To complete the San Bernardino CII form, pick the version that matches your case — SB-13546 for family law matters involving custody, visitation, or a domestic violence restraining order, or SB-13548 for guardianship and conservatorship petitions — fill in the identifying information for each required party, and file it with the clerk at the court district handling your case. Both versions are available on the court’s local forms page at sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms.
Which Version You Need
SB-13546 is the family law version. File it with any case where child custody and visitation orders are at issue, and with every domestic violence restraining order request. It collects information on the petitioner and respondent only.
SB-13548 is the guardianship and conservatorship version. It covers more people: the petitioner, a second petitioner if there is one, every household member aged 18 or older, and both of the minor’s biological parents.
Both forms cite Family Code section 6306 and California Rule of Court 5.445 as the authority for the background check.1California Legislative Information. California Family Code 6306
Filling Out SB-13546 (Family Law)
The top portion of the form is typically completed by the court clerk or the referring department. It includes the case number, the date referred, the department that referred the matter, the date the report is due, and which department should receive the finished report. Leave those fields alone unless the clerk tells you otherwise.
You are responsible for the party-identification section. For both the petitioner and the respondent, provide:
- Full legal name, exactly as it appears on government-issued identification
- Any known aliases, including former names and maiden names
- Gender (male or female)
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number
That is all this version collects. It does not ask for physical descriptions, address history, or employment.2San Bernardino Superior Court. Referral for CII/CARPOS/ICMS Report (Family Law)
Accuracy matters. A transposed Social Security digit or a misspelled name can cause the Department of Justice search to return incomplete results, which forces the court to request supplemental information and delays your case.
Filling Out SB-13548 (Guardianship/Conservatorship)
This version asks for the same identifying details — full name, former names, aliases, gender, date of birth, and Social Security Number — but for a longer list of people: the petitioner, a second petitioner if applicable, every adult household member, and both biological parents of the minor.3Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino. Referral for CII/CARPOS/ICMS Report (Guardianship/Conservatorship)
Collecting Social Security Numbers for adult household members is often the hardest part. If someone refuses to cooperate or a biological parent is absent, write a short note on the form explaining why the field is blank. An unexplained empty field looks worse to the court investigator than a documented reason.
Where to File It
File the completed form with the clerk’s office at the San Bernardino Superior Court district where your case is pending. The court operates multiple districts, including San Bernardino, Victorville, Joshua Tree, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga.4Superior Court of California. Locations and Contact Info Check your existing case paperwork or the court’s filing guide to confirm the right one.5Superior Court of California. Where Can I File The Family Law Division for the San Bernardino District is at 351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415.
Bring an extra copy so the clerk can stamp and return a conformed copy to you. That stamped copy is your proof the background check was initiated, which matters if the court later questions whether you met a deadline. Filing by mail? Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return copy.
Fees and Fee Waivers
The court charges an administrative fee for processing, and the amount can include a local San Bernardino County surcharge. Call the clerk’s office at your filing district for the current figure before you go.
If you cannot afford the fee, request a waiver using Judicial Council form FW-001. You qualify if you receive public benefits such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, SSI, or General Assistance; if your household income falls below the threshold on the form; or if paying would prevent you from meeting basic household needs. Benefit recipients do not need to list income or expenses on the waiver. The court keeps the information on FW-001 confidential.6California Courts | Self Help Guide. Ask for a Fee Waiver if You Can’t Afford Court Fees
What Happens After You File
The clerk coordinates with the California Department of Justice to run the criminal history search. When fingerprints do not match anyone in the DOJ database, the transaction typically processes electronically within 48 to 72 hours. If a match comes back, a DOJ technician must manually review the record, which the DOJ describes as taking “an indeterminate amount of time.”7Office of the Attorney General. Fingerprint Background Checks
The DOJ sends the response directly to the court. You will not receive a copy through a records request — state summary criminal history information is confidential under Penal Code section 11105 and can only be shared for authorized purposes.8California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 11105 The assigned judicial officer or court investigator reads the report and factors the findings into the recommendation or ruling.
If the Report Shows a Record
A criminal record does not automatically disqualify a party from custody, visitation, or guardianship. Under Family Code 6306, the court weighs conviction history alongside other factors, and the statute specifically bars using arrest records and other non-conviction information against a party in custody or restraining order decisions.1California Legislative Information. California Family Code 6306
If you believe the report contains inaccurate information, Penal Code 11105 requires that when criminal history is used as the basis for an adverse decision, the agency relying on it must give you a copy.8California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 11105 From there you can start a record review challenge with the DOJ directly. If the court sets a hearing to discuss the CII findings, that hearing is your chance to add context, explain circumstances, or dispute specific entries before the judge rules.