How do I access court records?

Superior Court Clerk (county level) / California Courts online portal (statewide)

Step by Step

How to do it

Identify what type of record you need: Superior Court (civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims), Court of Appeal, or California Supreme Court
Search online: California does NOT have a single statewide trial court records portal - most counties have their own online case search:
- Each county Superior Court has its own website and case search tool (search "[County Name] Superior Court case search")
- Court of Appeal and Supreme Court opinions: courts.ca.gov/opinions
For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
In-person access: visit the Superior Court Clerk's office in the relevant county; bring photo ID and case details
Under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.503: public may inspect registers of actions, calendars, and indexes both online and at the courthouse

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
Case number or full legal name of parties (for in-person or online searches)

Fee

Online searches free at most county court websites; certified copy fees vary by county - typically $0.50-$1.00 per page plus $25-$40 certification fee; contact specific county clerk for current schedule

Processing Time

Immediate online searches; same day or by mail for certified copies (varies by county and volume)

Online Option

Yes - each county Superior Court has its own online search; search "[County Name] Superior Court online case search"; courts.ca.gov links to all county court websites

Where to Go

Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed (for certified copies and complete documents)

County-specific variations apply

California has 58 county Superior Courts each with their own case management system and online access portal - there is NO statewide trial court search database. Access, fees, and functionality vary widely. LA Superior Court (lasuperiorcourt.org) is one of the largest and has robust online search. Smaller counties may have limited online access. Always verify with your specific county court.

California Notes

Important state-specific details

California does NOT have a single statewide trial court records portal (unlike many states). Each county Superior Court maintains its own records and online access system.
Court of Appeal and Supreme Court opinions are centralized at courts.ca.gov/opinions - free public access.
Criminal background checks: California Department of Justice (DOJ) conducts criminal history checks; available to individuals for their own record at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review or through DOJ-approved agencies for employers.
CIRIS (California Incarcerated Records and Information Search): state prison inmate search at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov - separate from court records.
Juvenile records are sealed and not accessible to the public.
Small claims records: public, maintained at county Superior Court level.
California Public Records Act (Government Code §7920.000): agencies must respond to records requests within 10 days.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

California Courts - courts.ca.gov | (415) 865-4200; each county Superior Court has its own contact information