LA Superior Court: Case Search & Records
The LA Superior Court record system is easiest to use when you separate three jobs: finding the case number, reading available case information or document images, and requesting an official copy when proof is required. The right starting point depends on what you already know.
Independent guide reviewed September 2026. Confirm case status, court location, fees, copy rules, document availability and certification requirements directly with the official LA Superior Court website before relying on a result.
Which LA Superior Court Search Should You Use?
LA Superior Court records do not all live behind one simple public search box. A case number, party name, defendant name, traffic citation, document image, divorce judgment, older case file, and certified copy each point you toward a different official route.
Start with the Court Access Portal or official Access a Case services instead of paying for a name search.
Open Court Access Portal →Use the civil/family/probate/small-claims name index to locate a possible case number and filing location.
Open civil name index →Use the separate criminal defendant-name index. Do not use this route for ordinary traffic infractions.
Open criminal defendant search →Traffic and other infractions use LA Court Traffic services, not the criminal defendant-name search.
Open Traffic services →Use Archives & Records Center or the courthouse connected to the case instead of repeating paid searches.
Open Archives information →An ordinary online view or PDF is not automatically a certified court record. Use the official copy/certification process.
Open ADM-080 Request for Copies →Court Access Portal vs. Older LA Court Public Access Services
LA Superior Court has been moving users toward a newer Court Access Portal for case information, while older Public Access Online Services remain important for paid name searches and document-image purchases. This overlap is why many older web guides send users to the wrong starting point.
Court Access Portal
Best first stop when you already know the case number and want to check available case information from the court’s newer case-access route.
Open Court Access PortalPublic Access Online Services
Best when you only know a civil party name, probate/family/small-claims party name, criminal defendant name, or need an available document image.
Review guest access and receiptsHow to Search LA Superior Court by Case Number
A case number is the strongest search key because it avoids many same-name mistakes. It also helps when you later request copies, certification, archived records, or help from a courthouse business office.
- Copy the case number exactly. Keep letters, year digits, spaces, prefixes and separators as printed on the court document.
- Open the official Court Access Portal. Use cap.lacourt.ca.gov or the official Access a Case page.
- Search the case number before using a name search. If the first attempt fails, compare the number with the original notice before changing other details.
- Confirm the case identity. Compare the case title, party names, filing date, case type, courthouse or filing location, and any available summary.
- Read the timeline, not one entry. A filing, motion, hearing, order, dismissal, judgment, or sentence can be followed by later activity that changes the practical meaning.
- Open document images only after confirming the case. Some documents are imaged and public online; others are not available remotely or require a copy request.
- Save the case number and filing location. Those two details are critical for archives, copy requests, certification, and courthouse questions.
LA Superior Court Name Search: Civil, Family, Probate, Small Claims and Criminal
LA Superior Court separates civil-side name searches from criminal defendant-name searches. Pick the wrong index and you may miss the record or pay for a search that was never designed for your case type.
Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate
Use this index when the case involves civil lawsuits, small claims, family law, divorce-related filings, probate, estates, or similar civil-side matters.
- Open the official civil-side name index.
- Choose guest or registered access.
- Enter the litigant or business name carefully.
- Review the fee notice before submitting.
- Compare filing date, case type, party names and filing location.
- Record the case number before buying document images.
Criminal Defendant Name Search
Use this route when you need a criminal case number from a defendant name. The criminal name index does not include traffic or other infractions.
- Open the official criminal defendant-name search.
- Enter the defendant name.
- Use Exact Match, Starts With, or Sounds Like carefully.
- Add a filing-date range if you have a reliable year clue.
- Compare defendant name, filing date and filing location.
- Use the resulting case number in case-summary or document-access tools.
Online name-index coverage listed by LA Court
| Case category | Online name-index range | If older or missing |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Civil | 1983 to present | Use Archives or the responsible courthouse route. |
| Family Law | 1983 to present | Check Archives or the divorce/copy route. |
| Probate | 1983 to present | Ask Archives about availability. |
| Limited Civil | 1991 to present | Use archive/courthouse research. |
| Small Claims | 1992 to present | Check Archives or the responsible courthouse. |
| Criminal felony | 1980 to present | Use archive/courthouse route. |
| Criminal misdemeanor | 1988 to present, with some information reaching 1983 depending on former Municipal Court automation | Contact the relevant courthouse or Archives. |
LA Superior Court Search Fees and Document Image Costs
LA Court’s older Public Access Online Services charge separate fees for name searches and document images. Always confirm the live fee screen before paying because court systems and payment processors can change.
| Service | Published charge | What to know before paying |
|---|---|---|
| Guest name search | $4.75 per search | The fee applies even if the name search returns no matching record. |
| Registered searches 1–10/month | $1.00 each | Registered-user pricing begins lower, then changes by monthly volume. |
| Registered searches 11–99/month | $4.75 each | Count resets monthly; confirm the active schedule. |
| Registered searches 100–999/month | $4.50 each | Usually relevant to higher-volume users. |
| Registered searches 1,000–10,000/month | $4.25 each | Confirm the live fee page before relying on volume pricing. |
| Registered searches 10,001+/month | $4.00 each | Confirm active pricing and account rules. |
| Document image pages 1–5 | $1.00 per page | Charged by document image page count. |
| Document image page 6 onward | $0.40 per additional page | The court lists a maximum of $40 per document. |
Check LA Court’s live Public Access Online Services fee page
Can You View LA Superior Court Documents Online?
Sometimes. A case summary or docket tells you that an event happened; a document image lets you read an available scanned filing or order. LA Court’s document-image service covers several civil-side categories, but not every document is imaged, public, or downloadable online.
| Document category | Online image coverage listed by LA Court | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Civil | Stanley Mosk and Central Civil West coverage beginning March 15, 2000, with listed local conditions | Not every filing or court-generated document is available. |
| Limited Civil, including unlawful detainer | January 1, 1970 to present | Public access restrictions may still apply to certain records. |
| Small Claims | January 21, 1988 to present | Availability depends on imaging and public-access status. |
| Family Law | May 1, 2000 to present | Some family matters and protected information are restricted. |
| Probate | January 1, 2001 to present | Not all probate filings are publicly viewable or imaged. |
- Find the correct case first. Use case number whenever possible.
- Open the official Case Document Images service. Use the court’s document-image tool, not a third-party records page.
- Review the available document list. A docket entry can exist even when an image is not offered for online purchase.
- Check the page count and fee. Make sure you are buying the right document from the right case.
- Download purchased PDFs promptly. Guest access and receipt-based retrieval are time-limited.
How to Request LA Superior Court Records and Certified Copies
A downloaded image or case-summary screen may be useful for research, but it is not automatically a certified court record. California Rule of Court 2.504 says that, unless electronically certified by the court, a trial-court record available through electronic access is not the official record of the court.
Case summary or docket
Good for locating the case, parties, filings, hearings, status and activity. Not automatically official proof.
Downloaded document image
Useful when you need to read the filing or order, but certification is a separate court process.
Certified copy
Needed when an agency, court, employer, title company, school, or other recipient requires authenticated proof.
Prepare this before requesting copies
The most helpful identifier for routing your request.
Include plaintiff/defendant, petitioner/respondent, estate name, or defendant name.
Examples: judgment, minute order, complaint, dismissal, decree, letters, order, or entire file where permitted.
Helps distinguish similar filings.
Plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, divorce judgment copy, or other requested format.
Archives & Records Center
The Archives and Records Center assists with public access to court records, locating case numbers, processing mail requests and viewing historical documents for general jurisdiction court cases filed in Los Angeles County.
Open Archives informationRequest for Copies — ADM-080
Use the Request for Copies form when you need the court to locate and provide copies of specific records.
Open ADM-080 PDFNo LA Superior Court Record Found? Use This Recovery Path
“No results” does not always mean no case exists. It can mean you used the wrong system, a name variation, a case outside online coverage, an old file, a restricted record, or a traffic matter searched in the wrong place.
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next move |
|---|---|---|
| Case number returns nothing | Wrong format, wrong court system, old file, or record not exposed through that portal. | Compare the number with the original notice and confirm it is an LA Superior Court case. |
| Name search returns nothing | Name variation, wrong index, wrong case category, filing outside online coverage, or no matching record. | Check spelling, former names, business suffixes, case type and approximate filing year before paying again. |
| Traffic ticket missing from criminal search | Traffic and other infractions are not included in the criminal defendant-name search. | Use LA Court Traffic services. |
| Docket exists but PDF is missing | Document may not be imaged, may be delayed, or may not be available for remote public access. | Use the courthouse, copy request or Archives route. |
| Older case does not appear | The filing may predate the online index or document image coverage. | Use the Archives & Records Center or the filing courthouse. |
| Unlawful-detainer case not visible | California law restricts public access to some unlawful-detainer case information during an initial period and in some outcomes. | Use only authorized court access routes. |
| Juvenile, sealed or confidential matter | Public remote access may be prohibited or limited. | Follow the official court process for authorized access. |
Local LA Superior Court Tips That Save Time
Do not assume every case is handled downtown. The filing location or courthouse listed in the result matters.
Stanley Mosk Courthouse handles many civil/family/probate workflows, but LA Superior Court cases are spread across multiple courthouse locations.
Some records may be viewable at courthouse public access terminals even when not downloadable online.
That pairing helps with Archives, copy requests, document-image gaps, and courthouse-specific questions.
Birth, death and many marriage records are not ordinary LA Superior Court case records.
A complaint, motion, charge or request being filed does not prove the final outcome. Look for orders, judgments, dismissals and dispositions.
Terms You Will See in LA Superior Court Searches
Official Links Used for This LA Superior Court Guide
These links are included because they help complete real court-record tasks: finding a case, searching by name, buying available images, requesting copies, checking Archives, finding a courthouse, and understanding electronic-record limits.
LA Superior Court Case Search & Records FAQs
1. Where should I start an LA Superior Court case search?
If you already have the case number, start with the Court Access Portal or official Access a Case services. If you only know a name, use the civil-side name index for Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate cases, or the criminal defendant-name index for criminal cases.
2. Can I search LA Superior Court cases by name?
Yes. LA Superior Court provides a civil-side name index for Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate cases and a separate criminal defendant-name index. A name match is only a lead, so compare case number, filing date, case type and filing location before relying on it.
3. How much does an LA Superior Court name search cost?
The court’s Public Access Online Services fee page lists a $4.75 fee for guest name searches and a monthly sliding scale for registered users. Confirm the current amount on the live fee or checkout screen before paying.
4. Will I be charged if a name search finds no case?
Yes. The guest name-search fee is charged for performing the search and can apply even if no matching record is found. Check spelling, former names, case type, filing year and any case-number clues before submitting repeated searches.
5. Are traffic tickets included in the criminal defendant-name search?
No. LA Superior Court states that the criminal defendant-name search does not include traffic or other infractions. Use LA Court Traffic services for ticket, citation and traffic-case questions.
6. Can I download LA Superior Court documents online?
Some Civil, Limited Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate document images are available online when imaged and public. Not every docket entry has an image, and confidential, sealed or restricted records may not be remotely available.
7. Is an online LA Court PDF the same as a certified court copy?
No. California Rule of Court 2.504 states that, unless electronically certified by the court, a trial-court record available through electronic access is not the official record of the court. Use the court’s copy or certification process when official proof is required.
8. Where do I look for older LA Superior Court records?
If the case predates online coverage or the document is not available electronically, check the Archives & Records Center or the courthouse connected to the case. Prepare the case number, party names, case type, filing location and approximate filing year.
9. How do I request copies of LA Superior Court records?
Use the court’s copy-request instructions and the ADM-080 Request for Copies form when appropriate. Include the case number, case name, requested documents, approximate dates, copy type and payment or mailing details requested by the court.
10. Why can’t I find a sealed, juvenile, family, probate or eviction record online?
Some records are restricted by statute, court rule, privacy law or court order. Sealed, confidential, protected minor-related, some family/probate, and certain unlawful-detainer records may not be available through ordinary remote public search. Use the official authorized access process.