San Mateo County

San Mateo County is located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, occupying the central portion of the San Francisco Peninsula. San Mateo County seat is Redwood City, situated at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063. With a population of approximately 764,000 residents across 449 square miles of land area, San Mateo County ranks as one of the most populous and affluent counties in California. San Mateo County stretches from the San Francisco city limits in the north to Santa Clara County in the south, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the San Francisco Bay to the east. Major landmarks include the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), Crystal Springs Reservoir, San Bruno Mountain State Park, and numerous coastal beaches including Half Moon Bay. Incorporated in 1856, San Mateo County has evolved from agricultural ranching lands to become a global technology and innovation hub. San Mateo County includes 20 incorporated cities including Daly City, San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Pacifica, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Colma, Brisbane, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, and East Palo Alto. What makes San Mateo County unique is its position at the epicenter of Silicon Valley innovation, housing numerous Fortune 500 company headquarters and venture capital firms, while maintaining agricultural heritage along the coastal Coastside communities. Key county offices include San Mateo County Recorder-Clerk at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063; the County Assessor-Chief Deputy Clerk-Recorder at the same address; and the County Controller's Office managing financial records.

The San Mateo County Superior Court serves San Mateo County and is located at 400 County Center in Redwood City. The court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for this county. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the California online court portal.

The San Mateo County Superior Court, located at 400 County Center in Redwood City, handles various case types, including civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile matters.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Inmates can be located through the Sheriff's online Inmate Locator system at https://www.smcsheriff.com/inmate-locator, which provides booking information, charges, bail amounts, and projected release dates.
• Citizens may request arrest records by submitting written requests to the arresting agency, though certain information may be withheld under exemptions in Government Code Section 6254(f) for ongoing investigations.

Arrest Records

• Requests for arrest records can be made in person, by mail, or through online portals provided by the agencies.

Jail & Inmate Records

• In California, the bail process involves posting a bond through a bail bondsman or paying the full bail amount to secure the release of an inmate pending trial.

• More detailed document access requires in-person visits to the Records Section at the Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, with copies charged at $0.50 per page for standard documents.

• Documents recorded before 1976 require in-person or mail research requests.
• Certified copies cost $11 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page of the same document, with standard non-certified copies available at reduced rates.
• Recording fees are $0 for non-assessable real property conveyances as of recent California legislative changes, though various services fees apply.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing times are typically 10-15 business days for mail requests and immediate for in-person walk-in service during business hours.
• Death certificates for deaths occurring in San Mateo County cost $21 for the first certified copy and $14 for each additional copy, available through the same channels with similar processing times.
• Divorce records (Marriage Dissolution Decrees) are maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, not the County Clerk, and must be requested through the court at 400 County Center, Redwood City.
• Online ordering through approved vendors like VitalChek is available for expedited service with additional convenience fees.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• FBN filings cost $26 for the first business name plus $10 for each additional name filed simultaneously, and must be renewed every five years.
• This free online search provides entity status, registration dates, agent for service of process, and entity numbers.
• The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration issues seller's permits for businesses collecting sales tax.