you had to pass through security gates which takes time. Three superior courts located in this county are:

• HUMBOLDT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – GARBERVILLE
• HUMBOLDT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – HOOPA
• HUMBOLDT COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT – MAIN COURTHOUSE

How to give requests for recorded information?

Humboldt County Court records can be done by sending a record request form to the court. The court maintains all the records online, in files, or a database. You had to fill in the case number, case name, requesting party name, phone number, and email address and write special instructions for the records. The research fee is $ 15, the certification fee is $40, and copy fee is $0.50 per page.

 After filling and sending the request form to the court, the court will respond by providing the request or declining your request if the records you request are confidential. If the records are confidential, you have to go to the court for their request, and then the court will decide whether to provide them.

How to search for dockets?

Humboldt County Court dockets can also be found online in a document available on the website. Download the file, and the case calendar for the next day will be displayed where the case number with time, location and party name is written. You can see your case schedule from there; some confidential case schedules are unavailable online for that type of case you had to contact the court.

How to make a payment?

Humboldt Court payment can be made in the following ways:

In-Person

A person can pay tickets and fines by visiting the court during regular court hours and paying in cash, checks, US funds, or a card at the court payment office. Take your ticket and case number with you when you come for payment. 2% surcharges will be applied if you make payment with a credit card. 

Online

Online payments can be made using the Court portal ePay lt https://humboldt.epay-it.com/. Search your case by entering a case or traffic ticket number, name with the birth date, or by vehicle plate. Your case information with the amount of the fine will be displayed. Select the payment option and pay the amount online. Convenience fees will be applied using this method. You can also use this method for installments and a 30-day extension of appearance or fine payment.

Mail

A Person can send a certified check or money order to the court’s mailing address, 825 5th St, Eureka, CA 95501, USA. Cash or personal checks are not acceptable in the mail; only certified checks or money orders are accepted. Remember to write your citation, name, case number, and account number when you send the payment, and mail the amount in a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want a receipt.

How to appear remotely?

Humboldt County Superior Court remote appearances for some eligible cases are possible using telephone and video conferencing in the zoom application. Fill out and send the form related to your case. The court will respond with a schedule and a meeting link ID for video conferencing or telephonic hearing if your case is eligible for the remote hearing. If you don’t know your meeting ID or audio telephone number, then you see that from the courtroom number. Make sure your internet connection is strong. Mute your microphone and speak only when the judge calls your name. Test your microphone and video before joining the session. It is recommended to avoid running unnecessary applications when you are in a meeting. Wear a proper dress and sit where your face is visible. Recording for the case hearing is not allowed. Documents related to remote hearings are on the website; you can review them for a better understanding.

The family law division handles which types of cases? 

Humboldt County family law division handles cases related to family issues and matters. These issues include divorce, nullity, legal separation, child custody and support, adoption, guardianship, visitation of grandparents etc. This division also provides family mediation self-help services that give child custody recommending counseling, guidance to divorce and legal separation. Videos are also provided in English and Spanish language for the counseling.

The traffic court handles which types of cases?

Humboldt County traffic court handles adult and minor traffic and vehicle violations, including speeding, parking ticket, driving without or with an expired license, driving while you have drugs, accidents etc. If you received a traffic ticket for a misdemeanor case, the ticket contains an appearance date, and you had to appear on that date. But if you received a ticket where appearance is not mandatory, you had to respond before the citation date. You can pay the fine, request for DMV or traffic school, or request a trial. You can also give a request for a reduction in the fine. Reduction in fine requests can be done using https://mycitations.courts.ca.gov/interview/lookup. Select the county from where you get the citation, and type the citation number and all the information the portal wants. After it, the court reviews your request, and if you are eligible, then the fine will be reduced. You can request trials; this court provides two types of trials:

• Trial by Court
• Written Declaration Trial

You can also have some constitutional and statutory rights as a defendant. You could read them if you received a citation.

How many types of juvenile cases are handled by this court?

Humboldt County juvenile court handles the cases in which a minor is involved. Two types of cases are handled that are:

Juvenile delinquency cases

It includes cases in which a juvenile violates the rules and is charged with violating the law, and it is considered a crime if an adult commits it. The hearing takes place at 8:30 pm from Monday to Friday.

Juvenile dependency cases

It involves a case in which the juvenile is neglected or abused. The hearing takes place at 1:30 pm from Monday to Friday.

Juvenile cases are confidential, and the data is only provided to the person involved. The cases are serious, so it is recommended to hire an attorney.

How can appeals for cases be made?

Humboldt County appeals division handles the appeal from the division of civil, small claims and traffic cases. You can appeal within 30 days after the case result, and an appeal is not a new trial. You cannot present new evidence or new proof in appeal cases. The judges from the appeal division only check if the lower division made a legal mistake and then give results.

How can small claims cases be filled?

Humboldt County civil division handles all cases of small claim matters in which the claim is up to $10,000. Steps for the case process are given; you can read them before filing a case. When you know that the situation is right, then file the claim by filing the form by clicking on the start claim steps. Enter your and the defendant’s personal information, the amount you want to claim with a reason. After filing the case, prepare for your court date.

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