Los Angeles Public Records
Los Angeles public records cover millions of documents from city, county, and state agencies serving the nation's second largest city. You can search court cases, vital certificates, business filings, city council actions, property records, and more. The City Clerk maintains legislation and official city documents going back to 1979 through an online system. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk handles vital records like birth and death certificates plus property transactions. The Superior Court keeps civil, criminal, family law, probate, and small claims files across 58 courthouse locations. Most searches start online. Some records need an in-person visit or written request under the California Public Records Act.
Los Angeles Quick Facts
Los Angeles County Records
Los Angeles sits in Los Angeles County. All vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates come from the county, not the city. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk handles these requests. Their main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Call (800) 201-8999. Press option 1 for vital records or option 3 for property documents. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.
Birth certificates cost $34 as of January 2026. Death certificates cost $26. Marriage certificates cost $19. Fees went up under Assembly Bill 64. You must prove your relationship to the person on the certificate. Parents, spouses, adult children, grandparents, and legal reps can order copies. Bring valid ID when you apply in person.
Real estate records also go through the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents are filed with the County Recorder. You can search online at lavote.gov and order copies for a fee. The Assessor keeps separate property value records for tax purposes.
Court records for Los Angeles are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. This is the biggest trial court system in the United States with 58 locations. The Civil Index at lacourt.org/paos/v2public/CivilIndex lets you search by name for civil, small claims, family law, and probate cases. Guest users pay $4.75 per search. Registered users get lower rates if they search often.
For more details on county services, visit the Los Angeles County page.
City of Los Angeles Records
The City of Los Angeles keeps its own set of records separate from the county. The City Clerk serves as the official keeper of city documents. This office maintains records of all City Council proceedings, administers elections, handles fiscal and administrative tasks, and provides staff support to Council committees. The Clerk is located at 200 N Spring Street, Room 360. Call (213) 978-0444 or toll-free at (888) 873-1000. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Council File Management System at cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect is your main search tool for city legislation. This online database has all council files dating back to 1979. You can find ordinances, resolutions, votes, reports, and documents filed with the City Council. The system is free to use and updates regularly as new items are added.
CFMS shows legislation status, committee actions, and voting records. Search by file number, keyword, date range, or council member name. Each file includes scanned copies of reports and attachments when available. This is where you track proposed laws, commendatory resolutions, and official city business.
California Public Records Act Requests
Los Angeles responds to public records requests under the California Public Records Act. Government Code sections 6250 and following give you the right to inspect and copy public records. The city uses NextRequest as its online portal for CPRA requests. Visit recordsrequest.lacity.org to submit a new request or track existing ones.
City departments have 10 calendar days to respond to your request. They can extend this deadline by 14 more days in certain situations. Be specific when you describe what records you want. Include date ranges if possible. The city does not need to create new records or answer questions. They only provide documents that already exist.
Some records are free. Others may have copying costs. Electronic records often cost nothing. Paper copies may have a per-page fee. The city will tell you about fees before processing your request. You do not need to give a reason for asking. No ID is required for most requests. The act protects your right to know how government works and what information it holds.
Note: Los Angeles County has a separate CPRA portal at lacountyrrcc.nextrequest.com for county records.
Court Case Access
Court records in Los Angeles come from the Superior Court system. The court handles civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. Each case type has different access rules. Civil cases are mostly public. Criminal cases show basic info but may hide victim details. Family law cases protect sensitive information about children and finances. Juvenile cases are confidential.
The Civil Index search at lacourt.org/paos/v2public/CivilIndex covers unlimited civil cases back to 1983, limited civil from 1991, and small claims from 1992. Family law and probate also start in 1983. Search by party name to find case numbers, filing dates, and courthouse locations. Many cases have imaged documents you can view for an extra fee.
Criminal case searches require an in-person visit to the courthouse where the case was filed. The court does not publish criminal defendant names online due to privacy concerns. You can search at public terminals inside courthouses. Bring the case number or defendant name if you have it. Clerks cannot give legal advice but can help you locate files.
To get copies of court documents, visit the clerk's office at the courthouse handling the case. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies have an added certification fee. Some courthouses let you order by mail or fax. Include the case number, document description, and your contact info. Pay by check or money order made out to the Superior Court.
Business Entity Information
Business filings for Los Angeles companies go through multiple offices depending on what you need. Corporations, LLCs, and partnerships file formation documents with the California Secretary of State. Search at sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities to find any California business. The database is free and shows entity name, number, status, and date formed. Certified copies cost $5.
Fictitious business names are filed with Los Angeles County, not the state. If a company operates under a name different from its legal name, it must file a DBA statement with the County Clerk. These records are searchable through the Registrar-Recorder office. Call (800) 201-8999 to ask about fictitious name searches.
City business licenses and permits are handled by the Office of Finance. These records show whether a business is licensed to operate in Los Angeles. Some license types are public. Others may have privacy limits. Contact the city department that issues the license to check availability.
Ways to Access Records
You have several options for getting Los Angeles public records. Online searches are the fastest and cheapest. Many databases are free to use. You can search from home any time. This works well for city council files, business entities, property assessments, and some court indexes.
In-person visits give you the most access. Clerks can help you find what you need. You can view records on the spot and order copies right away. Bring valid ID and cash or card for fees. Most offices are open weekdays during business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask what documents to bring.
Mail requests work if you know exactly what you want. Write a letter describing the records. Include your name, address, and phone number. Some offices have forms to fill out. Send payment if you know the cost. Otherwise ask for a quote first. Processing by mail takes longer than going in person but saves you a trip.
Email and phone work for simple questions. Staff can tell you what records exist and how to get them. They cannot do research for you or provide legal advice. Use email for requests that need a written response. Call if you just need quick directions or office hours.
Legal Rights and Limits
California law gives you broad rights to access public records. The California Public Records Act says any writing about government business is public unless a specific exemption applies. Exemptions protect privacy, law enforcement investigations, attorney-client privilege, and other sensitive information. The government must justify any denial.
Vital records have stricter rules. Health and Safety Code Section 103526(c) lists who can get birth and death certificates. This protects privacy while allowing family members and legal parties to obtain records they need. Marriage records are less restricted but still require eligibility under state law.
Court records follow separate rules. California Rules of Court 2.503 and related provisions set access standards. Judges can seal files in sensitive cases. Some information is redacted to protect victims and children. Juvenile cases remain confidential to protect minors. Financial records in family law cases may be sealed.
You cannot use public records for illegal purposes. Commercial use of vital records is banned. Stalking, harassment, and identity theft are crimes. Follow the law when you request and use government records. Most legitimate research, journalism, legal, and personal uses are fine.
Other Major California Cities
Looking for records in nearby cities? California has many large cities, each with its own record systems. San Diego offers similar services through its city clerk and county offices. San Jose and San Francisco maintain separate databases for their municipal records. Each city uses different platforms and has unique procedures.
Records for these cities: