Los Angeles Court Records
Los Angeles court records are filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the largest trial court system in the United States. The city of Los Angeles has roughly 3.9 million residents, and all court cases go through the county superior court. Multiple courthouse locations serve different parts of the city. You can search civil, criminal, family law, and small claims court records through online portals or visit a courthouse in person. This page covers how to find and access court records for cases filed in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Court Records Quick Facts
Where Los Angeles Court Records Are Filed
All court cases in Los Angeles go through the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The city does not have its own court system. Instead, the county court handles everything. Several courthouses serve the city of Los Angeles directly. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street is the main civil courthouse in downtown. The Metropolitan Courthouse at 1945 South Hill Street handles traffic and minor cases. The Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center covers major criminal matters.
Which courthouse handles your case depends on the case type and where the events took place. Traffic tickets, for example, go to the courthouse nearest the violation. Civil lawsuits often file at Stanley Mosk or at a branch courthouse. The LA Superior Court website has a tool to help you figure out which location holds the case you need. This is the first step when looking for court records in Los Angeles.
| Main Civil Court | Stanley Mosk Courthouse 111 N. Hill Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:10 PM |
| onlineServices@lacourt.org |
Search Los Angeles Court Records Online
The LA Superior Court has online search tools for court records. The civil case index lets you search by name for cases in civil, small claims, family law, and probate. Guest users pay $4.75 per search. Unlimited civil and family law cases go back to 1983 in the system. Limited civil starts at 1991, and small claims from 1992.
That tool connects to the statewide court finder that helps you locate the right courthouse for your area in Los Angeles.
For criminal cases in Los Angeles, a separate criminal case summary tool shows case status, hearing dates, and the register of actions. Under California Rule 2.503, full criminal case documents are only viewable at courthouse terminals. The online tool gives you enough data to track a case, but you need to visit in person for complete documents. Civil court records have fewer limits on what you can see online for cases in Los Angeles.
Note: The online system updates daily, so new filings may take a day to show up in Los Angeles court records searches.
Court Records Fees in Los Angeles
Los Angeles follows the statewide fee schedule for court records. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $40.00 per document. If the clerk searches for a record and it takes more than 10 minutes, the fee is $15.00. These fees apply at all courthouse locations in Los Angeles.
Online search fees are on top of copy costs. Guest users on the civil case index pay $4.75 per name search. Registered accounts that do bulk searches get lower rates starting at $1.00 for the first 10 searches. If you cannot afford these fees, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. A judge will look at your income and decide whether to waive part or all of the costs for accessing court records in Los Angeles.
Legal Help in Los Angeles
The Stanley Mosk Courthouse Self-Help Center sits on the 4th floor in Room 426. Phone: (213) 830-0845. Staff can help you find court records, fill out forms, and understand court steps. This is free for everyone. You do not need a lawyer to use it.
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles gives free legal help to people with low income. Call (800) 399-4529 to see if you qualify. They cover civil, family law, and housing cases. The California Courts Self-Help Center has statewide guides that apply to all case types in Los Angeles. For private attorneys, the Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that connects you with lawyers who handle the type of case you have.
Several other groups also offer help in Los Angeles. Bet Tzedek Legal Services handles employment and housing matters. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center assists with immigration and civil rights. Neighborhood Legal Services covers the San Fernando Valley area. All of these can help with finding or understanding court records tied to your case in Los Angeles.
Types of Court Records in Los Angeles
The LA Superior Court keeps records for every case type. Civil records cover lawsuits, contract disputes, and property matters. Criminal records include felony and misdemeanor cases. Family law covers divorce, custody, and support orders. Probate records deal with wills and estates. Small claims involve disputes under a set dollar limit. Traffic cases create their own set of court records in Los Angeles.
Access rules depend on the case type. Civil court records are the most open and have the most data available online. Criminal records show limited info through remote access under state rules. Family law records can only be viewed at a courthouse terminal. If you need records from a sealed or confidential case, you will need a court order. Most court records in Los Angeles, though, are public and open to anyone who asks.
Note: Juvenile court records in Los Angeles are confidential by law and not available to the public.
Los Angeles County Court Records
Los Angeles is in Los Angeles County. All court filings go through the LA County Superior Court. The county court system has over 30 locations and handles millions of cases per year. For full details on the county court system, online search portals, fee schedules, and other resources, visit the Los Angeles County court records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are also served by the Los Angeles County Superior Court or nearby county courts. Court records for each city go through their respective county court.