California Court Records Search by Name: Superior Court Portals, Appellate Search, Certified Copies & PACER
Search California court records the right way: find the correct county superior court for trial cases, use the California Appellate Courts Case Information system for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases, request certified copies from the court where the case was filed, and use PACER only for federal records.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This page is not the Judicial Branch of California, any California superior court, any county clerk/recorder, the California Department of Justice, PACER, a law firm, a government agency, or a Consumer Reporting Agency. It is a practical guide to official California court-record routes.
Responsible-use warning: a matching name does not prove identity. A complaint, petition, arrest, citation, charge, indictment, lawsuit, warrant, docket entry, or hearing listing 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.
California court records are county-by-county for trial cases
California has 58 superior courts, one in each county. Trial court records are kept by the superior court where the case was filed. That means a California court records search by name usually starts by identifying the county first, then using that county superior court’s official case access system or clerk records process.
There is a statewide appellate case system for California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases, but that is different from county superior court trial-case search. Federal cases are separate again and belong in PACER.
California has one state trial court in each county.
California Courts of Appeal are divided into six districts.
The California Supreme Court is the state’s highest court.
Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate files.
California 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.
For California trial court records, identify the county where the case was filed, then use that county superior court’s official case search or clerk records process. Search by case number when possible, then verify party role, case type, filing date, docket entries, and disposition.
Which California court-record route should you use?
California records are split by court level and record custodian. Use the table below before searching by name.
| Need | Correct official route | What to check | Common mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic trial court case lookup | County superior court where the case was filed | County, case number, case type, party role, filing date, docket entries, court dates, judgment, sentence, dismissal, and disposition. | Looking for one statewide superior court portal for all California counties. |
| Civil lawsuit, small claims, unlawful detainer, judgment, or name change | County superior court civil or small claims portal / clerk | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, claim, judgment, satisfaction, dismissal, hearing, and document access. | Assuming an online civil result is certified official proof. |
| Criminal case or criminal court disposition | County superior court criminal division / courthouse records route | Charge, complaint, information, indictment, plea, conviction, dismissal, sentence, warrant, fine, and final disposition. | Treating an arrest, charge, or complaint as a conviction. |
| Family law, divorce, parentage, custody, support, or restraining order | County superior court family law division / records unit | Case number, decree, judgment, order, hearing, party role, protected address, minor-child information, and copy restrictions. | Publishing children’s names, protected addresses, or sensitive family details. |
| Probate, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health, trust, or estate case | County superior court probate division / records unit | Decedent, estate, guardian, conservator, ward, trustee, letters, orders, inventories, and restricted-document status. | Assuming every probate or guardianship document is available remotely. |
| Juvenile, adoption, child welfare, or dependency record | County superior court juvenile division with authorized access | Authorized party status, confidentiality, court permission, case type, and record-release procedure. | Trying to bypass juvenile or adoption confidentiality through internet searches. |
| Traffic citation, fine, trial by declaration, or traffic school | County superior court traffic division, traffic portal, or MyCitations where available | Citation number, court named on ticket, due date, mandatory appearance, bail, traffic school eligibility, and payment status. | Paying scam text-message links or assuming every ticket can be paid online. |
| California Supreme Court or Court of Appeal case | California Appellate Courts Case Information | Supreme Court case number, Court of Appeal case number, trial court case number, party, attorney, caption, docket, opinion, and disposition. | Searching only the trial court after an appeal has been filed. |
| Criminal-history background record | California DOJ record review route for authorized personal review | Identity verification, fingerprint requirements, statutory restrictions, accuracy review, and challenge procedure. | Confusing public court dockets with a DOJ criminal-history record. |
| Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, or federal appeal | PACER and the specific federal court | Federal district, bankruptcy court, Ninth Circuit appeal, case number, docket report, document number, and federal clerk requirements. | Searching California superior court portals for federal case files. |
How to search California court records by name without misidentifying someone
A California court records search by name is only reliable when you know which court to search and verify the result against multiple case details. California has many counties, large populations, business entities, common names, name changes, aliases, and records that may be public at the courthouse but unavailable online.
Trial court records are kept by the superior court where the case was filed. Use Find Your Court when you only know a city, ZIP code, or county.
A case number, citation number, appellate case number, or court-assigned docket number is usually more precise than a name-only search.
Civil, small claims, family law, probate, criminal, traffic, juvenile, mental health, and appellate matters can have different portals and access rules.
Check county, courthouse, case type, filing date, party role, attorney, docket events, judgment, sentence, dismissal, court date, and final disposition before relying on a match.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, claimant, debtor, creditor, decedent, guardian, conservator, and ward mean different things. A party name does not always mean wrongdoing.
A filing, arrest, citation, complaint, petition, charge, warrant, motion, or hearing notice is not a final judgment, conviction, sentence, dismissal, or satisfied judgment.
Official California court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Use these official California Courts, DOJ, and PACER resources. Do not enter private personal information into this article.
Use this first when you need the official county superior court website, contact page, traffic route, self-help desk, or courthouse location.
- Enter a California city, ZIP code, or county.
- Open the official superior court website for that county.
- Look for case access, online services, records, traffic, or clerk contact pages.
- Use county-specific instructions before searching by name.
- Contact the court where the case was filed for official copies.
Use to understand the 58-county trial court structure and access a listing of superior courts.
- Confirm that trial records are county superior court records.
- Select the relevant superior court.
- Use that court’s own portal or records instructions.
- Check whether the case type is available online.
- Use courthouse access or copy request when remote access is limited.
Use for plain-language California Courts guidance on finding case information.
- Read the explanation that county courts keep court records.
- Use Find Your Court to locate the correct superior court.
- Look for the county court’s online case search.
- Check access restrictions for divorce, criminal, adoption, juvenile, and eviction records.
- Use courthouse access or the clerk when online access is limited.
Use when you need a court order, decree, judgment, disposition, or other filed record.
- Identify the court where the case was filed.
- Find the case number and exact document title.
- Check whether you need a plain or certified copy.
- Follow the local court’s copy request procedure.
- Verify fees, postage, payment method, and processing time with that court.
Use to distinguish court case records from judicial administrative records and county-specific superior court records.
- Read the difference between case records and administrative records.
- Use individual superior courts for superior court case copies.
- Use specific appellate courts for Supreme Court or Court of Appeal case records.
- Do not send county case-copy requests to the Judicial Council PAJAR team.
- Check whether the record is confidential or sealed before requesting.
Use to understand who can view electronic case records, where they can view them, and whether remote access is allowed.
- Check whether the record can be viewed remotely.
- Check whether the record is available only at the courthouse.
- Review limits for criminal, juvenile, family, guardianship, and mental-health matters.
- Use the county court’s local access instructions.
- Do not assume internet access equals full public courthouse access.
Use for statewide rules on electronic access to trial court records.
- Review what courts must provide electronically when feasible.
- Note that some case types are excluded from public remote access.
- Compare remote access with courthouse access.
- Use court-specific rules for local implementation.
- Ask the court clerk for current access procedure.
Use for limitations, conditions, privacy, and official-record cautions.
- Read the terms and access conditions.
- Note that electronic access is monitored where applicable.
- Understand that electronically accessed trial records are not official unless electronically certified by the court.
- Request certified copies when official proof is needed.
- Do not misuse accessed records for prohibited purposes.
Use for electronic-access fee authority.
- Check whether the county court charges for electronic access.
- Review any search or document-image fee screen before submitting.
- Do not assume one county’s fee applies statewide.
- Use case number to avoid unnecessary paid searches.
- Request a court quote for copy or certification fees.
Use for California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal case information.
- Select Supreme Court or the correct Court of Appeal district.
- Search by Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, or trial court case number when available.
- Use case caption, attorney, or party information when the case number is unknown.
- Check updates, docket events, calendar dates, and disposition.
- Use the specific appellate court for official copies when needed.
Use for California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal published or citable opinions.
- Search for recent published appellate opinions.
- Use the case information system for older opinion-linked case details.
- Do not treat an opinion page as the complete docket.
- Check whether the opinion is published, unpublished, modified, or depublished.
- Use legal counsel for citation or precedent questions.
Use for California traffic ticket options, traffic school, trial by declaration, and court appearance guidance.
- Read the ticket or courtesy notice first.
- Use the court named on the ticket.
- Check whether appearance is required.
- Use MyCitations only where available and appropriate.
- Pay only through the official court website or courthouse.
Use for ability-to-pay and online traffic adjudication options where the court participates.
- Confirm your ticket or courtesy notice does not require a court appearance.
- Check whether your county court participates.
- Review reduction, payment plan, or community service options where available.
- Do not ignore a court date or due date.
- Beware of scam texts pretending to collect traffic fines.
Use for a person’s own California criminal-history record review, not general public court docket searching.
- Review eligibility and identity verification requirements.
- Follow DOJ fingerprint and fee instructions.
- Use the record review to check accuracy and completeness.
- Use the DOJ challenge process if the record appears incorrect.
- Do not confuse DOJ criminal-history records with public court dockets.
Use for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate case records.
- Use PACER Case Locator if you do not know the federal court.
- Choose the specific federal district, bankruptcy, or appellate court when known.
- Search by case number first when possible.
- Review fees before opening reports or documents.
- Contact the federal clerk for certified federal records.
California county court-record examples: why the county matters
The exact search page depends on the county superior court. These examples show why a statewide name-only search is risky and why the official county court should be used.
| County / court | Official route example | Useful caution |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Superior Court | Online Services / Case Access / name search / document images. | Online information may involve access fees and is not always official certified court proof. |
| San Diego Superior Court | Online Case Search, Register of Actions, and Accessing Court Records pages. | Criminal case documents may require in-person courthouse viewing or mailed copy requests. |
| Orange County Superior Court | Case Access, Case Name Search, My Court Portal, traffic and online services. | Document remote access can be limited for probate, family law, civil harassment, and workplace violence prevention proceedings. |
| Riverside Superior Court | Public Access portal with name search and case-number search. | Name search returns matching case numbers and filing dates; verify identity and case details before relying on a match. |
| Alameda Superior Court | eCourt Public Portal and online case record portals. | Portal information is provided as-is and should be verified with official court records for important decisions. |
| Sacramento Superior Court | Public Case Access, family law case search, criminal name search, and case-number lookup. | Some searches or document access may have fees; use case number where possible to narrow results. |
California court-record fees, electronic access limits, and payment cautions
California court-record costs vary by county, court level, copy type, certification type, search method, document-image access, and delivery method. Use the specific superior court or appellate court fee page before paying.
| Item | Published detail | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic access fees | California Rule of Court 2.506 allows a court to impose fees for the costs of providing public access to electronic records. | Review county portal fee screens before submitting a name search or opening document images. |
| Official record status | Rule 2.504 says a trial court record available by electronic access is not the official record unless electronically certified by the court. | Use certified copies for immigration, licensing, court, agency, financial, or legal proof needs. |
| Courthouse-only access | California rules allow some records to be available at the courthouse even when public remote access is limited or unavailable. | A missing online document may still be viewable or requestable at the courthouse. |
| Certified court copies | California Courts guidance says copies must be requested from the court where the case was filed, and certified copies may be needed depending on the purpose. | Contact the specific court for current certification fees, page costs, postage, and payment method. |
| Local court variation | Individual superior courts publish local copy, search, certification, and document-image details. | Do not assume Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Alameda, Sacramento, or any other county uses the same portal or fee schedule. |
| Traffic ticket payment | California traffic guidance directs users to the local court named on the ticket and warns about fake traffic-fine texts. | Pay only through the official court website or courthouse, not through suspicious texts or QR codes. |
| DOJ criminal-history review | California DOJ states access to state criminal-history summary records is restricted by law, but individuals can request their own record review for accuracy and completeness. | Use DOJ for authorized criminal-history review, not for general public name-based court docket browsing. |
| PACER federal records | PACER pricing verified September 2, 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 case number and narrow date ranges before opening federal reports or documents. |
Electronic access and PACER cost estimator
Planning tool only. The official court quote, county portal checkout screen, fee schedule, receipt, or PACER cost screen controls the final amount.
How to get certified California court records
A portal screen, index result, docket summary, downloaded image, or unofficial printout is not always a certified court record. Certified copies must come from the court that maintains the case record.
For trial cases, this is usually the county superior court. For appeals, it may be the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal. For federal cases, use the specific federal court.
Examples include judgment, decree, divorce judgment, name-change order, criminal disposition, sentencing minute order, probate order, appellate opinion, mandate, or docket sheet.
Plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, authenticated copy, electronic certified copy, and agency-specific disposition letter can be different. Ask the receiving agency what it requires.
Some courts allow online copy requests or document purchases. Others require mail, in-person requests, case-search results, self-addressed envelopes, or exact fee payment.
Juvenile, adoption, family, mental health, guardianship, criminal, and sealed records may require authorization, court order, identification, or in-person review.
Do not remove staples, seals, cover sheets, ribbons, authentication pages, clerk signatures, or electronic validation data if the record must be used officially.
California Judicial Council address and why it is not the county case-record clerk
The Judicial Council of California supports statewide court administration and policy. It is not the filing clerk for every county case. For a specific court case, contact the court where the case or record was originally filed.
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102-3688
Phone: 415-865-4200
Email: JudicialCouncil@jud.ca.gov
- Statewide court information.
- Find Your Court routing.
- California court rules and self-help resources.
- Judicial administrative record procedures.
- Not county case-specific certified copies.
California appellate court records: Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal
California Appellate Courts Case Information is the official online starting point for California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal case information. It can be searched by case number, trial court case number, case caption, attorney, or party information. Court of Appeal searches can also use calendar date options.
- California Supreme Court cases.
- California Court of Appeal cases.
- Appeals from superior court judgments or orders.
- Appellate docket activity.
- Opinions, dispositions, and calendar information.
- The trial court docket may not show the full appellate history.
- The appellate case number is different from the trial court case number.
- The appeal may involve a different courthouse or district.
- Certified appellate copies come from the appellate court route.
- Federal appeals use the Ninth Circuit and PACER, not the state appellate system.
Court records vs DOJ, recorder, jail, vital, and federal records in California
California court records are not the same as criminal-history records, county recorder records, jail custody records, vital records, or federal court files.
| Question | Use this source | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a California civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, small claims, or juvenile trial case? | County superior court where the case was filed | California trial court records are kept by the superior court in each county. |
| Is there a California Supreme Court or Court of Appeal case? | California Appellate Courts Case Information | Appellate case information is separate from county superior court case access. |
| Do I need my own California criminal-history record for review? | California DOJ Record Review | DOJ state criminal-history records are separate from public court docket searches and are restricted by law. |
| Do I need a deed, mortgage, lien, property document, recorded map, or some vital-record related document? | County recorder or county clerk-recorder | Recorded instruments are not ordinary court case dockets. |
| Is someone currently in jail or recently booked? | County sheriff, city jail, or custody source | Current custody status is separate from court case disposition. |
| Do I need a birth, death, or marriage certificate? | County clerk-recorder, county vital records office, or California Department of Public Health route | Vital records are not superior court case dockets, although divorce judgments are court records. |
| Do I need a federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, or federal appellate case? | PACER and the specific federal court | Federal court records are not held in California superior court portals. |
California federal and bankruptcy court records use PACER
California superior courts and state appellate courts do not hold federal court files. Use PACER for federal district court, bankruptcy court, and federal appellate records.
- Federal civil lawsuits.
- Federal criminal cases.
- Bankruptcy cases.
- Federal appellate records.
- Federal docket reports and document images.
- Northern District of California.
- Eastern District of California.
- Central District of California.
- Southern District of California.
- California bankruptcy courts.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
- PACER Case Locator when the federal court is unknown.
California court-record privacy, sealed cases, and remote-access limits
California court records can be public, confidential, sealed, restricted, redacted, courthouse-only, or unavailable remotely depending on case type, document content, law, court rule, and court order. Remote internet access is not the same as courthouse access.
- Juvenile cases.
- Adoption and child welfare matters.
- Family law and domestic violence matters.
- Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings.
- Mental health and civil commitment matters.
- Criminal case documents not available remotely.
- Eviction records subject to access limits.
- Sealed, expunged, dismissed, or restricted records.
- Documents containing protected personal identifiers.
- Children’s names or school information.
- Victim information or protected addresses.
- Medical, mental-health, family, juvenile, or dependency details.
- Full dates of birth or personal identifiers.
- Financial account information.
- Information that could encourage harassment, retaliation, or doxxing.
What to do if your California court-record search returns no result
- Confirm the county where the case was filed.
- Try the exact case number, citation number, or appellate case number.
- Check whether the case is trial, appellate, federal, bankruptcy, recorder, jail, or DOJ-related.
- Try spelling variations, middle initials, suffixes, former names, business names, and punctuation differences.
- Use the county court’s search instructions rather than guessing search syntax.
- The record may be courthouse-only rather than remotely available.
- The document may not be imaged online.
- The case may be sealed, confidential, juvenile, adoption, family, mental-health, or restricted.
- The file may be old, archived, destroyed under retention rules, or stored off-site.
- The matter may be federal and belong in PACER.
Frequently asked questions about California court records
How do I search California court records by name?
First identify the county where the case was filed. California trial court records are kept by the superior court in the county where the case was filed, so there is no single statewide trial-court name search for all superior court cases. Use the California Find Your Court tool, then search that county court’s official case access system or contact that court’s clerk.
Is there one statewide California court records search for every county?
No. California has 58 superior courts, one in each county, and each superior court is responsible for keeping its own trial court records. Some counties have online case searches, but coverage, fees, document access, search fields, and remote access rules vary by county and case type.
Can I search California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases by party name?
Yes. California Appellate Courts Case Information allows searches for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal case information by case number, trial court case number, case caption, attorney, or party information. Appellate search is separate from county superior court case search.
Are online California court records the official court record?
Not always. California Rule of Court 2.504 says that unless electronically certified by the court, a trial court record available by electronic access is not the official record of the court. For official proof, request a certified copy from the court where the case was filed.
Why can I see some California court records at the courthouse but not online?
California remote access rules distinguish courthouse electronic access from public internet access. Some records may be public at a courthouse terminal but not available remotely, especially records in criminal, juvenile, family, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health, and other sensitive case types.
How do I get certified copies of California court records?
Contact the court where the case was filed. California Courts self-help guidance says copies of a court order, decree, judgment, or other records filed in a case come from the court where the case was filed. Depending on why you need the record, you may need a certified copy.
How much do California court record copies cost?
Fees vary by court, copy format, certification type, search time, and case type. California Rule of Court 2.506 allows courts to impose fees for costs of providing public electronic access, and local superior courts publish their own copy and certification fee details. Always verify fees with the specific court before paying.
Are California criminal court records the same as a DOJ criminal-history record?
No. A court docket is a court case record. A California DOJ criminal-history record is a separate state summary record maintained by the Department of Justice and is restricted by law. Individuals may request their own DOJ record review for accuracy and completeness, but public access to another person’s DOJ criminal-history record is not the same as searching court dockets.
Are California county recorder records the same as court records?
No. Court records include case filings, dockets, orders, judgments, decrees, calendars, indexes, and court documents. County recorder records usually include recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, maps, and some vital-record related documents. Use the county superior court for court cases and the county recorder or county clerk-recorder for recorded documents.
Where do I search California federal court records?
Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate records. California state superior court portals do not contain federal case files. If you do not know the federal court, start with PACER Case Locator, then open the specific federal district, bankruptcy, or appellate court docket.
Editorial and official-source review notes
Official sources reviewed for this California guide include Judicial Branch of California Find Your Court, California Superior Courts overview, California Courts self-help guidance for looking up cases, California Courts copy-record guidance, Public Access to Records, electronic case-record access guidance, California Rules of Court 2.503, 2.504, and 2.506, California Appellate Courts Case Information, Published and Citable Opinions, Traffic Ticket Self-Help, MyCitations, California DOJ Record Review, DOJ certified criminal-record guidance, PACER Find a Case, PACER pricing, and Judicial Council contact information. Review date: September 2, 2026.