California Court Records | Free Public Search 2026

California Court Records Overview

California court records are official records created by California courts when a case is filed, heard, decided, dismissed or appealed. These records may include case numbers, party names, filing dates, court calendars, dockets, registers of actions, motions, orders, judgments, minute orders, citations, probate filings and public document images where online access is allowed.

California’s trial courts are organized by county. That is the key detail many users miss. A case filed in Los Angeles County is searched through Los Angeles Superior Court. A case filed in Orange County is searched through Orange County Superior Court. A case filed in San Diego County is searched through San Diego Superior Court. The state court website helps you find the correct county court, but each superior court controls its own case records and copy process.

What types of California court records can be searched?

Is There a Statewide California Court Records Search?

California does not operate one single public search portal that shows every trial court case from all 58 county superior courts. This is the most important point for users searching “California court records free public search.” The Judicial Branch directory helps users find the correct superior court, but the local court keeps the case file.

Some county superior courts have strong online case access. Others provide only basic information online or require courthouse terminal access. California Courts self-help guidance explains that many courts allow online lookup for basic case information, but if online lookup is not available, users may need to get information at the courthouse from a court computer or clerk.

Best statewide search workflow

1. Identify the county first Use the city, address, citation, courthouse name, arrest county, lawsuit venue or party location to guess the correct superior court.
2. Open Find My Court Use California Courts Find My Court to locate the correct superior court website.
3. Use that court’s case access page Look for “case access,” “online services,” “case information,” “records,” “traffic,” “civil,” “criminal,” “family,” or “probate.”
4. Contact the clerk for copies If the record is not online, ask the clerk of the superior court where the case was filed.

Find the Correct California Superior Court by County, City or ZIP

The official Find My Court tool is the cleanest starting point when you do not know where to search. It lets users search by California city or ZIP code and find the related superior court. The public records guidance from California Courts also notes that there is one superior court in each California county.

How to find the correct county court

1. Use city or ZIP code Open Find My Court and enter a city or 5-digit ZIP code.
2. Open the court’s official website Choose the county superior court website. Do not use a random paid aggregator when official court links are available.
3. Look for case access Search the court website for “case access,” “case search,” “records,” “traffic,” “civil,” “criminal,” “family,” “probate,” or “small claims.”
4. Use clerk contact information if needed If online search is not available or you need certified copies, use the court’s official clerk contact page.

Examples of county-level California case access

California Case Number Lookup: Fastest Way to Find a Court Record

A California case number search is usually the fastest and most accurate way to find a record. Case numbers appear on summonses, complaints, minute orders, traffic citations, notices, restraining-order papers, divorce documents, probate letters, attorney letters and e-filing receipts.

Micro steps to search by California case number

1. Find the complete case number Use the exact letters, numbers, dashes and year shown on the court document.
2. Identify the court that issued it The document usually shows the superior court county, courthouse name or division.
3. Open that county’s case search portal Use the court’s official website, not a third-party record website.
4. Enter the case number exactly Try with punctuation first. If no result appears, follow the portal’s formatting instructions.
5. Save court and document details Write down the case number, filing date, case type, party names, document titles and courthouse before requesting copies.

California Court Records by Name: Person and Business Search

Many users search for “California court records by name,” “California criminal case lookup by name,” “California civil case search by name,” or “find California court case by defendant name.” Name search depends heavily on the county and case type. Some courts allow party-name searches. Others limit remote name search or require in-person courthouse access for certain records.

How to search a person or business name correctly

1. Start with legal spelling Use the full legal name first. Add middle name or initial only if the search returns too many matches.
2. Try former or alternate names Search maiden names, married names, hyphenated names, business names, DBA names and punctuation-free versions.
3. Filter by case type Choose criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic or small claims if the court portal allows filtering.
4. Compare more than the name Check filing date, court location, party role, case type, attorney, city and docket events.
5. Request official proof if needed For official use, request certified copies from the court rather than relying on a name search result.

California Criminal Court Records Search

California criminal court records are held by the superior court where the criminal case was filed. They may show charges, court dates, pleas, dismissals, sentencing, probation, fines, minute orders and final dispositions when public access is allowed. Criminal court records are not the same as arrest records, jail booking logs or a California DOJ criminal history record.

How to search California criminal court records

1. Find the county of filing Use the arrest county, citation, complaint, court notice or attorney paperwork to identify the superior court.
2. Open the county superior court portal Use the court’s official criminal case access page if available.
3. Search by case number first If you do not have it, use defendant name only if the county portal allows name search.
4. Review final disposition carefully Look for dismissal, conviction, plea, sentencing, probation, fines, warrant entries or pending status.
5. Request certified copies for official use For employment correction, licensing, immigration packets or legal filings, request certified criminal case documents from the court.

California Civil, Small Claims and Eviction Court Records

California civil court records can include lawsuits, small claims, landlord-tenant cases, evictions, debt claims, contract disputes, personal injury claims, business disputes, restraining-order-related civil matters, judgments and enforcement filings. Each county superior court controls civil case access for cases filed in that county.

How to search California civil court records

1. Identify the county superior court Use the filing county, courthouse name, city, business address or party location.
2. Use the civil case access tool Open the court’s civil case search, case access, e-filing or records page.
3. Search by case number or party Civil case number is strongest. Party and business name search can work but may return many results.
4. Check the register of actions Look for complaints, answers, hearings, motions, rulings, dismissals, judgments and satisfaction entries.
5. Order documents from the clerk If the image is not online or must be certified, follow the court’s copy-request instructions.

California small claims and eviction records

Small claims and eviction cases may have special access rules, shorter timelines and local court procedures. Eviction case access may be limited depending on timing, outcome and privacy rules. Always use the county superior court’s official small claims or landlord-tenant page before relying on private tenant-screening data.

California Family Court and Divorce Records

California family court records may include divorce, legal separation, annulment, parentage, child support, custody, visitation, domestic violence restraining orders and related filings. Some case summaries may be available online, but many family documents have restricted access because they can include children’s information, addresses, financial data, medical information or protected details.

How to search California divorce records

1. Find the county where the divorce was filed Divorce records are usually held by the superior court in the county where the case was filed.
2. Search the family law case portal Use case number or party name if the county court provides online access.
3. Check whether documents are viewable Even if a case summary is public, document images may be restricted or require clerk request.
4. Request certified divorce judgment copies For remarriage, immigration, Social Security, benefits, name change or official proof, request a certified copy from the superior court.

California Probate, Estate, Guardianship and Conservatorship Records

California probate court records may include estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, elder abuse matters and related orders. Probate records are usually searched through the superior court probate division in the county where the case was filed.

How to search California probate records

1. Identify the county Use the decedent’s residence, estate property location or probate notice.
2. Open the county probate case search Look for probate case access, estate search, case information or court records.
3. Search by decedent or case number Try decedent name, estate name, guardian name, conservatee name, case number or attorney.
4. Check privacy limits Conservatorship, guardianship and medical-related filings may have restricted documents.
5. Request certified probate copies Banks, title companies and government offices often require certified letters or court orders.

California Traffic Court Records and Citation Search

California traffic citations are handled by the superior court in the county listed on the ticket. Most traffic courts provide online tools to look up citations, pay fines, request traffic school, request extensions or schedule hearings. The exact options depend on the county superior court.

How to search a California traffic ticket

1. Read the citation county The ticket should list the court or county superior court handling the case.
2. Open that court’s traffic page Use Find My Court if the ticket only gives a city or courthouse.
3. Search by citation number Citation number is usually better than name search for traffic cases.
4. Review payment and traffic school options Check whether you can pay, request an extension, contest, appear, or elect traffic school.
5. Save confirmation details Keep proof of payment, school election, extension request or hearing date.

California Appellate Case Search

California appellate court cases are searched differently from county superior court cases. Use the official California Appellate Courts Case Information system for Court of Appeal and Supreme Court case information. This is useful for appeals from civil, criminal, family, probate and administrative cases after a trial court decision.

How to search California appellate cases

1. Open the appellate case search Go to California Appellate Court Case Information.
2. Search by appellate case number This is the fastest method if you have the appeal number.
3. Try trial court case number If you do not know the appellate number, use the trial court case number when available.
4. Review docket and opinion details Check filings, orders, briefing, oral argument information, disposition and published opinion status.

Certified Copies and California Court Record Requests

Online case search is useful for research, but official use often requires a certified copy from the court. Certified copies may be needed for immigration packets, licensing, appeals, Social Security, benefits, name changes, divorce proof, probate transfers, employment corrections, government filing or legal proof.

How to request California court record copies

1. Find the correct superior court Use the county where the case was filed. Each court keeps its own trial court records.
2. Collect exact case details Write down case number, party names, filing date, document title and courthouse division.
3. Check the court’s copy request page Many courts provide online, mail, phone or in-person copy request instructions.
4. Choose plain or certified copy Plain copies are for review. Certified copies are official court-stamped copies.
5. Confirm fees before paying Copy and certification fees vary by court, document type, page count and delivery method.

Who keeps the record?

Sealed, Confidential and Restricted California Court Records

California court records are generally accessible in some form unless they are sealed by court order or made confidential by law. However, online remote access can be more limited than courthouse access. Some records may be visible only at the courthouse, only to parties or attorneys, or only by court order.

Records that may be restricted or unavailable online

• Juvenile records and records involving minors.
• Adoption records and certain parentage records.
• Sealed criminal or civil records by court order.
• Domestic violence and protected address information.
• Confidential family, financial or medical records.
• Conservatorship, mental health or sensitive probate materials.
• Records restricted by California Rules of Court or state law.
• Records not digitized or not available remotely.

California Court Records vs DOJ Criminal History Record Review

California court records and California DOJ criminal history records are not the same thing. A court record shows what happened in one court case. A DOJ criminal history record review is a fingerprint-based request for your own California criminal history record maintained by the California Department of Justice.

Which record do you need?

The California DOJ page says individuals must submit fingerprint images, pay the DOJ processing fee, and follow the record review instructions to receive a copy of their own California criminal history record. A court website cannot replace that fingerprint-based DOJ process.

Federal Court Records in California: PACER and Federal District Courts

Federal court records are not searched through California superior court portals. Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, immigration-related federal filings, federal agency cases, constitutional claims, copyright, patent and federal-question cases are searched through PACER and the correct U.S. District Court.

California federal district courts

How to search California federal court records

1. Open PACER Go to pacer.uscourts.gov.
2. Choose the correct federal district Use the county, city, courthouse, case caption or filing papers to identify the district.
3. Search by party or federal case number Federal case numbers are different from California superior court case numbers.
4. Download docket or documents PACER may charge access fees depending on usage and document type.

California Courts Location Map

For statewide California court records, the main search problem is location. You must know the county superior court or use the official California Courts directory. The Judicial Council of California is in San Francisco, but trial court records are not stored centrally there for public copy requests.

Judicial Council of California Map

Common California court-record destinations

Micro Search Tips for California Court Records

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Summary

For california court records, the best starting point is the official California Courts Find My Court directory. California trial court records are county-based, so you must search the superior court where the case was filed. Use case number search first, name search only when supported, and contact the clerk for certified copies or records not available online.

For appeals, use the California Appellate Court Case Information search. For your own California criminal history review, use the California DOJ fingerprint-based process. For federal cases, use PACER and the correct federal district court. Do not rely on private data sites when official court records or certified copies are required.