Common Questions About Public Records in San Dimas
Real questions from people researching records in San Dimas. Each answer is verified against official agency sources — no third-party services.
📄 How do I get a copy of a divorce decree in Los Angeles? ▼
Divorce decrees in Los Angeles County, California are held by the Los Angeles Superior Court, the largest trial court system in the U.S. with 50+ branches. 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 Courthouse (111 N Hill St, downtown LA), Lamoreaux Justice Center (Orange-bordering), Norwalk Courthouse (12720 Norwalk Blvd), Antelope Valley Courthouse (42011 4th St West, Lancaster), Pomona North Courthouse, San Fernando Courthouse, 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 LA County courthouses. 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. 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. Sources: LA Superior Court, LA County RR/CC, Cal. Gov. Code § 70626.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · divorce
🧭 What public records can help me find a person in Los Angeles? ▼
To locate someone in Los Angeles County through public records, several free or low-cost sources work well. (1) LA County Assessor property search at https://assessor.lacounty.gov/homeowners/property-search and the LA County Assessor Portal at https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/ — search by name to find any properties they own; the database covers ~2.6 million parcels with mailing addresses on file. Most reliable single source for homeowners. (2) Voter registration lookup via California Secretary of State at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ or LA County RR/CC at https://www.lavote.gov/home/voting-elections/voter-status — confirms registration status, party, and polling place; the actual residential address is NOT publicly displayed but can be released to certain authorized requesters. (3) LA Superior Court Case Search at https://www.lacourt.org/pages/lp/access-a-case — any civil, criminal, family, or probate filing surfaces names + addresses (subject to privacy redactions for plaintiffs/witnesses in sensitive matters). (4) California Secretary of State bizfile at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search — useful if the person is an LLC owner, registered agent, or officer. (5) LA County Recorder/Clerk for FBN (DBA) filings at https://www.lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/business-filings — sole proprietor + partnership names with addresses. (6) LASD Inmate Locator at https://app5.lasd.org/ if currently detained. (7) Sex-offender registry (Megan's Law) at https://meganslaw.ca.gov — last known address for Tier 2 / Tier 3 offenders. What's restricted: driving records (DPPA-protected — federal law restricts), most personal-info portals require permissible-use justification under Penal Code § 11105 or DPPA. For missing persons: California DOJ Missing Persons clearinghouse at https://oag.ca.gov/missing or LASD Missing Persons Unit at https://lasd.org. Tip: most 'people search' websites (Spokeo, BeenVerified, TruePeopleSearch) aggregate from these same public sources but cannot legally include FCRA-protected data. Sources: LA County Assessor, LA County RR/CC, LA Superior Court, California SOS, Penal Code § 11105.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · find person
⚰️ Where do I order a death record in Los Angeles? ▼
Death records for Los Angeles County come from three offices sharing the same database. (1) LA County Department of Public Health, Vital Records Office at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/dca/dcadeath.htm — issues death certificates for deaths registered in LA County. (2) LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) at https://www.lavote.gov/home/records/death-records — alternate ordering channel; RR/CC has recorded LA County deaths since 1877. Headquarters at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk CA 90650, phone (562) 462-2137. (3) California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Vital Records at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Vital-Records-Obtaining-Certified-Copies-of-Death-Records.aspx — slower (4–6 weeks) but covers any California death. Fee (effective Jan 1 2026 under AB 64): $26 per certified copy, fetal-death certificates also $26. Online ordering via VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com/v/vital-records/california/los-angeles-county-registrar-recorder — express shipping (~$15 service fee). Eligibility (Cal. H&S Code § 103526): spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal representative, person with documented direct interest. Photo ID required for authorized copies; Informational copies (not for legal use) available to anyone with sworn statement. Apostille for international use: get the certified copy first, then submit to California Secretary of State, 1500 11th St, Sacramento CA 95814. Free informal confirmations: Social Security Death Master File via FamilySearch.org, Find A Grave at https://www.findagrave.com, LA Times obituaries archive. Recent deaths: ~30-day delay from date-of-death until the record is available at the LA RR/CC; CDPH state office has a longer lag. Sources: LA County DPH, LA County RR/CC, CDPH, AB 64 (2025), Cal. H&S Code § 103526.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · death
🏢 Where do I find business records in Los Angeles? ▼
Business records for Los Angeles, California come from three layers of government. (1) California Secretary of State bizfile Online at https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search — free public search of all California Corporations, LLCs, and Limited Partnerships statewide. Returns entity number, status (Active, Suspended, Cancelled), formation date, registered agent, principal address, officers, Statement of Information history. The California SOS Business Programs Division is at 1500 11th St, Sacramento CA 95814, phone (916) 657-5448. (2) LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) for Fictitious Business Name (DBA) filings — required for any sole proprietor or partnership using a name other than the owner's legal name. Search and file at https://www.lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/business-filings, RR/CC headquarters 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk CA 90650, phone (562) 462-2125. FBN filing fee approx $26 first owner + $5 each additional name; renewals every 5 years; mandatory newspaper publication. (3) City of Los Angeles Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC) — required for any business operating within LA city limits. Apply at LA Office of Finance https://finance.lacity.gov; renewal annual. Other LA-area cities (Long Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Glendale) issue their own. (4) California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) seller's permit at https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov — required for retail/service businesses. (5) Federal nonprofit data: IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos. Tip: when checking a business before doing business with them, run BOTH SOS bizfile AND the LA County FBN search AND the city business license — many sole proprietors don't show in SOS. Sources: California Secretary of State, LA County RR/CC, LA Office of Finance, CDTFA.
Tagged: Los Angeles County · business
🚔 How do I look up an arrest in California? ▼
There is no single master arrest list in California. Records sit with the agency that made the arrest. Five-source playbook: (1) County Sheriff inmate locator / jail roster for current detainees and recent bookings — every county has its own portal (LA County https://app5.lasd.org/; San Diego https://apps.sdsheriff.net; Orange County https://ocsheriff.gov; Riverside; Sacramento; Alameda https://www.acgov.org/sheriff_app/; Santa Clara; Fresno; Kern). Statewide aggregator (private): California Jail Roster at https://californiajailroster.com. (2) City PD arrest blotter for arrests inside city limits — LAPD at https://www.lapdcrimemap.org and https://data.lacity.org; SFPD at https://data.sfgov.org; SDPD; Sacramento PD; Long Beach PD; Oakland PD; San Jose PD all maintain blotters. (3) Court records for arrests that produced a charge — each county Superior Court has its own portal (California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm); LA Superior Court at https://www.lacourt.org is the largest. (4) State prison (sentenced felons): California Department of Corrections inmate search at https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. (5) Authoritative personal record: 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. 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) — recodified at § 7923.600). Booking photos public per Penal Code § 13300; body-cam footage of officer-involved shootings 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: California DOJ, county sheriffs, California Courts, CDCR, Cal. Gov. Code § 7920.
Tagged: California · arrest
🔒 Where do I look up someone in jail or prison in California? ▼
Locating someone in jail or prison in California splits across three systems. (1) County jail (pre-trial detainees and short-sentence inmates) — every county sheriff runs an online inmate locator. Examples: LASD at https://app5.lasd.org/ (213-473-6100); San Diego Sheriff at https://apps.sdsheriff.net; OC Sheriff at https://ocsheriff.gov; Riverside Sheriff; San Bernardino Sheriff; Sacramento Sheriff at https://www.sacsheriff.com; Alameda Sheriff at https://www.acgov.org/sheriff_app/; Santa Clara Sheriff; Fresno Sheriff; Kern Sheriff at https://www.kernsheriff.org/Inmate_Info; statewide aggregator (private) California Jail Roster at https://californiajailroster.com. (2) California state prison (sentenced felons) — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Inmate Locator at https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov — searchable by name or CDCR number, shows facility, parole eligibility, and case info. CDCR runs ~32 prisons including San Quentin, Folsom, Pelican Bay, Corcoran, Tehachapi, Wasco, Chuckawalla, Avenal. (3) Federal Bureau of Prisons at https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ for federal inmates. California has multiple federal facilities: USP Atwater, FCI Mendota, FCI Lompoc, MDC Los Angeles, FCI Dublin (closed), FCI Herlong. (4) City jails (very short-term holds before transfer to county): LBPD jail (562-570-7260), Pomona PD jail, SF County Jail at 850 Bryant, Sacramento Main Jail, Oakland City jail. Court records for any case that produced a charge — the county Superior Court (California Courts directory at https://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm). Visitation, deposit accounts, and inmate phone: most CA county jails use GTL/ViaPath at https://www.connectnetwork.com or Securus at https://securustech.net — register an account online before visiting. CPRA (Cal. Gov. Code § 7920): booking photos public per Penal Code § 13300; body-cam OIS footage releasable within 45 days under SB 1421/AB 748. Sources: CDCR, county sheriffs, Federal BOP, Connect Network.
Tagged: California · inmate
🔍 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 (https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/BCIA-8016RR.pdf) 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: 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 San Dimas? The agencies that hold these records are listed throughout this page — start there.
Records access in San Dimas
The San Dimas Police Department is responsible for maintaining law and order in the city, ensuring the safety of its residents through proactive policing and community engagement. Arrest and criminal records are carefully tracked and maintained within the department, with a commitment to transparency. If you need information on local inmates or criminal history, the Los Angeles County Jail provides a centralized database, where individuals can search for inmate records or request background checks online or in person. The department is involved in various community outreach programs and initiatives aimed at building trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the public. Residents of San Dimas looking to request public records can do so under the California Public Records Act (CPRA), which allows for access to governmental documents. Vital records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, can be obtained through the Los Angeles County Clerk's Office, which offers both in-person and online request options. Property records are accessible via the Los Angeles County Assessor's office, providing detailed information about real estate transactions and assessments. Court records can be accessed through the Los Angeles County Superior Court's website, which features an online portal for streamlined searches.
Crime statistics · San Dimas, CA · FBI UCR 2024
Reported offenses for the San Dimas jurisdiction, total population 35809. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
| Violent crimes | Property crimes |
|---|---|
|
Total: 92 Murder & non-negligent manslaughter: 1 Rape: 15 Robbery: 29 Aggravated assault: 58 |
Total: 898 Burglary: 215 Larceny / theft: 659 Motor-vehicle theft: 85 Arson: 12 |
Reporting period: calendar year 2024. Numbers reflect offenses known to law-enforcement agencies serving San Dimas.
San Dimas · Population & demographics
| Total population | 33371 |
|---|---|
| White | 72% |
| Black or African American | 3.2% |
| Asian | 10.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 31.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial count.
California Public Records Act
Records held by San Dimas 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 San Dimas
Police records: file with the San Dimas 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.