Los Angeles County CA Superior Court: Case Search & Records
Searching a Los Angeles Superior Court case is much easier when you begin with one honest question: do you already have the case number? If yes, start with the Court’s case-access tools. If you only have a person or business name, the name indexes can help—but some searches carry a fee even when no matching record appears.
Independent public-information guide reviewed September 2026. Always confirm fees, access limits, case status, courthouse assignment and certified-copy rules on the official court website before relying on a record.
Which Los Angeles Superior Court Search Should You Use?
Los Angeles County court records are not searched through one universal public box. The right path depends on your clue: a case number, a party name, a defendant name, a traffic citation, a divorce judgment, or an older file that may require an archive request.
Use the Court Access Portal or the official Access a Case route before paying for a name search.
Open Court Access Portal →Use the civil name index for Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate cases.
Open civil name search →Use the separate criminal defendant-name index to locate a criminal case number and filing location.
Open criminal defendant search →Traffic and other infractions are not part of the criminal defendant-name search.
Open traffic services →Older records may require the Archives & Records Center or the courthouse that handled the case.
Check archive instructions →Use the official copy request process when a plain online PDF is not enough.
Open ADM-080 copy request PDF →New Court Access Portal vs. Older Public Access Services
Los Angeles Superior Court announced a new unified Court Access Portal in 2026. It is the better starting point when you already have a case number. The older Public Access Online Services are still useful for paid name searches and document-image purchases, especially when you are trying to discover the case number first.
Court Access Portal
Use this when you already have the case number and want to review available case information through the newer court access system.
Open Court Access PortalLegacy Name Search & Document Images
Use these when you need a civil, family, probate, small claims or criminal defendant name index, or when you need to purchase available document images.
Review official Public Access Online ServicesHow to Search a Los Angeles Superior Court Case by Case Number
A case number is usually the cleanest way to search. It reduces same-name mistakes and may save you from paying for a name search when the number is already printed on a court notice, minute order, judgment, citation, attorney letter or previous filing.
- Copy the case number exactly. Keep letters, year digits, spaces and separators as shown on the court paper.
- Open the official Court Access Portal. Go to cap.lacourt.ca.gov, not a commercial people-search website.
- Enter the case number first. If the search fails, compare the number with the original notice before changing other details.
- Confirm the case identity. Compare case title, party names, case type, filing date and filing courthouse.
- Read the docket in order. Later entries can change the meaning of earlier filings, hearings or motions.
- Open documents only after verifying the case. Not every docket entry has a public online image.
- Save the case number and filing location. You will need both for courthouse questions, copy requests and certified records.
How to Search Los Angeles Superior Court Cases by Name
Los Angeles separates civil-side name searches from criminal defendant-name searches. Choosing the wrong one wastes time and can also waste money.
Search for Case Number by Name
This official index searches available Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate cases by litigant name. It can return names, case types, filing dates, filing locations and available imaged-document counts.
- Open the official civil-side name-search page.
- Choose guest or registered access.
- Enter the person’s name or business name carefully.
- Review the fee notice before submitting.
- Compare filing date, case type and filing location across likely matches.
- Save the case number before purchasing any document image.
Search for Criminal Case Number by Defendant Name
This search is for Los Angeles Superior Court criminal cases. It is not the correct route for 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 to continue into case-summary or document-access tools.
Online Name-Index Coverage Listed by LA Court
| Case category | Online range | If your case is older |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Civil | 1983 to present | Contact Archives or the courthouse that maintains the case. |
| Family Law | 1983 to present | Use archive or copy-request instructions. |
| 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 the archive/courthouse route. |
| Criminal misdemeanor | 1988 to present | Some misdemeanor information reaches 1983 depending on former Municipal Court automation; otherwise check Archives. |
Los Angeles Superior Court Name Search & Document Fees
The Court’s legacy Public Access Online Services charge separate fees for name searches and document images. Confirm the live checkout screen before authorizing payment.
| Service | Published charge | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Guest name search | $4.75 per search | The charge applies even if no matching record is found. |
| Registered searches 1–10/month | $1.00 each | Registered-user pricing uses a monthly sliding scale. |
| Registered searches 11–99/month | $4.75 each | The monthly counter resets at the beginning of each month. |
| Registered searches 100–999/month | $4.50 each | Mainly relevant to higher-volume users. |
| Registered searches 1,000–10,000/month | $4.25 each | Confirm the live fee schedule before use. |
| Registered searches 10,001+/month | $4.00 each | Confirm the live fee schedule before use. |
| Document image pages 1–5 | $1.00 per page | Charged for each document downloaded. |
| Document image page 6 onward | $0.40 per additional page | The Court lists a $40 maximum per document. |
Can You View Los Angeles Superior Court Documents Online?
Sometimes. A case summary or docket shows court activity. A document image lets you view a scanned filing or order when it has been imaged and is available for remote public access. Some documents are not online because they are confidential, sealed, filed in a courtroom, not yet imaged or outside the available date range.
| Document category | Online image coverage | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Civil | Stanley Mosk and Central Civil West coverage beginning March 15, 2000, with listed local conditions | Not every filed or court-generated document is available. |
| Limited Civil, including unlawful detainer | January 1, 1970 to present | Public-access restrictions may still apply. |
| Small Claims | January 21, 1988 to present | Availability depends on imaging and public access status. |
| Family Law | May 1, 2000 to present | Some family records are restricted from remote public access. |
| Probate | January 1, 2001 to present | Not all probate filings are publicly viewable or imaged. |
- Find the correct case number first. The document-image service requires a valid case number.
- Open the official Case Document Images service. Use LA Court Case Document Images.
- Check whether the document is listed. A docket entry may exist even when a document image is not available.
- Review page count and price. Blank pages may be included in the page count.
- Download and save the PDF promptly. Do not assume guest access keeps the file forever.
How to Request Los Angeles Superior Court Records & Certified Copies
A downloaded image can be useful, 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 by electronic access is not the official record of the court.
Case summary / docket
Good for locating filings, hearing history, parties, dates and case status. Not automatically a certified copy.
Downloaded document image
A scanned PDF of an available filing or order. Useful for reading the document, but certification is separate.
Certified copy
A copy authenticated through the court’s authorized certification or copy process.
Prepare these details before requesting copies
Archives & Records Center
222 North Hill Street, Room 212Los Angeles, CA 90012
Use the archive route for older files or records that are not available through the online systems. Verify current procedures before visiting.
Official archive instructionsRequest for Copies — ADM-080
Use this Los Angeles Superior Court form to request copies of specific documents and identify certification needs.
Open ADM-080 PDFNo Case Found? What It Usually Means
A no-result screen does not always mean no case exists. In Los Angeles, it can mean the wrong search type, a spelling issue, a filing outside online coverage, a traffic matter searched in the criminal index, a restricted case, or a record that must be requested from a courthouse or archive.
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next move |
|---|---|---|
| Case number returns nothing | Formatting issue, wrong court system or unavailable online record. | Compare the number with the original notice and confirm it is a Los Angeles Superior Court case. |
| Name search returns nothing | Name variation, wrong category, old filing or no record in that index. | Check spelling, former names, case type and coverage year before paying again. |
| Ticket not found in criminal search | Traffic and other infractions are not in the criminal defendant-name search. | Use the official Traffic services page. |
| Docket exists but PDF is missing | Document may not be imaged, may be delayed or may not be remotely public. | Contact the courthouse handling the case or use the copy request process. |
| Older case does not appear | The filing predates online coverage. | Use Archives & Records Center or the responsible courthouse. |
| Eviction case missing | Unlawful-detainer access can be restricted by California law. | Use only the court’s authorized access process. |
| Juvenile, sealed or confidential matter | Remote public access may be prohibited or limited. | Check official division instructions for authorized access rules. |
Local Tips That Save Time in LA County
Los Angeles Superior Court matters are handled across many courthouse locations. The filing location is important.
Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street is a major downtown courthouse, but many cases are handled elsewhere.
If a document is not available remotely, courthouse access may be different from internet access.
Birth, death, marriage and many recorded-property documents are not Superior Court case records.
Some older misdemeanor information depends on when former Municipal Court locations automated their records.
Court staff can route you better when you have case number, filing location, case type and requested document title ready.
Common Los Angeles Court Record Terms
Official Sources Used for This Guide
These links are included because they help complete a real court-record task. Commercial background-check and people-search sites are not substitutes for the court of record.
Los Angeles Superior Court Case Search & Records FAQs
1. Where should I start a Los Angeles Superior Court case search in 2026?
If you already have the case number, start with the Los Angeles Superior Court Court Access Portal. If you do not know the case number, use the civil-side name search or criminal defendant-name search depending on the case type.
2. Can I search Los Angeles Superior Court cases by name?
Yes. The Court provides a civil-side name index for Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate cases and a separate criminal defendant-name search for criminal cases. Traffic and other infractions are not included in the criminal defendant-name search.
3. How much does a Los Angeles Superior Court name search cost?
The Court currently lists a $4.75 fee per guest name search. Registered-user pricing uses a monthly sliding scale, beginning at $1.00 each for searches 1 through 10. Always confirm the live payment screen before authorizing a transaction.
4. Will I be charged if a name search finds no case?
Yes. Los Angeles Superior Court states that the name-search fee applies regardless of the number of results returned. Check spelling, case type, filing year and any case-number clues before paying for repeated searches.
5. How far back does the Los Angeles Superior Court online name index go?
The Court lists Unlimited Civil, Family Law and Probate coverage from 1983 to the present, Limited Civil from 1991, Small Claims from 1992, criminal felony records from 1980, and criminal misdemeanor records from 1988, with some older misdemeanor information depending on former Municipal Court automation.
6. Can I download Los Angeles Superior Court documents online?
Many civil-side case document images can be downloaded when they have been imaged and are available for public access. The service covers listed Civil, Limited Civil, Small Claims, Family Law and Probate categories, but not every filing is available online.
7. Is an online PDF the same as a certified court copy?
No. 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. Use the Court’s copy or certification process when certification is required.
8. Why can’t I find an eviction, juvenile, sealed or confidential case online?
Some records are restricted from remote public access by law, court rule or court order. Sealed and confidential records, certain records involving minors, and some unlawful-detainer information may not be publicly available online.
9. Where do I look for an older Los Angeles Superior Court record?
If the case predates online coverage or is not available electronically, check the Los Angeles Superior Court Archives & Records Center or the courthouse responsible for the case. Prepare the case number, party names, case type and approximate filing date before requesting help.
10. Are traffic tickets included in the criminal defendant-name search?
No. Los Angeles Superior Court states that traffic and other infractions are not included in the criminal defendant-name search. Use the Court’s Traffic services for citations and infraction matters.