LA Court Case Search & Dockets
Trying to find an LA court case, read its docket, check whether a hearing happened, or get the actual judgment? The quickest path starts by separating three things: finding the right case, reviewing its court activity, and obtaining its filed documents. Los Angeles Superior Court offers different tools for each task.
This guide helps you use the correct official system, search civil or criminal records by name or case number, understand docket entries, check document availability and avoid paying for the wrong search.
Independent informational guide reviewed October 2026. Verify current fees, case status and court dates with the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Which LA Court Case Search Should You Use?
“LA court” usually refers to the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. But different case categories have different public-access options. Start with the information you have rather than repeatedly trying the same search field.
Find the case and docket
Use the newer Court Access Portal first. For civil, family, probate and small-claims matters, the established Civil Case Summary tool is another direct official option.
Court Access PortalLocate a civil case number
Use the official civil party-name index for supported civil, family, probate and small-claims cases. This older service has a name-search charge.
Civil Name SearchFind a criminal case number
The criminal name index is separate and excludes traffic and other infractions. It shows matching case numbers, names, filing dates and filing locations.
Criminal Defendant SearchLook up a citation
Use the Court’s traffic services rather than paying for a criminal name search that does not cover infractions.
Select Traffic Citations on LA CourtDownload a document image
Use the Court’s Case Document Images service when the public document you need has been scanned and offered for download.
Case Document ImagesCheck the courthouse or archives
A case can exist even when it does not appear in the online search range. Keep the filing year, party names and case type ready.
Find the responsible courthouseHow to Search and Read an LA Court Docket by Case Number
A docket, also called a register of actions in many California court contexts, is a chronological record of what happened procedurally. It may show filings, hearings, notices, orders and judgments. It is not necessarily a set of downloadable documents.
- Copy the number from an official document. Preserve the letters and digits shown on the summons, minute order, complaint, judgment or court notice.
- Open the Court Access Portal. If you are using the established civil summary system, open Civil Case Access instead.
- Enter the number in the case-number field. For the established civil system, also use the filing-courthouse selector as requested.
- Verify the match. Compare the case title, court location, type and parties with the document in your possession.
- Review the case entries in date order. Look for the particular filing, hearing, judgment or later action that answers your question.
- Check subsequent activity. A later order may modify or resolve something described in an earlier docket entry.
- Save the identifying information. Keep the case number, exact document name and filing courthouse for a copy request or court inquiry.
LA Court Case Search by Name: Civil vs. Criminal
Civil, Family Law, Probate and Small Claims
Los Angeles Superior Court’s paid party-name index searches supported civil-side cases and returns the name, case type, filing date, filing location and available image count.
- Open the official civil name-search page.
- Read the coverage and fee notice.
- Choose guest or registered access as applicable.
- Enter the party’s first and last names or company name.
- Review the payment confirmation before authorizing the search.
- Compare matches using case type, year and filing courthouse.
- Save the correct case number for subsequent docket or document access.
Criminal Defendant Name Search
The criminal index provides case-number leads for defendants in criminal matters. It does not include traffic and other infractions.
- Open the official criminal name index.
- Enter the defendant’s name.
- Consider Exact Match, Starts With or Sounds Like where offered.
- Use a filing-date range if you know the approximate period.
- Authorize the fee only after checking your criteria.
- Compare the matching name, filing date and filing location.
- Open the criminal case access search with the case number.
How Far Back Can You Search LA Court Cases?
Not every case category begins in the same year. The Court’s established name indexes publish the following coverage ranges. These are not promises that every filing within the range has a downloadable image.
| Case type | Name-index range | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Civil | 1983–present | Document-image coverage varies by courthouse and date. |
| Family Law | 1983–present | Certain protected family matters have restricted access. |
| Probate | 1983–present | Older or restricted probate files may require clerk assistance. |
| Limited Civil | 1991–present | Includes relevant landlord-tenant matters, subject to access law. |
| Small Claims | 1992–present | Name index and scanned documents have different coverage dates. |
| Criminal Felony | 1980–present | Online defendant-name index. |
| Criminal Misdemeanor | 1988–present | Some information may reach 1983 depending on former Municipal Court automation. |
For earlier cases, use the relevant courthouse or the Court’s archive procedures rather than repeatedly running a name search outside its coverage. Find the responsible courthouse.
Download LA Court Document Images and Check Availability
The Court’s paid document-image service covers selected civil, small claims, family law and probate filings. A visible docket event does not guarantee that its document image is public or available online.
| Document category | Published image coverage | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Civil — Stanley Mosk | Beginning March 15, 2000 | Not all filed or generated documents are imaged. |
| Unlimited Civil — Central Civil West | On or before April 13, 2018 | Ask Stanley Mosk about eligible images unavailable electronically. |
| Limited Civil | Beginning January 1, 1970 | Confidentiality limits still apply. |
| Small Claims | Beginning January 21, 1988 | Only available scanned filings. |
| Family Law | Beginning May 1, 2000 | Protected information may not be public. |
| Probate | Beginning January 1, 2001 | Some documents require other access methods. |
- Open official Case Document Images.
- Use the known case number or the available document search fields.
- Identify the exact document by title and filing date.
- Review the image’s page count and checkout amount.
- Purchase only the document you need and save the PDF locally.
- If no image exists, contact the courthouse maintaining the case.
LA Court Name-Search and Docket Document Fees
| Legacy service | Published cost | What you are paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Guest name search | $4.75 per search | Search is charged even when no record matches. |
| Registered searches 1–10 per month | $1 each | Registered-user monthly tier. |
| Registered searches 11–99 | $4.75 each | Tier according to monthly search count. |
| Registered searches 100–999 | $4.50 each | Higher-volume tier. |
| Registered searches 1,000–10,000 | $4.25 each | Higher-volume tier. |
| Registered searches 10,001+ | $4 each | Higher-volume tier. |
| Document pages 1–5 | $1 per page | Charged per image document. |
| Document additional pages | $0.40 per page | Maximum $40 per document. |
Verify pricing on the official fee schedule before checkout.
Keep purchased results from disappearing
Guest name-search results are available for a limited period, and the Court’s online materials differ on the exact re-access window. Download or save the needed results immediately. Purchased documents remain available for 30 days after the receipt date. For guest retrieval, keep the receipt number and last four payment-card digits.
How to Find LA Court Hearing Dates and Docket Updates
If you need to know when a case is scheduled or whether a hearing produced an order, distinguish the calendar entry from the resulting minute order. The calendar tells you about scheduling; later docket records or documents may establish what actually happened.
- Locate the case by exact number in Court Access Portal.
- Confirm the assigned courthouse and case category.
- Review any available calendar, hearing or event entries.
- Record the date, time, department and courthouse if shown.
- Check later docket events or minute orders to understand the outcome.
- If attendance or a deadline depends on the information, confirm with the assigned court location using the official courthouse directory.
LA Docket Terms Explained Without Legal Jargon
The formal title of a case, usually naming key parties. It is not proof of a final outcome.
The chronological list of court case activity, filings and proceedings.
The start of an asserted civil claim or criminal charging process, depending on the case. It does not itself establish liability or guilt.
A request submitted for court action. A later order is needed to know the result.
A court record describing proceedings or orders connected to a hearing.
An outcome or status. Look at the relevant count, claim and later entries.
Indicates a court judgment entry; read the document and subsequent history when the exact effect matters.
In the applicable felony process, the court found sufficient evidence at the preliminary stage to hold the defendant for trial. It is not a conviction.
An allegation, charge, claim or case was dismissed in the stated context. Read the actual order to determine the scope.
LA Court Case Not Found: What to Do Next
| Problem | Possible reason | Useful next action |
|---|---|---|
| Case number not found | Number error, wrong courthouse, unsupported case or portal coverage. | Compare with the original court notice; check the applicable case category. |
| Person’s name missing | Name variation, wrong index, filing outside coverage or no matching record. | Confirm spelling and approximate year before paying again. |
| Traffic ticket absent | The criminal defendant index excludes infractions. | Use the Court’s Traffic Citations service. |
| Eviction case hidden | Unlawful-detainer public-access restrictions can apply. | Ask the court about permitted access; do not bypass restrictions. |
| PDF missing but entry exists | The filing may be unscanned, delayed or restricted. | Contact the filing courthouse about record copies. |
| Old case not found | Filing predates the online index. | Use the archives or assigned courthouse. |
| Federal matter not found | Federal dockets are outside California Superior Court. | Use federal court records through PACER. |
How to Obtain an Official LA Court Record
Finding a case summary is only the first task. If you need a court-file document for an agency, legal proceeding, personal records or another formal use, determine whether an ordinary copy is accepted or whether a certified copy is required.
Copy from the official case result or court notice.
Identify civil, criminal, family, probate or small claims.
Use the location from the docket or case index.
For example: judgment, minute order, dismissal, complaint, divorce decree or sentencing entry.
Plain image, ordinary copy, certified copy or other court authentication.
- Identify the case in an official LA Court search tool.
- Check Case Document Images if it is a supported civil-side filing.
- If an image is absent, identify the filing courthouse through the court directory.
- Ask that courthouse about the specific record and whether it can be provided online, by mail or in person.
- For older cases, follow the court’s archives instructions rather than assuming the file was destroyed or never existed.
- Confirm current copy and certification charges before submitting payment.
The Court has also published a Request for Copies form (ADM-080) for applicable requests. Follow the instructions relevant to the case and courthouse.
What Makes LA Court Docket Searching Different?
The assigned courthouse can determine where to verify a missing document or request a copy. Do not assume every Los Angeles case was filed at Stanley Mosk.
Some misdemeanor name-index information varies because earlier Municipal Court locations automated at different times.
The legacy name index charges for searches. Finding the case number in paperwork you already possess can avoid an unnecessary name search.
Courthouse public-access computers and clerk requests may provide different access options from the internet image service.
Unlawful-detainer search restrictions can affect visibility even if a case has been filed.
Keep receipts and promptly save purchased materials rather than relying on permanent guest-account storage.
LA Court Sources and Working Search Links
Use the following official resources when you need to complete the indicated transaction or confirm a court rule. This guide provides the process above so the links are not a substitute for practical instructions.
LA Court Case Search & Dockets: 10 FAQs
1. Where can I search an LA court case by case number?
Start with the official Los Angeles Superior Court Court Access Portal. The established Civil Case Summary system also provides case-number lookup for supported civil, small claims, family law and probate matters. Criminal Case Access is a separate official option for criminal case numbers.
2. What is an LA court docket or register of actions?
It is the chronological case activity record showing filings, court events, notices, orders and other proceedings. It is not necessarily the complete document file or an official certified copy.
3. Can I search Los Angeles Superior Court cases by name?
Yes. The Court offers a paid name index for civil, small claims, family law and probate matters and a separate criminal defendant-name search. These can identify case numbers and filing locations.
4. Is the LA Court name search free?
The established Public Access Online Services charge $4.75 per guest name search, even if no matching record is found. Registered-user name-search rates follow a monthly sliding scale. Confirm the fee before payment.
5. How far back does the LA court name index go?
The civil-side name index covers Unlimited Civil, Family Law and Probate from 1983, Limited Civil from 1991 and Small Claims from 1992. The criminal defendant index lists felony records from 1980 and misdemeanors from 1988, with some older misdemeanor data. Earlier records may require archive research.
6. Can I download an LA court judgment or filing?
Some civil, small claims, family law and probate documents can be purchased through the Court’s Case Document Images service when scanned and publicly available. Other documents may require a request to the filing courthouse.
7. How much do LA Court document images cost?
The published charge is $1 per page for the first five pages of a document and $0.40 for each additional page, with a maximum of $40 per document. Blank pages in an image can be counted.
8. Why is my LA court case or docket missing online?
Possible reasons include an incorrect case number, the wrong search category, filing outside an online index’s coverage, delayed document imaging or restricted access. Traffic cases also use different routes from the criminal defendant-name index.
9. How can I get an official certified LA court record?
Identify the case number, filing courthouse and exact document. Contact the courthouse or use the applicable Court copy-request procedure. California Rule of Court 2.504 distinguishes ordinary electronic records from court-certified official records.
10. Can I find traffic citations in the LA criminal defendant search?
No. The criminal defendant-name index excludes traffic and other infractions. Use the Los Angeles Superior Court Traffic Citations services instead.