Orange County Court Records

Orange County court records are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, which serves over 3 million residents across 34 cities. The OC Superior Court operates multiple justice centers and maintains records for civil, criminal, family law, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. Several online portals give you ways to search case data, look up filings, and buy document copies from any device. This page walks through how to search Orange County court records, what fees to expect, and where to go when you need documents in hand.

Orange County Court Records Online

The Orange County Superior Court runs six separate online portals for court records. Each one covers a different case type. The main landing page for all of them is the OC Case Access page, which links out to each tool. You pick the case type you need and search from there. This setup makes it easy to narrow your results right away.

The screenshot below shows the case access landing page where you choose your search portal for Orange County court records.

From this page, you can reach civil, criminal, family law, probate, and small claims search tools all run by the OC court system.

For civil cases, the OC Civil Document Access portal lets you search, view, and buy copies of civil filings. You can pull up case details, check the register of actions, and order document images. Criminal and traffic cases use a separate tool at the Criminal and Traffic Case Access portal. Family law matters go through Family Law Case Access, and probate has its own portal at Probate Case Access.

Below is the OC civil documents search tool used for court records in Orange County.

This portal covers civil unlimited, civil limited, and other civil case types filed in Orange County.

If you want to search across case types by a person or business name, try the OC Name Search tool. It pulls results from all case categories at once. Processing time for record copies runs about 7 to 10 working days when you order through the online system.

In-Person Access to OC Court Records

You can visit the courthouse to view court records at no cost. The Central Justice Center in Santa Ana is the main location for Orange County court records. Bring a photo ID. The clerk can pull case files for you to review on site. You do not pay a fee just to look at records. Charges only come up when you want copies made.

Orange County has several court locations spread across the county. The Central Justice Center handles the largest share of cases. Other locations include the North Justice Center in Fullerton, the West Justice Center in Westminster, and the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Each location handles cases from its part of the county. If a case was filed at a specific justice center, that is where the physical file lives.

Note: The clerk will only pull a limited number of files at one time, so have your case numbers ready before visiting the courthouse.

Orange County Court Record Fees

Orange County follows the statewide fee schedule set by the California Government Code. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies of court records. Certified copies run $40.00 per document plus the per-page copy charge. If you need the clerk to search for a record and it takes more than 10 minutes, you pay a $15.00 search fee. These fees apply whether you request copies in person or through the mail.

Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15.00 in Orange County. Exemplification of a record is $50.00. Online document purchases through the civil portal also charge per page. Fee waivers exist for people who qualify based on income. You can ask the clerk or the self-help center about how to apply for a waiver of court record fees in Orange County.

Types of Court Records in Orange County

The Orange County Superior Court keeps records for all trial-level case types. Civil cases cover lawsuits, contract disputes, personal injury claims, and other money matters. Criminal records include felony and misdemeanor cases. Family law files hold divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence matters. Probate records deal with estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships. Small claims cases handle disputes under the dollar limit set by state law.

Access rules differ by case type. Civil court records have the most open access online in Orange County. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, criminal, family law, and certain other case types have limits on remote electronic access. You can view the register of actions and case index for most case types online. But full document viewing for family law and criminal matters may need an in-person visit to the courthouse. Traffic case records are also searchable through the criminal and traffic portal, though detailed documents may be limited online.

The court keeps records based on state retention rules. Civil unlimited case records stay on file for 10 years. Felony records are kept 75 years. Family law files last 30 years. Some records like adoptions and name changes stay on file for good.

Legal Resources in Orange County

The Public Law Center is the main free legal aid group in Orange County. They serve low-income residents with civil legal issues. Call (714) 541-1010 for more info. Community Legal Aid SoCal also provides help in the area. The Orange County Superior Court runs self-help centers at its courthouse locations where staff can help you find court records, fill out forms, and understand procedures.

For statewide resources, the California Courts Self-Help Center offers guides and information that apply to Orange County court records. The LawHelpCA website connects you with legal aid providers across the state based on your location and issue type. You do not need a lawyer to search for or request copies of court records in Orange County, but legal help can be useful if you need to understand what the records mean for your situation.

Note: Self-help center staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you figure out the right forms and steps for your court records request.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County has 34 cities. All court cases are filed with the OC Superior Court system. The courthouse that handles your case depends on where the events happened. These major cities have their own court records pages:

Other cities in Orange County include Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Buena Park, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. All cases from these cities are handled by the same OC Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Orange County. Each one has its own Superior Court and keeps separate court records. If you are not sure which county covers your case, check the address where the events occurred.