Common Questions About Public Records in El Segundo
Real questions from people researching records in El Segundo. Each answer is verified against official agency sources — no third-party services.
🏠 How do I look up property records in Los Angeles? ▼
Property records in Los Angeles County split between two offices, both serving ~2.6 million parcels — the largest property database of any U.S. county. (1) LA County Assessor for parcel valuation, ownership, and parcel maps. Free public search at https://assessor.lacounty.gov/homeowners/property-search and the LA County Assessor Portal at https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/ — search by AIN (Assessor Identification Number) or address. Main office: 500 W Temple St, Room 225, Los Angeles CA 90012, phone (213) 974-3211. Four District Offices: North/Van Nuys (818-833-6000), East/El Monte (626-258-6001), West/Culver City (310-665-5300), South/Lakewood (562-256-1701). Note (effective March 26, 2026): North District office is temporarily relocated; check the Assessor's site for current location. (2) LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) for the actual deed images and recorded documents. Headquarters at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk CA 90650, phone (562) 462-2125, https://www.lavote.gov/home/recorder. Real-estate records since 1850. Recording fees (per Cal. Gov. Code § 27361): Base $13 first page + $3 each additional; +$75 SB 2 fee per document for non-exempt real estate transfers (Building Homes and Jobs Act); for typical 1-page deed, plan on ~$88 first page. Documentary Transfer Tax: $1.10 per $1,000 of value plus the City of LA's local transfer tax of $4.50 per $1,000 (Measure ULA — high-value transfers above $5M pay even higher). Certified copies $5 + $0.50 per page. (3) LA County Treasurer-Tax Collector at https://ttc.lacounty.gov for tax-payment status. Free property fraud alert: RR/CC offers email notification when documents record under your name; sign up via the RR/CC site. What's free vs paid: name and parcel searches free; deed-image downloads typically charged; certified copies $5+. Sources: LA County Assessor, LA County RR/CC, LA County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Measure ULA (2022), Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · property
📄 How do I find a divorce record in Los Angeles? ▼
Divorce records in Los Angeles County are held by the LA Superior Court, the largest trial court system in the U.S. Three ways to obtain a copy: (1) Online via LA Superior Court Divorce Judgment Documents at https://www.lacourt.ca.gov/pages/lp/access-a-case/tp/os-access-court-documents/cp/divorce-judgment-documents — public ordering of divorce judgments without visiting the Archives & Records Center. (2) In person or mail at the courthouse where the case was filed. Family Law branches: Stanley Mosk (111 N Hill St, downtown), Norwalk Courthouse (12720 Norwalk Blvd), Antelope Valley Courthouse (42011 4th St West, Lancaster), Pomona North (350 W Mission Blvd), Long Beach (275 Magnolia Ave), Torrance (825 Maple Ave), Van Nuys (6230 Sylmar Ave), Pasadena, San Fernando, Inglewood, plus several others. Certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. (3) Archives & Records Center for older or pre-1990s divorces: 222 N Hill St, Los Angeles CA 90012, phone (213) 830-0198. Free public name search of cases at https://www.lacourt.org/pages/lp/access-a-case — covers all 50+ LA County courthouses; search by name and the system returns the correct courthouse. Filing fees for new divorces (for context): Petition for Dissolution $435; Response $435; both fees waivable under FW-001. California does NOT issue separate state-level divorce certificates for divorces 1985 onward — copies come ONLY from the Superior Court Clerk in the filing county. (CDPH issued divorce certificates only for divorces filed 1962–1984.) Sealed cases (DV-related, financial-disclosure orders, family files involving minors) are not visible to the public. Apostille for international use: get the certified copy first, then submit to California Secretary of State, 1500 11th St, Sacramento. Sources: LA Superior Court, LA County RR/CC, California Department of Public Health, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · divorce
🚔 What's the source for arrest records in Los Angeles? ▼
Los Angeles County arrest records sit with whichever law-enforcement agency made the booking. Five-source playbook: (1) LASD Inmate Locator at https://app5.lasd.org/ — current detainees countywide across the LA County jail system (Men's Central, Twin Towers, CRDF, North County). General custody questions: (213) 473-6100. LASD Booking Log at https://app5.lasd.org/bklog/ for registered users (journalists, attorneys, government). (2) City PD arrest blotters for arrests inside city limits — LAPD Adult Arrests / Crime Mapping at https://www.lapdcrimemap.org and bulk download at https://data.lacity.org; LBPD, Pasadena PD, Glendale PD, Burbank PD, Santa Monica PD, Beverly Hills PD, Inglewood PD, Long Beach PD, Torrance PD, El Monte PD, Pomona PD, etc. (3) Court records for arrests that produced a charge — LA County Superior Court at https://www.lacourt.org, free public name search; covers all 50+ courthouses. (4) State prison (sentenced felons): California Department of Corrections inmate search at https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. (5) Personal authoritative criminal history: California DOJ Live Scan at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints — fingerprint-based Personal Record Review, $25 state fee plus rolling fee. Older arrests (pre-2000): file a written CPRA request to the originating agency under Cal. Gov. Code § 7920. Statewide aggregator (private): California Jail Roster at https://californiajailroster.com. What's NOT released: juvenile records (always sealed except for serious-offense disclosures), sealed/expunged matters, identifying victim/witness info in sex offenses or DV cases (Penal Code § 6254(f)). Booking photos public per Penal Code § 13300; body-cam OIS footage releasable within 45 days under SB 1421 / AB 748. For employment use: vendors (Checkr, Sterling, GoodHire) wrap state, FBI, court, county, and MVR into one FCRA-compliant report. Sources: LASD, LAPD, LA County Superior Court, CDCR, California DOJ, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · arrest
❓ How can I find out about the deadlines for having any drug charges reduced to misdemeanors? ▼
California drug-possession charge reclassification runs through Proposition 47 (2014, effective Nov 5, 2014) and Penal Code § 1170.18. What Prop 47 did: reclassified most simple-possession drug offenses (Health & Safety Code §§ 11350, 11357, 11377) from felony to misdemeanor, regardless of when the conviction was entered, plus several non-violent property crimes under $950 (theft, shoplifting, forgery, bad checks, receiving stolen property). The deadline to petition for resentencing or reclassification was originally November 4, 2022 (8 years after passage), but California has extended it indefinitely for those who can show 'good cause' for late filing — there is now no hard deadline, but earlier filings get faster review. How to file in LA County: (1) Free representation through the LA County Public Defender's Prop 47 unit at https://pubdef.lacounty.gov/prop47-faqs/, phone (213) 974-2811. (2) DIY: complete forms CR-180 / CR-181 at the Clerk of the Superior Court in the originating courthouse (Stanley Mosk, Long Beach, Pomona, etc.). Filing fee: $0 if currently in custody or eligible under Cal. Penal Code § 1170.18(g); otherwise standard ~$60 motion fee, waivable under FW-001. (3) DA review: prosecutor has 15–60 days to oppose; if granted, the conviction is reduced to a misdemeanor on your record. Eligibility limits: excluded if you have prior 'super-strike' convictions (PC § 667(e)(2)(C)(iv)) or are a registered sex offender under PC § 290(c). Newer relief tools: Proposition 36 (2024) re-classified some drug-possession offenses back to felony status with treatment alternatives — Prop 47 reclassifications obtained before Prop 36 are NOT reversed. Resources: California Policy Lab Resentencing Brief at https://capolicylab.org; California Courts Prop 47 FAQs at https://courts.ca.gov; Liberty Criminal Defense / Wegman & Levin Prop 47 guides. Strong recommendation: work with the Public Defender or a criminal-defense attorney — eligibility is fact-specific. Sources: California Penal Code § 1170.18, Proposition 47 (2014), LA County Public Defender, California Courts FAQ, California Policy Lab.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · general
📜 How do I find a probated will in California? ▼
A probated will in California is filed at the county Superior Court, Probate Division in the county where the deceased lived. Once filed, it's a public record. Three steps to find a will: (1) Find the case via the county Superior Court's case search — California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm. Examples: LA Superior https://www.lacourt.org, Orange County https://www.occourts.org, San Diego https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov, Sacramento https://www.saccourt.ca.gov, Alameda https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov, Santa Clara https://www.scscourt.org, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kern, Ventura, Contra Costa. Search by decedent name. (2) Order the will copy at the Clerk's office — certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626); non-certified $0.50 per page; search-record fee $50 for archived files. Online ordering varies by county. (3) Visit in person if the case is older than ~20 years and not yet digitized. Probate filing fees (statewide schedule per Cal. Gov. Code § 70650): Petition for Probate $435 (Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco have local surcharges adding ~$10–$25); Probate Referee fee ~0.1% of appraised non-cash assets (minimum $150); statutory attorney/executor fees under Cal. Prob. Code § 10810: 4% of first $100K, 3% of next $100K, 2% of next $800K (a $1M estate yields ~$23K each to attorney + executor). Small estate alternative: estates under $184,500 in personal property + $61,500 in real property can use simplified procedures (Cal. Prob. Code § 13100) — no court filing required for personal property; small Affidavit for real property. Important: a will alone does NOT transfer property — it must be probated to be enforceable. Sealed: family-conservatorship matters and certain juvenile probate guardianships are not publicly visible. Sources: California Courts directory, Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10810 and 13100, Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70626 and 70650.
Tagged: California · probate
🔍 Where do I get an official criminal history report in California? ▼
Background checks in California come from two different places depending on what you actually need. (1) Official statewide criminal history report — California Department of Justice (DOJ) at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review. Fingerprint-based; submit BCIA 8016RR form (https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/BCIA-8016RR.pdf) at any Live Scan vendor (IdentoGO, Certifix Live Scan, A1 Live Scan — find one at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations). Fee: $25 DOJ state fee + $20–$50 rolling fee = $45–$90 total; FBI add-on ~$17. Fee waiver at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review/fee-waiver. Turnaround 5–10 business days; results mailed only. This is the only authoritative source for your CHRI ('rap sheet') in California. (2) Court records (case-level, third-party visible) — each of California's 58 county Superior Courts has its own portal. Use the California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm to find the correct one. LA County Superior Court at https://www.lacourt.org is the nation's largest. (3) Local arrest/jail rosters — county sheriff inmate locators (varies by county) and city PD blotters. (4) Sex-offender registry (Megan's Law) at https://meganslaw.ca.gov — separate from the criminal history check. Permissible use under Penal Code § 11105: third parties cannot pull your DOJ record without authorization; FCRA-compliant employment vendors (Checkr, Sterling, GoodHire) wrap state, FBI, court, county, and MVR into one report. California Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code § 12952) restricts pre-offer conviction inquiries for employers with 5+ employees. Limits: CA DOJ covers state convictions only — federal cases need PACER; juvenile/sealed records excluded. Accuracy disputes: form BCIA 8706. Sources: California DOJ, Penal Code § 11105, Cal. Gov. Code § 12952, BCIA 8016RR.
Tagged: California · background check
🔍 What's the right way to do a background check on someone in California? ▼
Two paths in California depending on what kind of check you need. Path one — official state criminal history (the DOJ 'rap sheet'). Runs through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. Fingerprint-based; submit BCIA 8016RR form at any Live Scan vendor (IdentoGO https://www.identogo.com, Certifix Live Scan https://www.certifixlivescan.com, A1 Live Scan https://a1livescan.com, or many police/sheriff records counters). Find a vendor at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. Fees: $25 DOJ state fee + $20–$50 rolling fee = $45–$90 total; FBI national add-on ~$17. Turnaround 5–10 business days; results mailed only. Important: under Penal Code § 11105, you generally can only pull your OWN DOJ record — third parties need permissible-use authorization (specific statutory categories like licensing boards, employer-required positions, criminal-justice agencies). For most employer checks of someone else, the workflow is the subject signs an authorization, then a Live-Scan-authorized agency or FCRA-compliant vendor (Checkr, Sterling, GoodHire) submits prints under the right ORI code. Path two — court records (case-level, public visibility). Each of California's 58 counties runs its own Superior Court portal — California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm. Free name search; covers civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims (sealed/juvenile excluded). Path three — sex-offender registry: Megan's Law at https://meganslaw.ca.gov. Path four — federal cases: PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov, $0.10/page (capped $3/document). California Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code § 12952): employers with 5+ employees cannot ask about convictions until after a conditional offer; must do an individualized assessment before adverse action. Accuracy disputes: form BCIA 8706. Sources: California DOJ, Penal Code § 11105, Cal. Gov. Code § 12952, BCIA 8016RR, California Courts.
Tagged: California · background check
Have a question about records in El Segundo? The agencies that hold these records are listed throughout this page — start there.
Records access in El Segundo
Law enforcement in El Segundo is managed by the El Segundo Police Department, a dedicated force that prioritizes community safety and engagement. The department maintains arrest and criminal records, which can be accessed by residents through formal requests. If you want to check inmate records or conduct background checks, the Los Angeles County Jail is a primary facility where information can be obtained. Residents can find details about current inmates and recent arrests through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department website or by calling the local station directly. The department emphasizes transparency, providing crime reports and statistics that reflect the safety and security of the area. For residents interested in public records, the process of obtaining documents under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) is straightforward. The Los Angeles County Clerk's office handles vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, which can be requested in-person or online. Property records are accessible through the Los Angeles County Assessor's office, allowing homeowners and prospective buyers to obtain important information regarding local real estate. Court records can be found through the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with many documents available digitally through their online portal. The availability of these resources ensures that residents can easily access essential public records to meet their needs.
Crime statistics · El Segundo, CA · FBI UCR 2024
Reported offenses for the El Segundo jurisdiction, total population 17164. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
| Violent crimes | Property crimes |
|---|---|
|
Total: 83 Murder & non-negligent manslaughter: 1 Rape: 11 Robbery: 30 Aggravated assault: 59 |
Total: 885 Burglary: 220 Larceny / theft: 557 Motor-vehicle theft: 117 Arson: 12 |
Reporting period: calendar year 2024. Numbers reflect offenses known to law-enforcement agencies serving El Segundo.
El Segundo · Population & demographics
| Total population | 16654 |
|---|---|
| White | 78% |
| Black or African American | 2% |
| Asian | 8.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial count.
California Public Records Act
Records held by El Segundo city offices, the Los Angeles County Sheriff, and the Los Angeles County Superior Court are subject to the California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov. Code § 7920 et seq.). Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days. Booking photos and arrest information are public per Sacramento Bee v. Yuba County and Penal Code § 13300. Body-cam footage related to officer-involved shootings is releasable within 45 days under SB 1421 and AB 748.
Where to file a records request in El Segundo
Police records: file with the El Segundo Police Department or via the Los Angeles County Sheriff for unincorporated areas.
Court records: Los Angeles County Superior Court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Felonies and most misdemeanors flow through the Superior Court system.
Booking and inmate records: Los Angeles County Sheriff publishes a public inmate roster including booking photos and charges.