Court Case Search

A Los Angeles County CA Court Case Search can help you locate a Superior Court case, confirm a case number, identify the parties, review filing details, check upcoming hearings, and determine where a matter is being handled. This guide explains how to search official Los Angeles County court records, choose the correct case category, work with case numbers and party names, review public index information, find court calendars, access available documents, and contact the appropriate courthouse when online information is not enough.

Start Your Los Angeles County Court Case Search on the Official Court Website

The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, provides separate online search options for different types of cases. The best starting point is the court’s official Find Case Information service. This page directs users to search systems for appellate, civil, criminal, residential eviction, family law, probate, and small claims cases.

Before starting a search, gather as much identifying information as possible. A complete case number usually produces the most direct result. When the case number is unknown, a party-name search may help locate it. Useful details can include:

The full legal name of a person or business connected to the case
The approximate year the case was filed
The type of case involved
The courthouse or judicial district where the case may have been filed
The names of other parties in the dispute
A hearing date, filing date, or citation number associated with the matter

Los Angeles County handles a very large number of court filings, so broad searches can return multiple records involving people with similar names. Adding the correct case category, filing period, courthouse, or another party name can make the results more useful.

Choose the Right Case Type Before Entering Search Details

The court does not place every case into one general search database. Users are commonly directed to a search system based on the legal category of the case. Selecting the correct category is important because a civil case number may not work in a criminal or family law search tool.

Search Civil Lawsuits and General Disputes

Civil cases generally involve disputes between private parties, businesses, organizations, or government agencies. These matters may involve contracts, property, personal injury claims, collections, business disagreements, or requests for court orders.

A civil case search may provide publicly available information such as the case title, case number, filing date, party names, party roles, courthouse assignment, scheduled proceedings, and entries showing activity in the case. The amount of information available online can vary depending on the case, filing date, record type, and public-access rules.

Locate Criminal Case Information

Criminal cases involve alleged violations categorized as infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. A criminal case search may be useful for defendants, attorneys, victims, witnesses, family members, employers conducting authorized research, and members of the public seeking information that the court makes publicly available.

Criminal searches often require careful attention to the defendant’s legal name and the correct case number. Similar names are common, and a person may have more than one matter in the court system. Check the filing date, courthouse, case number, and available case details before assuming that a search result concerns the person you intended to find.

Review Family Law Proceedings

Family law cases may include divorce, legal separation, parentage, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, and certain restraining-order proceedings. Public case information may identify the case number, parties, filing date, courthouse, and upcoming hearings, but access to documents and sensitive information may be limited.

Family law users should verify whether they are searching by a current name, former name, or another legal name used when the case was filed. A name change after marriage or divorce can make a party-name search more difficult if the original filing name is unknown.

Find Probate, Estate, Trust, and Conservatorship Cases

Probate case access covers matters involving estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and minor’s compromises. Searchers often use the name of the deceased person, proposed conservatee, minor, trustee, personal representative, or another interested party.

Probate users may also need to review probate notes before a hearing. Probate notes are separate from the basic case index and may identify issues that must be addressed before the court can rule on a petition.

Check Small Claims Court Records

Small claims cases involve lower-value civil disputes handled through a simplified process. The Los Angeles Superior Court describes small claims as civil disputes involving claims of $12,500 or less. Search results may help a plaintiff or defendant confirm the case number, filing location, hearing date, party names, and case status.

Because small claims cases can move quickly, confirm the hearing information directly through the official court system. Do not rely solely on an old notice, an informal message from another party, or a saved screenshot of an earlier search result.

Search Residential Eviction Cases

The court provides an eviction case access option for residential eviction matters. These cases are also commonly known as unlawful detainer cases. Searchers may be landlords, tenants, property managers, attorneys, or other parties connected to the proceeding.

Eviction matters can involve short deadlines and rapidly changing hearing schedules. Review the case information carefully, including the courthouse, filing date, case number, scheduled proceedings, and available docket activity. Online information should be used alongside officially served documents and direct instructions from the court.

Trace an Appellate Case

Appellate case access can help users locate an appellate case number by using the underlying trial court case number. It may also provide publicly available information about an appeal connected to a Los Angeles County Superior Court matter.

A trial case and an appellate case have different case numbers. Searching only the original trial court number may not display every appellate event. Use the appellate search option when the dispute has moved to an appellate proceeding.

Use a Case Number for the Most Accurate Match

A case number is the most reliable identifier for a court matter. Names can be misspelled, changed, abbreviated, or shared by many people, but a properly entered case number points to a specific proceeding.

Case numbers may contain letters, numbers, and formatting that reflects the filing location or case category. Enter the number exactly as it appears on a court notice, pleading, citation, minute order, judgment, or other official document. Pay attention to characters that can be confused, such as the letter “O” and the number “0.”

Where to Find the Case Number

A Los Angeles County court case number may appear on:

A summons or complaint
A notice of hearing
A petition or response
A minute order
A criminal charging document
A traffic or non-traffic citation
A judgment or court order
A document previously filed by an attorney or self-represented party
An email or notice issued through an official court service

If the search system rejects the number, confirm that you selected the correct case category. A valid family law number entered into the civil search area may not produce a result. You should also remove accidental spaces and verify that the number was copied completely.

Search by Party Name When the Case Number Is Unknown

The court’s case access system allows users to locate a case number through a party-name search. Name searches can be useful when a court notice has been lost, when you know a person or business is involved in litigation, or when you need to identify the correct case before requesting records.

Some name-search services may require a fee. Read the court’s instructions before submitting the search so you understand the search scope, available information, and any applicable charge.

Improve a Person-Name Search

Start with the full legal name used when the case was filed. If that does not work, try reasonable variations:

Search with and without a middle name or middle initial
Check a former surname or married name
Confirm the spelling shown on official documents
Try a hyphenated and non-hyphenated version
Search the other party’s name when known
Narrow the search to the likely case category

Do not assume that every matching name refers to the same person. Compare the case title, filing date, party type, courthouse, and case number before using the information for legal, employment, housing, financial, or personal decisions.

Search for a Business or Organization

Business names can appear in court records under a legal entity name rather than a storefront name or brand. A company may also be listed with terms such as LLC, Inc., Corporation, Partnership, or another registered designation.

Try the full legal name first. If the result is too narrow, search the main distinctive words in the entity name. When several related businesses use similar names, examine the other parties, filing date, and case type to identify the correct matter.

Understand What the Public Case Index Can Show

The court’s public index is provided under California Rule of Court 2.507(b). According to the Los Angeles Superior Court, the index can include the case title, party names, party type, filing date, case number, and information concerning case retention or destruction status across litigation.

The public index is helpful for confirming that a case exists and identifying the basic record. It should not be confused with a complete collection of every filed document, exhibit, transcript, recording, or confidential record.

Read Party Roles Carefully

A name appearing in a court search does not automatically mean that the person filed the case or was accused of wrongdoing. The public index may identify different party types, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, claimants, decedents, conservatees, or other participants.

Review the party type before interpreting the record. In family law, for example, the parties may be identified as petitioner and respondent. In civil litigation, they may be plaintiff and defendant. In probate matters, the named person may be associated with an estate, trust, guardianship, or conservatorship rather than a traditional lawsuit.

Check Retention and Destruction Information

The public index may include information about record retention and destruction status. Older court files are not necessarily maintained in the same format as newer electronic cases. Some records may have been transferred to archives, retained under a court schedule, or destroyed according to applicable record-management rules.

If an older case appears in the index but documents are unavailable online, the next step may be to contact the courthouse or Archives and Records. Provide the case number, case title, filing year, and case type so court staff can better identify the record.

Move Beyond the Index to Review Hearings and Court Activity

After finding the correct matter, use the court’s broader Access a Case page to reach services for court calendars, available documents, transcripts, recordings, tentative rulings, and probate notes.

These services answer different questions. A basic case search identifies the matter, while a calendar search focuses on upcoming proceedings. Document access may show available images or records. Tentative rulings and probate notes are tied to particular case types and hearings.

Check Upcoming Court Dates

The court calendar can be searched with a case number or within a specified date range. Confirm all of the following before planning to appear:

The hearing date
The scheduled time
The courthouse location
The courtroom or department number
The hearing type
Whether the appearance is in person or remote

Court assignments and department numbers can change. Review the current online listing close to the hearing date and read any recent notices issued in the case.

Set Up Hearing Reminders

Once you have the case number, the official Hearing Reminder Service can send email or text reminders for scheduled public hearings. Users can request reminders two weeks before the hearing, two days before the hearing, or at both intervals.

There is no court fee to sign up for the reminder service, although a wireless carrier may apply standard text-message charges. Litigants, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, and members of the public may use the system.

A reminder is a convenience rather than a replacement for checking the official case record. If a hearing is added, continued, reassigned, or removed, verify the current information through the court’s case and calendar systems.

Access Court Documents Without Confusing Them With Case Details

Finding a case does not necessarily provide immediate access to every document in the file. The court separates general case information from document access. Available services may include public document images, divorce judgments, transcripts, and electronic recordings, depending on the case type and the record involved.

Know the Difference Between a Docket Entry and a Document

A case record may show that a document was filed without displaying the document itself. A filing entry can identify the date and type of activity, while the document image contains the actual text submitted to the court.

When preparing to request a copy, note the exact filing date and document description. This can help distinguish between similarly named documents, amended filings, corrected filings, and multiple orders entered in the same case.

Request Transcripts and Recordings Through the Correct Process

Transcripts and recordings are handled according to the proceeding and the method used to create the record. Some proceedings involve court-employed court reporters, while others may use electronic recording. A case search can help identify the case and hearing, but obtaining the record requires following the court’s transcript or recording procedures.

Before making a request, collect the case number, hearing date, courtroom or department, judicial officer if known, and the type of proceeding. These details help identify the correct hearing record.

Use Tentative Rulings and Probate Notes at the Right Time

For certain appellate, civil, and family law hearings, the court may publish a tentative ruling before the hearing. A tentative ruling is the judicial officer’s preliminary decision. It is not always the final order, and court users must follow the instructions provided for the department and hearing.

Probate notes are available before certain probate hearings and can be searched with a case number. They may identify missing documents, procedural issues, notice problems, or other matters that need attention. Review them far enough in advance to understand what may be required before the hearing.

Confirm the Correct Courthouse and Courtroom Assignment

Los Angeles County cases are handled at courthouses throughout the county. The correct location depends on the case type, filing district, assignment, and current court orders. Never assume that every downtown Los Angeles case is heard at the same building.

The official Los Angeles Superior Court website provides courthouse information, courtroom directories, judicial officer searches, court hours, holidays, filing services, and other case-related tools.

Match the Building to the Case Category

Some courthouses handle several case types, while others focus on criminal, juvenile, mental health, family law, civil, traffic, probate, or small claims matters. The same geographic area may be served by more than one courthouse.

Use the courthouse shown in the current case record or hearing notice. Then verify the department or courtroom. A courthouse address alone may not be enough, especially in large court complexes with numerous departments.

Watch for Department Renumbering and Reassignment

The court may renumber courtrooms or move matters between departments. A department listed on an older filing may no longer be the current assignment. Check the latest case information and courtroom directory before appearing, mailing documents, or arranging a remote hearing.

Schedule a Clerk’s Office Appointment When Online Access Is Not Enough

Some record, filing, and case-service needs require assistance from a clerk’s office. The court provides an official system to schedule a clerk’s office appointment by selecting a courthouse and an available appointment type.

Appointment categories differ by courthouse. The scheduling system identifies services using case-type abbreviations, including civil, criminal, family law, juvenile, probate, small claims, traffic, and mental health.

Before scheduling, confirm that you selected the courthouse responsible for the case. Bring or have access to the case number, party names, filing date, and the specific document or service you need. A clear request is more useful than asking staff to research an unidentified legal matter from limited information.

Get Self-Help Support for Your Own Court Case

People representing themselves can use the court’s official Self-Help Center services. The service catalog covers evictions, restraining orders, CARE Court, child custody and visitation, divorce-related issues, parentage, child support, guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, name or gender changes, small claims, traffic, wills and estates, and consumer debt.

Self-help services can assist users with understanding court processes and completing forms, but they do not turn a general public record search into legal representation. When contacting a Self-Help Center, have the case number and recent court documents available so staff can identify the proceeding and the stage of the case.

Avoid Common Court Case Search Errors

Entering a Case Number in the Wrong Search Area

A case number may be valid but still return no result if it is entered under the wrong case category. Confirm whether the matter is civil, criminal, family law, probate, appellate, residential eviction, or small claims before trying again.

Searching Only One Version of a Name

A person may appear under a full legal name, a former surname, a middle initial, or the name used when the case was filed. Try reasonable variations, but verify each result with the case title, filing date, courthouse, and party type.

Assuming a Search Result Is the Complete Court File

Public case information is not the same as every document or recording in the court file. Use document, transcript, recording, tentative ruling, or probate note services when you need information beyond the public index.

Relying on Outdated Hearing Information

Hearings can be continued, reassigned, canceled, or changed from in-person to remote proceedings. Check the current official calendar and recent case activity rather than relying on an old notice or saved search result.

Confusing a Party Listing With a Finding of Liability

A person’s name in a case index shows involvement in a proceeding. It does not, by itself, establish guilt, liability, fault, or the final outcome. Review the party role, case status, rulings, and judgments before drawing conclusions.

Using a Translation as Though It Were the Official Record

The official language of the Los Angeles Superior Court website is English. Computerized translations are approximations and may contain errors. When exact wording matters, rely on the English court content and official filed documents.

Los Angeles County Court Case Search Departments and Offices

Archives and Records — 222 North Hill Street, Room 212, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Stanley Mosk Courthouse — 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center — 210 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Central Arraignment Courthouse — 429 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Metropolitan Courthouse — 1945 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse — 275 Magnolia, Long Beach, CA 90802
Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse — 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534
Superior Court Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator Office — 213-830-0845
Los Angeles Superior Court Service Desk — 213-830-0400

Los Angeles County Court Case Search FAQs

Why are juvenile, mental health, and traffic cases missing from the main search list?

The court’s official Find Case Information page provides dedicated search options for appellate, civil, criminal, residential eviction, family law, probate, and small claims matters. Juvenile, mental health, and traffic cases are not included in that displayed list. Users looking for one of those matters should begin with the appropriate case-type section on the Los Angeles Superior Court website and follow the instructions for that category. Access may depend on the type of proceeding and applicable public-access restrictions.

Can anyone use the Attorney Portal to obtain more case information?

The Los Angeles Superior Court Attorney Portal is designed for attorneys. Validated attorneys may use features such as My Cases, My Documents, My Calendar, document purchasing, transaction history, and Follow a Case. Members of the general public should use the court’s regular case-access services instead. An Attorney Portal account does not change the legal rules governing access to confidential, restricted, or unavailable records.

Is information from the Media Access Portal considered an official court record?

No. The Los Angeles Superior Court states that information provided through its Media Access Portal does not constitute the official record of the court. Information there is provided as available and may contain an error or omission. A user researching a case should verify important details through the official case-information system and obtain an authorized court record when exact filing language, rulings, dates, or procedural history matters.

Why can’t a member of the public sign in to the Justice Partner Portal?

The Justice Partner Portal is intended for approved organizations and their authorized users. Initial access is handled through the participating organization’s information technology administrator. It is not a general public court case search account. Public users seeking basic case details should use the court’s standard online access pages rather than attempting to register through a professional or agency-only portal.