OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. For criminal history, the California DOJ is the agency — not the California Highway Patrol, which handles traffic enforcement only.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through county-level case search portals
🔍 Arrest records from county sheriffs and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through California DOJ
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county where the record was created

How Records Work in California

California's court and arrest records run across state, county, and arresting-agency levels. The state judiciary under the Supreme Court of California maintains appellate records, while trial-court records live with each county's Superior Court. California DOJ holds statewide criminal history (not the Highway Patrol, which handles traffic enforcement only). Most local records — deeds, marriage licenses, Superior Court filings — are held at the county level.

California has 58 counties. San Francisco is a consolidated city-county (the City and County of San Francisco) — the only one in California — meaning city and county governments are merged into one entity. Each county has its own Superior Court clerk, sheriff, recorder, and registrar of voters maintaining separate records. Because the state has no unified case search, a thorough records search often means checking multiple county portals. Large counties have strong online access; smaller counties may require phone calls or in-person visits.

Counties in California

California has 58 counties. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

Major Counties

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. California has no unified trial-court case search, so you may need to check multiple county portals. Older records and some specialized filings require contacting the Superior Court clerk directly. When in doubt, call the agency.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026