How To Find Court Records In California

Court records refer to documents that contain information about legal proceedings filed and heard in state courts. If you want to make a quick search for these records in California, CourtCaseFinder can be your go-to platform.

Our Instant Court Case Lookup presents you with court records data compiled from available public resources in one convenient manner. You can find case numbers, filing dates, case statuses, party names, court locations, and other details, depending on the record type and issuing court.

These records can help you understand a case's outcome, track ongoing proceedings, or learn more about a court's actions.

How To Access California Public Court Records

The quickest way to access California public court records is through CourtCaseFinder, which allows you to search statewide from one platform. However, you can also use the following official government services, which require additional time and effort.

Online

When accessing California court records online, you must use the Superior Court website for the county where the case was filed.

Start by visiting the Find Your Court portal on the official California Courts website. In this portal, enter your 5-digit ZIP code or city to find the website of the relevant Superior Court. Click the link to visit that court's site, then look for an online case search or similar service.

You can typically search by case number, party name, or filing date. Keep in mind that not all records are digitized, and search features vary by county.

In-Person

You can obtain court records in California by visiting the Superior Court of the county where the case was filed. You can use the Superior Court directory to find your courthouse's location and contact information.

At the courthouse, visit the court clerk's office and provide details to help locate the case, such as the case number, involved parties, filing date, and case type.

By Mail

For this method, visit the official website of the Superior Court where the case was filed. Each court has its own mail request process. Typically, you will need to complete a request form, enclose the necessary payment, and mail it to the courthouse address.

California Court Records: What is Public and What is Not?

Court records in California are generally accessible to the public under the California Public Records Act, the state's version of the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This public access allows you to view most case information unless it is legally protected.

Information in public court records may include:

• Case numbers and filing dates
• Party names
• Case type and status
• Court location and assigned judge
• Filed documents and docket entries

However, certain records are not public or may be sealed to protect privacy or sensitive information. Common examples include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption and paternity cases
• Mental health evaluations
• Certain family law records (e.g., custody evaluations)
• Records sealed by court order

Who Oversees the Courts in California?

California's court system is managed by the Judicial Council of California. The Council oversees state-level courts, including the California Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal, and the Superior Courts.

The Judicial Council is chaired by the Chief Justice of California, who also serves as the head of the California Supreme Court. Since January 2, 2023, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero has held this position.

Article VI of the California Constitution highlights the Chief Justice's responsibilities, including expediting judicial business, equalizing workloads among judges, and assigning judges to other courts when necessary. The Chief Justice also has the authority to convene the Supreme Court at any time and chairs the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

What Types of Courts Exist in California?

California's judicial system is made up of two main levels: Trial Courts and Appellate Courts.

Trial Courts, officially known as Superior Courts, are located in each of the state's 58 counties. Above the trial level are the Appellate Courts, which consist of six regional Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court.

Each court within this structure has specific jurisdiction and handles particular types of cases based on its role in the judicial process.

Court Type	Jurisdiction	Common Case Types
Supreme Court	The highest court in the state; reviews decisions of the Courts of Appeal, has discretionary review in most cases, and mandatory review in death penalty appeals.	Death penalty appeals, constitutional issues, significant legal precedent cases, and review of lower court rulings.
Court of Appeals	Intermediate appellate courts are divided into six districts; they review final judgments from the Superior Courts except in death penalty cases.	Appeals from civil and criminal cases, writ petitions, and challenges to administrative agency decisions
Superior Courts	Trial courts handle all case types unless assigned to another court by law.	Criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, small claims, traffic.

What Federal Courts Are In California?

Federal courts differ from state courts because they have jurisdiction over matters involving federal law and the U.S. Constitution. They handle cases such as disputes between citizens of different states involving more than $75,000 (diversity jurisdiction), cases involving federal agencies, and specialized areas like bankruptcy, admiralty, and habeas corpus petitions.

In California, the federal court system is divided into four U.S. District Courts: the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts. Decisions from these trial courts may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Additionally, each district has a corresponding U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which hears cases filed under Title 11 of the U.S. Code.

Federal Court	Jurisdiction	Location & Contact Information
Northern District of California	Federal trial court covering numerous northern counties; it hears federal civil and criminal cases.	San Francisco 450 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 522-2000 Oakland 1301 Clay Street Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 637-3530 San Jose 280 South 1st Street, Room 2112 San Jose, CA 95113 Phone: (408) 535-5363 Eureka-McKinleyville 3140 Boeing Avenue McKinleyville, CA 95519 Phone: (707) 445-3612
Eastern District of California	Handles standard federal trial matters, including criminal, civil, and administrative cases in inland California areas.	Sacramento 501 I Street, Room 4-200 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 930-4000 Fresno 2500 Tulare Street, Room 1501 Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: (559) 499-5600 Redding 2986 Bechelli Lane Redding, CA 96002 Phone: (530) 246-5416 Bakersfield 510 19th Street, Suite 200 Bakersfield, CA 93301 Phone: (661) 326-6620 Yosemite 9004 Castle Cliff Court Yosemite, CA 95389 Phone: (209) 372-0320
Central District of California	Covers urban and suburban Southern/Central California. Handles a wide array of federal matters, like criminal and civil cases.	Los Angeles 350 W 1st Street, Suite 4311 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Phone: (213) 894-1565 Santa Ana 411 West 4th Street, Room 1053 Santa Ana, CA 92701 Phone: (714) 338-4750 Riverside 3470 Twelfth Street Riverside, CA 92501 Phone: (951) 328-4450
Southern District of California	Serves the southernmost counties. Deals with border-related federal matters, criminal, civil, and immigration cases.	San Diego 333 West Broadway, Suite 420, San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 557-5600 El Centro 2003 W. Adams Ave, Suite 220, El Centro, CA 92243 Phone: (760) 353-1271
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit	Federal appellate court for the western U.S., including appeals from all four California district courts. Review decisions made by district courts and set precedent.	San Francisco 95 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: (415) 355-8000 Pasadena 125 South Grand Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 Phone: (626) 229-7250
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of California	Presides over bankruptcy cases of Central and Eastern California counties.	Sacramento 501 I Street, Suite 3-200 Sacramento, California 95814 Phone: (916) 930-4400 Fresno 2500 Tulare Street, Suite 2501 Fresno, CA 93721 Phone: (559) 499-5800
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California	Handles all bankruptcy matters in the Bay Area and Northern California counties	Oakland 1300 Clay Street, Suite 300 Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (888) 821-7606 San Jose 280 South First Street, Room 3035 San Jose, CA 95113 Phone: (888) 821-7606 San Francisco 450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (888) 821-7606
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California	Oversees bankruptcy cases under Title 11 in San Diego and Imperial Counties.	San Diego 325 West F Street San Diego, California 92101 Phone: (619) 557-5620
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California	Has jurisdiction over bankruptcy proceedings of Southern California counties.	Los Angeles 255 East Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Phone: (855) 460-9641 Riverside 3420 Twelfth Street Riverside, CA 92501 Phone: (855) 460-9641 Santa Ana 411 West Fourth Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 Phone: (855) 460-9641 San Fernando Valley 21041 Burbank Boulevard Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Phone: (855) 460-9641 Northern 1415 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: (855) 460-9641

How Many Cases Are Handled Annually in California Courts?

According to the latest Court Statistics Report from the California Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court recorded 4,944 filings and 4,825 dispositions in the fiscal year 2023-2024. The Courts of Appeal handled 19,309 filings and 21,652 dispositions in the same year.

At the trial level, Superior Courts across the state processed over 4.8 million cases spanning criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. The table below shows the annual breakdown by case type:

Case Type	Approx. Annual Volume
Unlimited Civil	~279,000
Limited Civil	~530,000
Small Claim	~77,000
Felony	~180,000
Misdemeanor	~452,000
Infraction	~2,823,000
Marital	~108,000
Other Family Law	~210,000
Juvenile Delinquency	~30,000
Juvenile Dependency	~64,000
Probate	~99,000
Civil and Criminal Appeals	~3,000
Criminal Habeas Corpus	~4,000

How Do I File a Case in California Courts?

Below is a step-by-step guide for starting a case in California:

Find the Correct Court

Begin by determining which California Superior Court has jurisdiction over your case. Generally, this is the county where the dispute occurred. You can use the Find Your Court portal on the official California Courts website to identify the proper courthouse.

Complete the Required Court Forms

Once you have identified the correct court, you should fill out the appropriate legal forms for your case type. You can use the Find Your Court Forms to access the relevant form online. Some counties also require local forms, which can be found on your Superior Court's website.

File the Forms With Your Superior Court

After completing the required forms, you must file them with the Superior Court. This can usually be done in one of three ways:

• In Person: Bring your completed forms to the courthouse clerk's office in the county where you are filing.
• By Mail: Mail your forms to the court's mailing address. Be sure to provide the correct filing fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return copies.
• Online: Many California counties offer e-filing systems for specific case types. You can check your court's website to see if electronic filing is available.

Pay the Filing Fees

When filing a case in California, you are generally required to pay a filing fee. The exact amount depends on the type of case. You can contact your Superior Court to obtain filing fee information. You can also utilize the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule if your case type is civil.

If you cannot afford the fee, you may request a fee waiver by submitting the Request to Waive Court Fees (Form FW-001). The court will review your application and determine if you qualify based on income or financial hardship.

Once your payment (or waiver approval) is processed, your case officially moves forward in the court system.

Serve the Other Party

After your case is filed, you are required to notify the other party that a lawsuit or legal action has been initiated. You must provide the other party with copies of the court forms filed and a summons. Service must be done by someone over 18 who is not a party to the case (such as a friend, the county sheriff, or a professional process server).

Refer to the Serving Court Papers to find detailed instructions for this process.

How Is the California Court System Unique?

Unlike many states that divide their trial-level courts into circuit, district, or county courts, California has a single trial court system: the Superior Court. This unified structure, made possible by Proposition 220 (1998), consolidated the state's municipal and superior courts into one trial court level.

As a result, Superior Courts now handle every type of case from criminal and civil matters to family law, probate, juvenile, and small claims under one system. This design simplifies court organization and promotes consistency and efficiency across the state.

California Courthouses, Sheriff's Offices, Police Departments, Jails, & Prisons

• Alameda
• Alpine
• Amador
• Butte
• Calaveras
• Colusa
• Contra Costa
• Del Norte
• El Dorado
• Fresno
• Glenn
• Humboldt
• Imperial
• Inyo
• Kern
• Kings
• Lake
• Lassen
• Los Angeles
• Madera
• Marin
• Mariposa
• Mendocino
• Merced
• Modoc
• Mono
• Monterey
• Napa
• Nevada
• Orange
• Placer
• Plumas
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Benito
• San Bernardino
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Joaquin
• San Luis Obispo
• San Mateo
• Santa Barbara
• Santa Clara
• Santa Cruz
• Shasta
• Sierra
• Siskiyou
• Solano
• Sonoma
• Stanislaus
• Sutter
• Tehama
• Trinity
• Tulare
• Tuolumne
• Ventura
• Yolo
• Yuba

Where to Find Additional Information About California Courts?

• California Courts
• Superior Court of California
• California District Courts
• Judicial Branch of California

FAQs