Sonoma County, California Records

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Sonoma County, California Courthouse Records
Sonoma County, California Census Records
Sonoma County, California Vital Records
Sonoma County, California Resources
Sonoma County, California External Links

Sonoma County, California (Map It) was created on February 18, 1850 as one of the original 27 counties . Sonoma County was named for Sonoma is a Chocuyen Indian name translated by some as “Valley of the Moon” and by others as “land or tribe of the Chief Nose.”

Sonoma County is bordered by Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Windsor .

Sonoma County Cities and Towns include Mendocino County (north), Lake County (northeast), Napa County (east), Solano County (southeast), Marin County (south), Contra Costa County (southeast) .

Since its creation Sonoma County boundries have changed to include these:

Sonoma County, California Courthouse Records

Sonoma County, California Courthouse
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Sonoma County, CA Courthouse
Old Sonoma County, California Courthouse
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Old Sonoma County Courthouse

The Sonoma County Courthouse is located in Santa Rosa, California. Land was added from Mendocino County in 1855 and again in 1859. Courthouse was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Minor record Loss. Learn More About State of California Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

Courthouse History - After residents voted to move the county seat from Sonoma to Santa Rosa, Sonoma County built two grand courthouses in the center of the town. The first, completed in 1885, was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The second, constructed of locally quarried stone and reinforced with steel and concrete, was "built for all time and the earthquake," according to one local historian. But by the mid-1960s the county was forced to declare the building seismically unsafe and it was demolished. After the courts moved to a new county center, the site was rededicated in 1967 as "Old Courthouse Square."

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research. Some early court records from the various courts may have been sent to the California State Archives. Besides court minutes and judgements, these records include tax lists, wills, deeds, estate inventories, and marriage bonds. The California State Archives has microfilm of selected county records, 1850–1919.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Sonoma county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk. Some counties encompass land settled in the eighteenth century; their records pre-date county formation. Land transactions and vital records recorded in the county are at the county recorder's office. The county clerk general has probate books and files from the county's superior court, civil court records, and naturalizations. Divorces may be in either place, depending on how filed.

  • Sonoma County Recorder-Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1858 / 1873, Marriage Records from 1846 and Land Records from 1841. The County Recorder-Clerk is s responsible for examination and recording of all documents presented for recording that deal with establishing ownership of land in the County or as required by statute; administers the real property transfer tax law and maintains a permanent record and indexes of all documents for public viewing plus providing certified copies requested by the public; recording of all lawful documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, judgments, liens, affidavits, Uniform Commercial Code Financial Statements, etc; and the filing of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
  • Sonoma County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1850 and Court Records from 1848. The County Clerk of Superior Court has probate books and files from the county's superior court, civil court records, and naturalizations. Divorces may be here or in the Recorders Office, depending on how it was filed.
  • Sonoma County County Treasurer / Tax Collector
  • Local Registrar of Births and Deaths, 3313 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404; Office (707) 565-4700

Sonoma County, California Census Records

Sonoma County, California Vital Records

Sonoma County, California Resources

Sonoma County, California External Links

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