Los Angeles County Court Records

Los Angeles County court records are official documents prepared, collated, and maintained by the local court system. They include hand-written and printed papers, audio/video recordings, photographs, electronically/magnetically recorded data, and other materials filed or generated in legal proceedings (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.502).

Courts preserve adjudicative records for various reasons. As formal documentation of legal cases, the records provide an educative aid for the public, enhancing their understanding of the justice system. Court records also promote fairness and accountability within the judicial branch, assuring the public that legal affairs are handled accordingly and justly and that the rights of involved parties are protected.

In Los Angeles County, California, court records encompass trial exhibit documents, docket information, pleadings, orders, indictments, motions, summonses, and legal documents filed by case participants. On a larger scale, these records constitute California court records.

Are Court Records Public in Los Angeles County?

Yes. Court records are presumed part of Los Angeles County public records under case law. Thus, anyone can submit a request to a local courthouse to obtain court records. In addition, a requester is not expected to state a justifiable reason or use for a court record or verify their identity to access a court record.

However, some laws, court orders, and court rules preclude the public from accessing certain records. Appendix 1 of the California Trial Court Records Manual (TCRM) covers these exemptions, which include:

• Subpoenaed records
• Documents filed under seal
• Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
• Arrest records about a defendant found factually innocent
• Reports to a court regarding a defendant's mental competence

Note: The California Freedom of Information Act (called the "California Public Records Act" or "CPRA") does not afford public access to records relating to a court's adjudicative functions. However, judicial administrative records are subject to the state's FOIA.

Los Angeles County Court Records Search

Members of the public can perform a Los Angeles court records search at the following places:

• A court clerk's office.
• The originating courthouse (i.e., where a case was filed).
• An electronic portal provided by the court.
• A third-party public records website.

Los Angeles County Court Records Search by Name

Inquirers must have the case party's first and last or company name to search for court records by name in Los Angeles County. To search, the inquirer can submit the name to a court clerk's office or use a public terminal at a courthouse location in Los Angeles County to look up active and closed cases related to the name.

Researchers must note the following:

• The court charges a nominal fee to make plain or certified copies of any public court record. The fee is assessed per page or document.
• Court staff may require a written submission to process a request. A form may be provided at the courthouse or downloaded from the court's website.
• Additional case specifics, such as a filing or hearing date, enhance the prospects of locating a case record.

Remote access is also available to persons who cannot visit a Los Angeles courthouse for a name search. The Los Angeles County Superior Court provides the following online options:

• Search for Case by Name: A public portal for finding docket information in civil, family law, small claims, and probate cases, including case numbers, filing dates, case types, litigant names, filing locations, and imaged documents.
• Search for Case by Defendant Name: An online portal for looking up criminal cases filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court by a defendant's name.

Only limited case information is available through these online name search portals. Also, a fee applies to search each portal, payable by valid Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or debit card. Based on the search volume, the cost ranges from $1 to $4 for the registered user. Meanwhile, a $4.75 flat fee is charged to the guest user. More information is provided on the court's FAQs page.

Los Angeles County Courts

Los Angeles County has only one court type: the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Considered the nation's largest trial court system, the court has multiple branches to accommodate the county's regions and population. Below are the county's 36 courthouse locations:

Airport Courthouse
11701 South La Cienega
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (310) 725-3000

Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center Courthouse
1040 West Avenue J
Lancaster, CA 93534
Phone: (661) 483-5924

Alhambra Courthouse
150 West Commonwealth
Alhambra, CA 91801
Phone: (626) 293-2100

Bellflower Courthouse
10025 East Flower Street
Bellflower, CA 90706
Phone: (562) 345-3300

Beverly Hills Courthouse
9355 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: (310) 281-2400

Burbank Courthouse
300 East Olive
Burbank, CA 91502
Phone: (818) 260-8400

Catalina Courthouse
215 Sumner Avenue
Avalon, CA 90704
Phone: (562) 256-3100

Central Arraignment Courthouse
429 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 617-5600

Chatsworth Courthouse
9425 Penfield Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: (818) 407-2200

Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 628-7700

Compton Courthouse
200 West Compton Boulevard
Compton, CA 90220
Phone: (310) 761-4300

Downey Courthouse
7500 East Imperial Highway
Downey, CA 90242
Phone: (562) 658-0500

East Los Angeles Courthouse
4848 East Civic Center Way
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Phone: (323) 881-5800

Edmund D. Edelman Children's Courthouse
201 Centre Plaza Drive
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Phone: (323) 307-8000

El Monte Courthouse
11234 East Valley Boulevard
El Monte, CA 91731
Phone: (626) 401-2200

Glendale Courthouse
600 East Broadway
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: (818) 265-6400

Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse
275 Magnolia
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 256-3100

Hollywood Courthouse
5925 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 441-1800

Inglewood Courthouse
One Regent Street
Inglewood, CA 90301
Phone: (310) 419-1300

Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse
110 Regent Street
Inglewood, CA 90301
Phone: (310) 412-8301

Metropolitan Courthouse
1945 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 745-3200

Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse
42011 4th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
Phone: (661) 483-5500

Norwalk Courthouse
12720 Norwalk Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: (562) 345-3700

Pasadena Courthouse
300 East Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: (626) 396-3300

Pomona Courthouse South
400 Civic Center Plaza
Pomona, CA 91766
Phone: (909) 802-1100

San Fernando Courthouse
900 Third Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
Phone: (818) 256-1800

Santa Clarita Courthouse
23747 West Valencia Boulevard
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Phone: (661) 253-5600

Santa Monica Courthouse
1725 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 255-1840

Spring Street Courthouse
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 310-7000

Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 830-0800

Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse
16350 Filbert Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
Phone: (818) 256-1180

Torrance Courthouse
825 Maple Avenue
Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: (310) 787-3700

Van Nuys Courthouse East
6230 Sylmar Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Phone: (818) 901-4600

Van Nuys Courthouse West
14400 Erwin Street Mall
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Phone: (818) 989-6900

West Covina Courthouse
1427 West Covina Parkway
West Covina, CA 91790
Phone: (626) 430-2600

Whittier Courthouse
7339 South Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90602
Phone: (562) 968-2699

Each courthouse in Los Angeles County handles specific legal matters. For example, the Airport Courthouse hears only criminal cases, and the Chatsworth Courthouse presides over civil, family law, small claims, and traffic cases. Courthouse-specific case types are highlighted on the local superior court's Find a Court page.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Case Search

The superior court in Los Angeles County preserves paper and electronic court case records per Cal. Gov. Code § 68150 - 68153. Interested persons may visit the courthouse where a case was filed to search case records on public access computer terminals (courthouse kiosks).

An alternative option for conducting a Los Angeles County Superior Court case search is online. The court offers several web tools—accessible through the Online Services page—that the public can utilize to view summary case information, calendars, and imaged documents from civil, criminal, family, traffic, small claims, and probate cases. The standard requirement for any online search on the court's website is a case party's name or case number. However, depending on the application used, users may be charged per search or document download.

A Los Angeles Superior Court case search may also be conducted via mail. In this case, the requester will court staff to search on their behalf and return copies of any identifiable record to a specified address. Each requester must fill out a Request for Copies form indicating the record needed and their contact information. The form should be sent to the relevant superior court address together with the respective fee, payable to the "Los Angeles Superior Court" by money order, check, or credit card as follows:

• 50 cents per page
• $40 per certification of a copy of any paper, proceeding, or record on file
• $50 per exemplification

Where a requester cannot calculate the total fee, they may indicate a "Not to Exceed" amount in the check or money order memo line. It is advisable to contact the court to determine what estimate to include based on the request volume. Conversely, those paying by credit card must attach a completed Payment Submittal Notice to their Request for Copies form.

Older superior court case records (mostly cases filed from 1910 to 2004) are available through the court's Archives and Records Center (ARC). Interested parties may visit the ARC during business hours to search and view records on public computers. One can also purchase copies of records at the office.

Archives and Records Center
222 North Hill Street
Room 212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 830-0198

Los Angeles County District Court Records

California's justice system consists of three levels: the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and trial (superior) courts. There are no district courts in California or Los Angeles County. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, handles all legal proceedings for the county. All requests for court records are made to this court.

Los Angeles County Criminal Records

Certain Los Angeles criminal records maintained by law enforcement agencies are publicly accessible under the California Public Records Act. Mostly, the public has access to initial arrest information following Section 7923.610 of the CPRA, which includes an arrestee's name, birth date, physical descriptors, and booking details.

However, Cal. Penal Code §§ 13300 through 13326 allows only subjects of records and their designees to request local summary criminal history records (i.e., a summary of an individual's arrests compiled by a police department). This type of check may be called a Los Angeles County arrest records search, criminal record check, arrest summary, or police clearance letter. Eligible parties may need to:

• Submit a written request, complete set of fingerprints, or valid identification to a police agency. An agency may also require paperwork from the entity that requested a subject's criminal record (if applicable).
• Pay the associated fees. For instance, it costs $25 to request a fingerprint-based local criminal history from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and $35 to obtain a name-based local criminal history check from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD).

A police agency will only provide arrest summaries within its jurisdiction. Individuals arrested in multiple jurisdictions may purchase a statewide criminal history record from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) instead.

Los Angeles County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The following offline and online options are available to individuals who want to look up criminal court case information in Los Angeles County:

• Go to the presiding courthouse to look up electronic criminal case files at courthouse kiosks.
• Access criminal case management systems maintained on the Los Angeles Superior Court's website, such as:
  • The Search for Case by Defendant Name portal (discussed earlier)
  • The Criminal Case Access Online Service (provides additional information about criminal cases, including charge, proceedings, bail, and sentencing details)
  • The Criminal Case Calendar (disseminates upcoming hearing information, including criminal case numbers, case titles, hearing types, and hearing dates)

How to Get Los Angeles County Civil Court Records

Members of the public may visit the civil courthouse where a case was filed to obtain Los Angeles County civil court records. However, it is recommended that the requester contact the courthouse beforehand to verify availability. At the courthouse, a person may view imaged electronic documents at a kiosk or purchase plain copies at 50 cents per page from the clerk's office.

Alternatively, individuals can seek online/remote access. The county superior court's Case Document Images portal can be accessed to download most civil case records, including records from small claims and unlawful detainers. A $1 fee/page applies for the first 1-5 pages, and the system charges 40 cents/page for pages 6 and above.

Other online retrieval options for Los Angeles County civil court records include:

• The Civil Case Calendar or Small Claims Case Calendar (to find details about upcoming civil hearings) and
• The Civil Case Access portal (to find civil, family law, small claims, and probate case information).

A person can also procure Los Angeles County civil court records by mail by submitting a Request for Copies form and paying the relevant copy fees. Form and fee information are available on the court's Civil Court Record Copy Order page.

A case number is typically required to process any civil court record request. Individuals who do not have a case number may find it using the court's Search for Case by Name portal. If the case has an upcoming hearing, the interested party can access the Civil Case Calendar to find the associated case number at no cost.

Los Angeles County Family Court Records

Family law cases include all domestic matters, such as divorce, adoption, legal separation, nullity (annulment), paternity, domestic violence, and child or spousal support.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court presides over family law matters at designated courthouses, including the Torrance, Van Huys East, and Pasadena courthouses. A person can obtain a family court record:

• At the presiding courthouse. One may call the Family Law Call Center at (213) 633-6363 to determine the courthouse that heard a case.
• Online using search tools on the superior court's website. The web applications used to search for Los Angeles civil court records (see above) also provide access to family law information.

Each researcher requires a valid case number to find family court records in Los Angeles County. If the case number is unknown, it can be retrieved from the Search for Case by Name portal or Civil Case Calendar, as explained in the previous header.

Los Angeles Dissolution of Marriage Records

Los Angeles County's dissolution of marriage records include all records pertaining to a divorce or annulment handled by a local court. These records constitute family court records and can be obtained at the presiding courthouse or by accessing remote case search systems, as described previously.

Los Angeles County Marriage and Divorce Records

Different offices preserve marriage and divorce records in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Superior Court maintains divorce records, and marriage records are accessible through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office.

A request for a divorce record in Los Angeles County can be made like any other family court record request. The requester can visit the originating courthouse to obtain records, or they may download non-confidential divorce records from the local superior's Case Document Images and Divorce Judgment Documents databases. The Divorce Judgment Documents site allows the public to purchase copies of divorce judgments online and receive the documents by mail.

On the other hand, individuals can obtain certified (authorized or informational) public and confidential marriage records from the county clerk's office in person, by mail, or online via a third-party vendor. A non-refundable $17 fee applies to obtain any certified copy of a marriage record, except one qualifies for a waiver.

Besides obtaining a Los Angeles County marriage certificate, the public can view marriage indexes from 1852 to the present at the issuing office's location. However, one must schedule an appointment for public inspection, which is free unless the researcher asks staff to search for or retrieve more than five records.

Note: Confidential Los Angeles County marriage records are only issued as authorized certified copies and provided to the spouses or upon a court order. Authorized certified copies of public marriage records are available to select individuals for official purposes like obtaining a passport, driver's license, Social Security card, and other identity-related services. Meanwhile, anyone can obtain an informational copy of a public marriage record.

Los Angeles County Birth and Death Records

Authorized and informational certified copies of Los Angeles County birth and death records are available in person, online, and via mail through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office. It costs $24 to order an authorized certified copy of a Los Angeles County death certificate and $32 for an authorized certified copy of a Los Angeles County birth certificate.

Members of the public can also inspect the following indexes at the clerk's Norwalk Headquarters by scheduling an appointment.

• Birth indexes before 1905 and from 1964 to date.
• Death indexes from 1877 to date.

Along with marriage records, birth and death records constitute the Los Angeles County vital records.

Los Angeles County Probate Court Records

Of the 36 superior courthouse locations in Los Angeles County, only two handle probate matters: the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in the Central Los Angeles area and the Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse in Lancaster. These courts oversee cases relating to estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and other matters of probate.

Most probate records are available to the public in Los Angeles County. Thus, interested parties can visit the courthouse that received a probate filing to view case information or purchase copies of documents. To confirm record availability, one may contact the Probate Call Center at (213) 830-0850.

A person can also access the local superior court's Case Documents Images portal to purchase and download probate case documents, or they may mail a Request for Copies form (or a request letter indicating the case number, case title, sought-after documents, and number of copies) to the following address:

Los Angeles Superior Court
ATTN: Certification Unit
Room 112
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Each mail request should contain the applicable fee payment and a self-addressed envelope for the clerk's office to return copies.

Los Angeles County Property Records

Property records (or real estate records) hold crucial information about real estate, including its ownership, assessment, and taxation. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and Assessor's offices maintain these records in Los Angeles County.

The county clerk serves as the official recorder and custodian of real estate documents, ensuring their preservation and accessibility. Meanwhile, the assessor is the primary source for comprehensive property and assessment information.

The county clerk's office offers online, mail, fax, and in-person avenues for obtaining Los Angeles County property records from 1850 to date. Fees apply to receive a copy of a property record.

On the other hand, the assessor provides several free property lookup resources online. One may also contact the office at (213) 974-3211 or visit an assessor's office location during business hours to request property information.

Los Angeles County Court Records Online

Generally, members of the public can access Los Angeles court records on government and third-party websites. Third-party websites like courtrecords.us are owned by independent companies that amass public records from various repositories (including courthouses) and sell the records to the public.

An advantage of a third-party website is that users can conveniently access records from the comfort of their homes or offices, provided they have an internet-connected device. Also, a person can research different jurisdictions simultaneously to find court and other public records that match a name. The search functionalities of third-party websites are also easy to use, with a first and last name being the standard search criterion.

However, users are charged to obtain a detailed report. The fee varies based on the provider and may be charged at intervals (usually monthly) or paid as a single fee. Further, records found on a third-party site may not be complete or up-to-date. As a result, each user should verify records acquired from a third-party provider with official sources.