Los Angeles County Court Records Search: LASC Case Access, Name Search, Certified Copies, Court Dates & PACER
Search Los Angeles County court records through the official Los Angeles Superior Court routes. Use Case Access for state trial court cases, the court’s document-image tools where available, courthouse records units for official copies, and PACER for federal cases.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This page is not the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Courts, PACER, a law firm, a government agency, or a Consumer Reporting Agency. It is a practical guide to official Los Angeles County court-record routes.
Responsible-use warning: a matching name does not prove identity. A complaint, petition, arrest, citation, charge, indictment, lawsuit, or docket entry does not prove guilt, liability, or final outcome. Do not use this guide for employment, housing, tenant, credit, insurance, or other FCRA-regulated screening decisions.
Los Angeles County court records: what the official online systems can and cannot show
The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles maintains state trial court records for Los Angeles County. Its online services can help users access case information for civil, criminal, family law, probate, small claims, and traffic matters, but online information is not always the official record of the court.
Use the court’s official tools to locate a case, then use the proper courthouse or records unit when you need certified copies, older files, unavailable document images, restricted-record questions, or official proof of disposition.
Los Angeles Superior Court serves a large countywide court system with many courthouse locations.
Some LASC online services allow users to sign in or continue as a guest.
California self-help guidance lists certified copies generally at $40 per document.
LASC’s divorce judgment document service lists certification at $15 per copy for that route.
Los Angeles County court-record route finder
Select the record type you need. This tool runs in your browser and does not collect names, dates of birth, case numbers, addresses, or payment information.
Use official Case Access or Case Summary tools to locate Los Angeles County state court case information. Search by case number when possible, then verify case type, courthouse, party role, filing date, status, and docket activity.
Which Los Angeles County court-record route should you use?
Use the right official route before searching. Superior Court case records, recorder records, jail records, criminal-history records, and federal records are separate systems.
| Need | Correct official route | What to check | Common mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Los Angeles County case lookup | Los Angeles Superior Court Online Services / Case Access | Case number, courthouse, case type, party names, party role, filing date, status, and docket activity. | Using a commercial people-search result instead of the court’s official portal. |
| Civil lawsuit or unlimited civil case | LASC Civil case access and civil division resources | Plaintiff, defendant, complaint, judgment, dismissal, hearing date, department, and document images where available. | Assuming a filing proves liability or that a judgment still reflects current payment status. |
| Small claims case | LASC small claims case access and civil/small claims resources | Claimant, defendant, hearing date, judgment, dismissal, satisfaction, and courthouse location. | Using small claims court records as a tenant or credit screening product. |
| Family law, divorce, parentage, custody, or support case | LASC family law case access and records/copy route | Case number, decree, order, judgment, modification, party role, hearing date, and document access limits. | Publishing children’s names, addresses, protected family details, or sensitive allegations. |
| Divorce judgment document | LASC Divorce Judgment Document Order service or courthouse records route | Case number, party names, judgment date, certification need, and whether the online service covers the record. | Assuming every divorce file or family document is available remotely. |
| Probate, conservatorship, guardianship, or estate case | LASC probate case access, document-image route where available, and courthouse records unit | Decedent, petitioner, personal representative, guardian, conservator, order, hearing, and restricted-document status. | Assuming every fiduciary or health-related document is public online. |
| Criminal case or criminal defendant search | LASC criminal public access services and criminal courthouse route | Charge, case number, courthouse, plea, sentence, dismissal, warrant status, hearing dates, and final disposition. | Treating arrest, charge, or filing as a conviction. |
| Traffic ticket, citation, DUI, or traffic court date | LASC traffic online services and traffic courthouse route | Citation number, case number, violation type, payment eligibility, court appearance requirement, and due date. | Assuming payment is allowed or resolves every court obligation. |
| Certified copy or official record proof | LASC records unit or courthouse where the record is located | Exact document title, case number, courthouse, page count, certification need, payment method, and mail instructions. | Using an online screen or downloaded copy as a certified record. |
| Federal case or bankruptcy case | PACER and the specific federal court | Federal district, bankruptcy court, case number, docket report, document number, filing date, and closure date. | Searching Los Angeles Superior Court for federal court files. |
How to search Los Angeles County court records by name without misidentifying someone
Los Angeles Superior Court offers public access routes that include name searching for some case categories. Name search is helpful when you do not know a case number, but it can also return unrelated parties with similar names.
A case number is usually more reliable than a common name. It also helps you avoid paying for unnecessary name searches or document-image searches.
Civil, small claims, family law, probate, criminal, and traffic matters use different search paths and may have different public access rules.
Check courthouse, filing date, case type, party role, attorney, docket events, judgment, sentence, dismissal, court date, and status before relying on a match.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, claimant, debtor, creditor, decedent, guardian, and conservator mean different things. A party name does not always mean wrongdoing.
A filing, complaint, petition, criminal charge, citation, motion, or hearing notice is not a final court decision. Look for orders, judgments, sentences, dismissals, or mandates.
Use the proper courthouse or records unit for certified copies, older files, missing document images, or official disposition verification.
Official Los Angeles County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Use these official court, county recorder, California Courts, or PACER links for sensitive searches. Do not enter personal information into this article.
Use this as the main official starting point for Los Angeles Superior Court online tools.
- Confirm you are on the official lacourt.ca.gov domain.
- Choose Access a Case, Access Court Documents, Traffic, eFiling, or another official tool.
- Use case number when available.
- Read any fee, disclaimer, and access-limit notice before searching.
- Use the courthouse records route if you need an official copy.
Use for public access online services and name or case-number search routes.
- Create an account or continue as a guest where allowed.
- Select the appropriate civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, or traffic route.
- Search by case number if known.
- If searching by name, verify party role and courthouse before opening results.
- Do not treat online information as the official certified court record.
Use when you have a case number for civil, small claims, family law, or probate case information.
- Enter the exact case number.
- For limited jurisdiction cases, select the filing courthouse if required.
- Review case status and docket information.
- Save the courthouse and department details for copy or hearing questions.
- Request official certified records separately if needed.
Use to find case numbers by party name for supported case categories.
- Choose the correct case category before searching.
- Enter name details carefully.
- Review any public access fee notice before submitting.
- Compare courthouse, filing date, case type, and party role.
- Use the case number for future searches and copy requests.
Use for available imaged documents in supported civil, limited civil, probate, family law, and small claims case categories.
- Check whether the case type and courthouse are covered.
- Review date-range and availability limits before paying.
- Use the case number and document information where possible.
- Remember not all filed or court-generated documents are available online.
- Use the records unit for missing images or certified copies.
Use for official copy-request procedures by record type.
- Identify the case type and courthouse where the record is located.
- Use the court’s copy request form or online route when available.
- List the exact requested documents.
- Include the correct payment and mailing materials if requesting by mail.
- Specify whether certification is required.
Use for certified copies of electronically maintained divorce judgment records covered by the court’s service.
- Confirm you need a divorce judgment document, not a full family law file.
- Search using the information requested by the official service.
- Review the listed document and certification fee.
- Confirm whether the receiving agency accepts this format.
- Use the courthouse records route if the online service does not cover the record.
Use to verify current filing, copy, certification, research, and record-related fees.
- Open the current fee schedule.
- Find the record or copy category that matches your request.
- Check whether certification, search, postage, or service fees apply.
- Call the courthouse records unit if the request is unusual.
- Do not rely on outdated fee screenshots or third-party summaries.
Use to find the courthouse that holds or handles the case type.
- Search by courthouse name, city, or address.
- Confirm the judicial district and services at that courthouse.
- Check building hours, clerk hours, parking, and security information.
- Look for appointment notes before visiting.
- Bring the case number and exact document request.
Use for civil case resources, court rules, eFiling notes, civil forms, and civil procedures.
- Confirm your case is civil, limited civil, unlimited civil, small claims, or unlawful detainer.
- Review civil filing and case-number resources.
- Check eFiling requirements and division-specific updates.
- Use official case access for docket lookup.
- Use the correct courthouse for document and copy questions.
Use for electronic filing, not for general anonymous court-record browsing.
- Check whether eFiling is required or available for your case type.
- Use an approved eFiling service provider when required.
- File each document in the correct case and category.
- Protect confidential information before filing.
- Watch for accepted, rejected, or corrected filing status.
Use for recorder and county clerk records, not ordinary Superior Court case dockets.
- Choose property document recording, vital records, marriage, or another county clerk service.
- Do not search RR/CC when you need a court case docket.
- Use instrument number, party name, recorded date, or property information where appropriate.
- Review copy and certification fees for recorded documents.
- Use LASC for civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, and traffic court cases.
Use for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate records.
- Use PACER Case Locator if you do not know the federal court.
- Open the specific federal court docket after locating the case.
- Review PACER pricing before opening reports or documents.
- Limit date ranges to control costs.
- Contact the federal clerk for certified federal records.
Los Angeles County court-record fees, document-image limits, and payment cautions
Some case access can be checked online, but name searches, document-image searches, document purchases, certified copies, research, postage, and federal PACER use can cost money. Always verify the current amount on the official court page or with the records unit before paying.
| Item | Published detail | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Online case access fees | LASC online services explain that the court may impose public access fees for electronic-record access under California Rule of Court 2.506 and Government Code section 68150. | Review fee screens before submitting name searches, document-image searches, or purchases. |
| Online information status | LASC states that online case information does not constitute the official record of the court. | Use certified copies or court records-unit confirmation when official proof is required. |
| Document-image availability | Document-image search is available for certain civil, limited civil, probate, family law, and small claims categories, but not every document is available online. | A missing online image is not proof the document does not exist. Contact the court records unit. |
| General certified copy guidance | California court self-help guidance lists certified copies generally at $40 per document. | Confirm the current LASC fee schedule and whether certification is needed before ordering. |
| Divorce judgment document service | LASC’s divorce judgment document ordering service lists certification at $15 per copy for that service. | This fee is tied to that specific divorce judgment route; do not apply it to every court record. |
| Recorder records | Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk fees for recorded documents are separate from court case copy fees. | Use RR/CC for deeds, property recordings, marriage, birth, and death record services; use LASC for case files. |
| PACER federal records | PACER pricing verified September 1, 2026: $0.10 per page, many documents capped at $3, and charges of $30 or less waived per quarter. A temporary increase to $0.12 per page and a $40 quarterly threshold is scheduled for January 1, 2027. | Use date ranges and review cost screens before opening federal reports or documents. |
Copy and PACER cost estimator
Planning tool only. The official court checkout screen, records-unit quote, fee schedule, or PACER cost screen controls the final amount.
How to get certified Los Angeles County court records
A portal screen, unofficial printout, or purchased online image may not satisfy a government agency, court, employer, school, licensing board, immigration process, or financial institution. Certified copies must come from the court’s proper records route.
Use LASC Case Access or Case Summary to identify the case number, courthouse, case type, party names, and document title.
Examples include judgment, sentence, final disposition, divorce judgment, restraining-order document, probate order, dismissal, mandate, or docket sheet.
Mail or in-person requests generally go to the courthouse where the record is located. Some divorce judgment records may be available through the court’s online divorce judgment document service.
Plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, authenticated record, and agency-specific certified disposition can be different. Confirm what the receiving agency requires.
Ask about copy fees, certification fees, search or research fees, postage, self-addressed envelope requirements, payment method, and expected processing time.
Do not remove staples, covers, seals, ribbons, clerk certification pages, or electronic validation information when the document must be used officially.
Los Angeles Superior Court office details for common record requests
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
General information: 213-830-0800
Courthouse building hours listed: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Clerk’s Office hours listed: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except court holidays.
Los Angeles Superior Court has many courthouse locations and division-specific services. Use the courthouse locator to confirm where your case type and file are handled.
Appointments are strongly encouraged for clerk’s office and self-help services at Stanley Mosk. Review building security rules and prohibited items before visiting.
Court records vs recorder records vs jail records in Los Angeles County
Do not confuse Los Angeles Superior Court records with county recorder, law-enforcement, jail, state criminal-history, or federal court records. Each route answers a different question.
| Question | Use this source | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a Los Angeles County civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, or traffic case? | Los Angeles Superior Court Online Services / Case Access | This is the state trial court route for case dockets and court records. |
| Is there a deed, property recording, marriage record, birth certificate, or death certificate? | Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk | These are recorder or county clerk records, not ordinary Superior Court case dockets. |
| Is someone currently in jail? | Los Angeles County Sheriff or local jail/custody system | Current custody and booking records are separate from court case disposition. |
| Is there a California criminal-history record? | California DOJ criminal-history route for authorized purposes | A criminal-history check is not the same as a Superior Court docket lookup. |
| Is there a federal lawsuit, federal criminal case, or bankruptcy? | PACER and the specific federal court | Federal court records are not held in the Los Angeles Superior Court state court portal. |
Los Angeles County federal and bankruptcy court records use PACER
Los Angeles Superior Court is a California state trial court. It does not hold federal district, bankruptcy, or federal appellate case files. Use PACER and the specific federal court for federal matters.
- Federal civil lawsuits.
- Federal criminal cases.
- Bankruptcy cases.
- Federal appellate records.
- Federal docket reports and document images.
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for federal appeals.
- PACER Case Locator when the federal court is unknown.
Los Angeles County court-record privacy, sealed cases, and restricted documents
California court records can be public, confidential, sealed, restricted, redacted, or unavailable online depending on case type, document content, law, court rule, and court order. Internet access is not the same as full courthouse access.
- Juvenile matters.
- Adoption and dependency cases.
- Sealed or expunged records.
- Some mental-health and medical information.
- Protected addresses and victim information.
- Some family law and probate documents.
- Documents containing protected personal identifiers.
- Children’s names or school information.
- Victim details or protected addresses.
- Medical, mental-health, dependency, or guardianship information.
- Full dates of birth or personal identifiers.
- Financial account information.
- Information that could encourage harassment or retaliation.
What to do if your Los Angeles County court-record search returns no result
- Try the exact case number if available.
- Check the case category: civil, small claims, family, probate, criminal, or traffic.
- Try spelling variations, initials, suffixes, former names, business names, and punctuation differences.
- Confirm the case is in Los Angeles County and not another California county.
- Check whether the case is federal and belongs in PACER.
- The record may be sealed, confidential, restricted, or redacted.
- The document may not be imaged online.
- The case may be too old for the online document-image route.
- The record may be located at a specific courthouse records unit.
- The information may be a recorder, jail, police, or vital record rather than a court case.
Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles County court records
How do I search Los Angeles County court records by name?
Use the official Los Angeles Superior Court Online Services or Case Access portal. Civil, small claims, family law, and probate name searches can help locate case numbers, and criminal name searches are handled through the court’s public access services. A name match alone is not proof of identity, so verify the courthouse, case type, filing date, party role, and docket activity.
Is Los Angeles Superior Court online case information the official court record?
No. The Los Angeles Superior Court states that information obtained from its online case access systems does not constitute the official record of the court. For official proof, certified copies, or unclear entries, request records from the court or the appropriate courthouse records unit.
What case types can I search online in Los Angeles County?
Los Angeles Superior Court online services include access routes for civil, small claims, family law, probate, criminal, and traffic matters. Document-image availability varies by case type, courthouse, filing date, confidentiality rules, and whether the document has been imaged.
Can I buy Los Angeles County court document images online?
For some civil, small claims, family law, and probate matters, the Los Angeles Superior Court provides online document-image search and purchase. Not every document is available online, and each search or image access may involve a public access fee under California electronic-record access rules.
How do I get a certified Los Angeles County court record?
Identify the case number, courthouse, party names, case type, and exact document needed, then use the Los Angeles Superior Court copy-request route for the courthouse where the record is located. Certified copies may be requested from the court’s records unit by mail or in person, and some divorce judgment documents can be ordered through the court’s online divorce judgment document service.
How much do Los Angeles County certified court copies cost?
California court self-help guidance lists certified copies generally at $40 per document. Los Angeles Superior Court divorce judgment document ordering lists certification at $15 per copy for that specific service. Always verify the current Los Angeles Superior Court fee schedule before paying because copy, certification, search, postage, and service fees can vary by request.
How do I find a Los Angeles County court date?
Use the Los Angeles Superior Court case access or online services route tied to the case type and courthouse. Always verify the court date against the official notice or the courthouse because calendars, departments, remote appearance options, and courtroom assignments can change.
Are Los Angeles County recorder records the same as court records?
No. Court records are case files, dockets, orders, judgments, and filings handled by the Superior Court. Recorder or county clerk records include recorded property documents and vital-record related services handled by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Use the correct source for the record type.
Where do I search federal court records for Los Angeles County?
Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate records. Los Angeles County state court portals do not contain federal court files. If you do not know the federal court, start with PACER Case Locator and then open the specific federal court docket.
Can I use this page for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance screening?
No. Public-Court-Records.us is not a Consumer Reporting Agency, and this guide is not an FCRA-regulated background-check product. Do not use this page to make employment, housing, tenant, credit, insurance, or similar eligibility decisions.
Editorial and official-source review notes
Official sources reviewed for this Los Angeles County guide include Los Angeles Superior Court Online Services, Case Access, Civil Index, Case Summary, Document Images, copy-request guidance, divorce judgment document ordering, courthouse locator pages, Stanley Mosk Courthouse information, LASC civil division resources, LASC eFiling information, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk resources, California court copy guidance, PACER Find a Case, and PACER pricing. Review date: September 1, 2026.