Fullerton Public Records
Public records in Fullerton come from Orange County offices and city agencies. This North Orange County city has about 143,000 residents and is home to California State University Fullerton. Records include court files, vital records, property documents, and business filings. Most are open to the public under California law. Many can be searched online through county and state databases. Others need a visit to the office or a written request to the agency that keeps them.
Fullerton Quick Facts
Orange County Records
Fullerton is in Orange County. Most public records for the city are kept by county offices. The Orange County Clerk-Recorder handles vital records, property documents, and business name filings. Their main office is at 12 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana. Call (714) 834-2500 for help. Visit ocrecorder.com to search records or place an order online.
Court records for Fullerton go through the Orange County Superior Court system. The North Justice Center is at 1275 N. Berkeley Avenue in Fullerton. This courthouse serves the northern part of the county. Call (657) 622-7000 for court info. You can search case records online at occourts.org. The database covers civil, family, probate, and other case types.
Property records like deeds and mortgages are on file with the County Recorder. You can search online for free through the county's property database. The site shows ownership, sales, liens, and tax info. Most property records for Fullerton go back to the 1800s. If you need a copy of a filed document, you can order it online or visit the Santa Ana office in person.
Under the California Public Records Act, you can ask any local agency for records they keep. The county must respond in ten days. Extensions up to 14 days may apply if the request is complex. Orange County uses NextRequest for public records requests. Go to orangecounty.nextrequest.com to submit a request. Be clear about what you want. Most electronic records are free. Paper copies cost ten cents per page.
Vital Records in Fullerton
Birth, death, and marriage certificates for Fullerton are issued by the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. Birth and death certificates cost $34 each as of January 2026. Marriage certificates are $19. Fees went up $2 per record under Assembly Bill 64. You can order online, by mail, or in person at the Santa Ana office. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
If you need a record fast, go to the county office in person. Wait times vary, but same-day service is often possible. Online orders take longer and may add service fees if you use a third-party vendor. For state-level vital records, contact the California Department of Public Health at (916) 445-2684. State processing takes five to seven weeks, so the county is faster for most Fullerton residents.
Only certain people can get certified copies of birth and death records. Health and Safety Code Section 103526(c) lists who qualifies. You must be a parent, legal guardian, or have a direct legal interest. Marriage records are more open to the public. Divorce records come from the court, not the recorder. To get a divorce decree for a Fullerton case, contact the Orange County Superior Court where it was filed.
Court Records in Fullerton
The Orange County Superior Court keeps all case records for Fullerton. Civil, family, probate, small claims, and criminal cases are on file. The North Justice Center in Fullerton is the main courthouse for the area. You can search for a case using the party name or case number. The court has an online case access portal for public searches. Go to the court website for details on how to access records.
The online system covers many case types. You can see the docket, party names, and filing dates. Some documents are available to view online. There may be a fee to view or download documents. California Rule of Court 2.503 says most case records are open in Fullerton and all California courts. Some case types are confidential. Juvenile cases are sealed. Adoption records are also closed.
To get copies of court documents, visit the clerk's office at the North Justice Center. Staff can pull the file and make copies for a fee. Court copies cost 50 cents per page in most cases. Certified copies cost more. Bring photo ID and the case number when you go. For help with court records in Fullerton, call the courthouse at (657) 622-7000 during business hours.
Background checks go through the California Department of Justice. If you want your own criminal history, you can request it from DOJ. The process needs fingerprints and a fee. Visit oag.ca.gov for instructions. Electronic submissions are processed in two to three days. Mail requests take longer for residents of Fullerton and all other California cities.
Note: Court records are kept by the Superior Court, not by city or county clerk offices in Fullerton.
City of Fullerton Records
The City of Fullerton keeps its own records for city government. This includes city council meetings, permits, planning documents, and contracts. Under the California Public Records Act, you can request any city record that is not exempt. Most are open. Some are kept private under state or federal law. Personnel files, legal advice, and ongoing investigations are examples of exempt records.
To request city records, contact the City Clerk's office at 303 W. Commonwealth Avenue. Call (714) 738-6350 for help with records requests. The city must respond in ten days. They may take up to 14 more days if the request is large or complex. Electronic records are often sent by email at no cost. Paper copies may cost ten cents per page. The city can charge for staff time if it takes more than one hour to find and copy the records.
City council agendas and minutes are online at the city website. Video recordings of meetings are also posted. Building permits and planning documents are kept by the Community and Economic Development Department. For business licenses issued by the city, contact the Finance Department. Each city office manages its own records and responds to requests for documents it keeps in Fullerton.
Business and Property Records
Business filings in California are split between state and county offices. The California Secretary of State keeps records for corporations, LLCs, and partnerships. You can search for free at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. The database shows business name, entity type, status, and agent for service. Copies of filed documents cost $5 each. Most can be ordered online and sent by email the same day.
Fictitious business name statements are filed with the county. In Fullerton, you file with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. The county keeps an index of all business names. You can search it online or at the Santa Ana office. This helps you check if a name is taken or find out who owns a business operating in Fullerton or elsewhere in Orange County.
UCC financing statements show liens on personal property like equipment or inventory. These are filed with the Secretary of State. The database is online at the same site as business entities. You can search by business name or file number at no cost. UCC records help show if a business owes money or has loans secured by assets in Fullerton or anywhere in California.
Real estate records are kept by the Orange County Assessor and Recorder. The Assessor values property for tax purposes. The Recorder files deeds, mortgages, and liens. Both have online databases. You can search Fullerton properties by address, parcel number, or owner name. The records show sale prices, tax amounts, and ownership history for all parcels in the city.
California Public Records Act
The California Public Records Act is in Government Code Section 6250 and following. It was recodified in 2021 but the rules stayed the same. The law says that records kept by state and local agencies are public unless an exemption applies. Any person can ask for records. You do not need to be a resident or give a reason. Agencies have ten days to respond and may extend for 14 more if needed.
Some records are exempt from disclosure under the CPRA. Examples include personnel files, attorney-client communications, ongoing investigations, and records protected by other laws like privacy statutes. If a record has both public and exempt parts, the agency must release the public part. This is called redaction. The agency cannot charge for the time it takes to decide if a record is exempt in Fullerton or elsewhere in California.
Electronic records are often free if sent by email. Paper copies cost ten cents per page under Government Code. If it takes more than one hour to gather the records, the agency can charge for staff time. Orange County and the City of Fullerton both use online records request portals. You can submit requests online, by mail, or in person depending on the agency.
If an agency denies your request, they must explain why. You can appeal to the agency head or file a lawsuit in court. Many disputes are resolved by talking to the agency and narrowing the request. For help with public records law, contact the California Attorney General's office or consult a lawyer. The Attorney General has a guide at oag.ca.gov.
Orange County Public Records
Fullerton is one of 34 cities in Orange County, which is home to over 3.1 million residents. The county manages most public records for all cities and unincorporated areas. For a complete guide to county offices, online search tools, fees, and record types, visit the Orange County public records page.