California Court Records Search

California Court Records & Case Lookup

At least 4 million cases are filed in California courts annually. About 730,000 of these are civil cases (small claims inclusive), while criminal matters (felony, misdemeanor, and infraction filings) account for nearly 3.2 million of the court's total caseload. California courts also handle approximately 170,000 family law and juvenile cases and 160,000 probate-related matters every year.

California court records are generally considered public records, meaning that they may be accessed by any interested party, in line with the California Public Records Act and California Rules of Court. Note that certain records or information in a record are exempt from public disclosure and restricted to authorized parties – this is usually done to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. Examples of these restricted records/information include juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency records, information related to mental health or victims of certain crimes (usually domestic violence and child abuse-related), adoption records, fee waiver applications, and sealed records.

California court records can be accessed through several options, both in person and remotely. It should be noted that the California judicial branch does not offer a centralized database for looking up court records online. However, several Superior Courts offer this option, usually through their official websites.

State of California Court System

The California court system is the largest in the country, with about 450 court buildings across the state serving over 39 million people (approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population). This court system is made up of several courts operating a hierarchical structure with three main levels: a Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Superior Courts.

The Supreme Court is the highest authority in California's judicial system and has the final say over all legal matters filed in the state. The Courts of Appeals are intermediate appellate courts that review all cases from the Superior Courts, excluding capital punishment cases, which are appealed directed to the Supreme Court. The state's court system is geographically organized into six districts, and a Court of Appeal serves the counties located in each district. Even though the decisions reached in these courts can be further appealed to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court usually only accepts a small percentage of these cases. This makes the California Courts of Appeal the court of final decision for most legal matters in the state.

At the lowest level are the Superior Courts, which are the state's trial courts. Most cases filed in California begin in these courts.

California Trial Courts

Before 1998, California's trial court structure comprised Superior and Municipal Courts. However, after Proposition 220 was passed, the trial courts in each county were unified into a singular entity – the Superior Courts:

California Superior Courts

There are 58 Superior Courts in California – one in each county. These courts have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil matters filed in the state. Cases in the Superior Courts are heard by a single judge, sometimes with a jury, who listens to witness testimonies and reviews evidence, then makes decisions by applying the appropriate law to the facts of the case.

Depending on the county, the Superior Court may have specialized divisions to handle specific types of cases, such as small claims, probate, and juvenile matters. Decisions reached in these courts can be appealed to the district's Court of Appeal; however, verdicts involving the death sentence are automatically appealed to the Supreme Court.

What are the Specialty Courts in California?

In addition to the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, and Superior Courts, California operates Collaborative Justice Courts. These courts, which are also called "problem solving courts", are specialty courts that combine judicial oversight with rehabilitation services. California's Collaborative Justice Courts offer certain eligible offenders an alternative to traditional incarceration and focus on reducing recidivism through the use of intensive, closely monitored, treatment and rehabilitation programs.

There are over 400 Collaborative Justice Courts across California, with some jurisdictions having four or more of these courts; however, there are currently none in Alpine and Colusa. The most common Collaborative Justice Courts in the state include:

• Adult Drug Courts
• Adult Mental Health Courts
• Veterans' Courts
• Dependency Drug Courts
• Juvenile Drug Courts
• DUI Courts
• Reentry Courts
• Homeless Courts
• Community Courts
• Juvenile Mental Health Courts

California State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

The main difference between a state and federal court record in California is where the record in question was generated. California state court records generally refer to documents and information created or received (concerning a legal proceeding) by any of the courts in the state's judicial branch. On the other hand, federal court records are records generated from cases handled by the federal courts located in California, namely:

• The United States District Court for the Central District of California
• The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
• The United States District Court for the Northern District of California
• The United States District Court for the Southern District of California

These federal courts are distinct from the state's court system and typically handle cases involving constitutional matters, federal crimes, disputes between states, and other matters involving federal law. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (which hears appeals on federal cases filed in Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington) is also headquartered in San Francisco.

California state court records are primarily accessed through the clerk's office in the court that handled the case, while federal court records can be accessed via Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) – a centralized database maintained by the federal judiciary.

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in California?

While California court records are generally considered public information, certain records are sealed or deemed confidential, and access to these records is limited. This is usually done to protect the privacy of the individuals named on the record. Here are examples of common public and restricted/confidential California court records:

How To Seal or Expunge California Court Records

The California judicial branch offers several options for individuals who have been arrested for, or convicted of, certain offenses to clean their record. These options generally include having a conviction reduced (from a felony to a misdemeanor or from a misdemeanor to an infraction) or dismissed. In some cases, the record may be sealed and/or destroyed. Sealing a record generally makes it inaccessible to the public, while destroying it completely erases the record.

Individuals who wish to have their records cleaned must meet certain criteria, such as:

• They must have completed the sentence imposed.
• The mandatory waiting period must have elapsed before applying. This is usually a minimum of one year for misdemeanor convictions and two years for felony convictions.
• They must not have been convicted for any crimes during the waiting period or have any pending charges against them.

Note that certain offenses are ineligible for the state's record-cleaning process. These include domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and violent offenses as well as offenses that require registration as a sex offender.

How To Seal Court Records in California

Individuals looking to have their records sealed in California generally have to file a petition with the court that handled the case. The specific requirements and eligibility criteria for the sealing process vary by case type:

• Juvenile Records: certain juvenile records are automatically sealed in California. These include non-violent offenses and cases where the minor has completed a deferred entry of judgment probation or diversion program. Offenders who do not qualify for automatic sealing may still petition the court to have their records sealed, provided that they are at least 18 years old or at least five years have passed since the case was closed. This process typically requires the submission of a Request to Seal Juvenile Records (Form JV-595) or any other applicable forms provided by the local court or probation department.
• Arrest with No Conviction: individuals who were arrested but not convicted (either due to no charges being filed, the charges being dismissed, or a "not guilty" verdict) can get their records sealed under California Penal Code Section 851.91. Eligible parties can initiate the sealing process by filing a Petition to Seal Arrest and Related Records (Form CR-409) with the appropriate court. In certain cases, the records may also be destroyed. However, this outcome is quite rare and only happens if the person can prove "factual innocence", which involves convincing a judge that there was no reason for the arrest in the first place.
• Human Trafficking-Related Records: victims of human trafficking who were arrested or convicted of non-violent offenses may petition the court to have their records vacated. If the court grants this request, the arrest and convictions (if any) will be deemed to not have occurred, and all records related to the incident will be sealed and destroyed. There is no statewide form for filing this request. However, the petitioner must convince the court that the arrest or conviction was a direct result of being a human trafficking victim.

In all cases, the court will review the petition to determine the individual's eligibility and may also consider relevant factors, like the person's criminal history, before making its decision.

How To Expunge Court Records in California

California does not typically offer true expungements (destruction or deletion of a record). Nonetheless, offenders can seek relief from the court by requesting to have their conviction dismissed. Individuals who wish to do this may use a Petition for Dismissal (Form CR-180) to initiate the process.

If the dismissal request is granted, the individual may legally claim to have no convictions for most purposes, including job applications. However, they must disclose the conviction for applications involving public office, licensure by a state or local agency, and California State Lottery contracts. Note that dismissed convictions are still public records and case information involving the incident will remain accessible via public databases. Dismissals also do not restore the individual's gun rights or driving privileges and will be considered during any future criminal proceedings involving the offender.

How Do You Access State of California Court Records?

California courts generally create and maintain records of cases filed within their respective jurisdictions. These court records can be accessed through two main methods:

• By visiting the courthouse where the case was filed to view paper or electronic case records.
• By remotely accessing electronic case records over the internet - several Superior Courts offer this option through their respective websites or approved third-party databases.

Online Access To California Court Records

Most Superior Courts in California provide online access to trial court case records, usually through their respective websites. However, it should be noted that, per California Rule of Court 2.503, certain court records cannot be accessed remotely and may only be viewed at the courthouse. These include:

• Criminal case records
• Family law records, including divorce, legal separation, child support, custody, and domestic violence cases
• Juvenile court records
• Guardianship or conservatorship records
• Mental health case records
• Case records for proceedings involving settling claims of minors or disabled individuals
• Civil harassment case records
• Elder or dependent adult abuse prevention case records

Interested parties can also access case information from the state's Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal online via the California Appellate Courts Case Information System.

In-Person Access To State of California Court Records

While online access is convenient for searching for California court records, certain records can only be accessed in person at the courthouse where the case was heard. There are two types of records available at courthouses: paper case records, which are the official court records, and electronic court records, which are paper records stored in an electronic format. Note that not all court records are available electronically.

Individuals who wish to access California court records in person are typically expected to have certain relevant information needed to facilitate a search for the records. This usually includes the names of the parties involved and pertinent details of the case. Parties who wish to obtain copies of paper case records may also be required to complete a request form, provide ID, and pay a fee. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to contact the court beforehand to find out if they have any specific requirements or procedures for in-person record requests.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Interested parties may request judicial administrative records from California's appellate courts (the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals) or the Judicial Council of California by mailing a completed Request for Judicial Administrative Records Form to:

The completed form may also be submitted via email.

Requests for judicial administrative records from the Superior Courts should be directed to the specific court that maintains the record in question. Be aware that the payment of a fee may be required to obtain these records.

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in California

Older trial court records in California are typically archived locally by the Superior Court that handled this case. Some of these courts even have dedicated offices or divisions that handle this task and provide access to the records upon request. On the other hand, older appellate court records are generally available through the California State Archives.

Copies of these older/archived California court records may be retrieved by submitting a formal request to the appropriate record custodian. Note that the payment of a fee is often required to cover the cost of locating and copying the requested records.