Los Angeles County Docket Records

Los Angeles County Superior Court handles more case dockets than any other trial court in the nation. Over ten million people live in the county. Thousands of cases get filed each year across civil, criminal, family, and probate divisions. You can search court dockets online through two main portals. One covers civil cases. The other tracks criminal and traffic matters. Both charge fees for searches and document access. The court also maintains archives for older cases that date back many decades in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Court Docket Search

Los Angeles County runs two separate online case search systems. Civil cases use one portal. Criminal and traffic cases use another. Each has its own fee structure. You need to know which type of case you want before you start your search.

The civil case index can be found at www.lacourt.ca.gov/paos/v2web3/CivilIndex. This covers lawsuits, small claims, probate, family law, and other civil matters filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. You can search by party name or by case number. Name searches cost money. The system charges you even if no match turns up. Case number searches work faster and cost less if you already have the number from a prior search or court document.

Criminal and traffic case records appear at www.lacourt.org/paos/v2public/CriminalIndex/. This portal lets you look up defendants in criminal prosecutions. You can also find traffic tickets and related court dates. The same fee rules apply here as with civil cases. A name search runs a few dollars. Document viewing adds more charges on top of the search fee. Many people start with free searches at the courthouse before paying for online access in Los Angeles County.

Courthouses in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has dozens of courthouses spread across the region. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse sits downtown at 111 North Hill Street. This is one of the busiest court buildings in the county. It handles major civil litigation and complex criminal trials. Many other courthouses serve local areas throughout the county.

Each courthouse has a clerk office. Staff can help you search for cases at public terminals. They can print copies of docket sheets and court documents. You pay the standard fifty cent per page copy fee. Certified copies cost more. If you need help finding the right courthouse for your case, the main court website at www.lacourt.org has a full list of locations with addresses and phone numbers.

The courthouse in your area may specialize in certain case types. Some handle only criminal matters. Others focus on family law or probate. Civil cases might go to one building while traffic tickets get processed at another. Check the court website or call ahead to make sure you visit the right location for the records you need in Los Angeles County.

Archives and Older Records

Los Angeles County keeps older court records at a central archive. The archive sits at 222 North Hill Street, Room 212, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Cases that closed many years ago get moved from active courthouse files to the archive for long term storage. If you need a very old docket, you may have to request it from the archive instead of searching the online systems or visiting a regular courthouse.

Archive requests take time. Mail requests can take two to three months. In person visits move faster but still require up to four hours of wait time while staff locate the records. You can call ahead to check if your case is in the archive or still at an active courthouse. This saves you a trip if the records are not where you expect them to be in Los Angeles County.

Court Docket Fees

Los Angeles County charges for online access. A name search costs $4.75. This fee applies each time you search. You pay whether or not the search finds a match. If you find the case you need, viewing the docket entries may be free. But downloading documents costs extra. The first five pages of a document run one dollar per page. Pages beyond that drop to forty cents each. No single document costs more than forty dollars to download.

You can avoid these fees by visiting a courthouse. Public terminals let you search at no charge. You only pay if you want paper copies. The clerk prints them for you at fifty cents per page. Certified copies add a forty dollar certification fee plus the per page charge. Most people use online search to find the case number, then visit in person to get copies if they need them for official purposes in Los Angeles County.

Types of Court Dockets

Los Angeles County Superior Court dockets cover all types of cases. Civil dockets include contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, real estate matters, and business litigation. These cases can run for years. The docket grows with every motion, hearing, and filing. Complex commercial cases often have hundreds of docket entries before they settle or go to trial.

Criminal dockets track prosecutions. They list arraignments, bail hearings, preliminary exams, and trial dates. Many criminal cases resolve with plea deals. Those show up on the docket as plea entry dates and sentencing hearings. Family law dockets handle divorce, custody, support, and restraining orders. Probate dockets manage estates, wills, conservatorships, and guardianships in Los Angeles County.

Traffic cases also appear in the court system. A speeding ticket generates a docket entry. You can look up your traffic case online or at a courthouse. Small claims dockets track disputes under ten thousand dollars. These cases move quickly. Parties represent themselves. The docket shows filing dates, hearing dates, and judgment dates.

Contact Los Angeles County Superior Court

You can reach the court by email at OnlineServices@lacourt.org for questions about online case access. Phone numbers vary by courthouse location and case type. The main court website lists phone numbers for each division and courthouse across Los Angeles County. Clerk offices generally stay open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Many close for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Major Cities in Los Angeles County

Several large cities sit within Los Angeles County. Court dockets for residents of these cities are maintained by the county Superior Court system. Select a city below to find local court information:

Nearby Counties

Los Angeles County borders several other counties. Each maintains its own court system: