How to Search California Public Records

California has no free statewide criminal database. Court records are at the county Superior Court level. Property and recorded documents vary by county - some combine the Assessor and Recorder, others keep them separate.

  • Court cases: each county's Superior Court runs its own case search. No unified statewide portal.
  • Criminal background: Live Scan fingerprint check through CA DOJ is the only comprehensive option.
  • Business entities: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov - Secretary of State business search.
  • Sex offenders: meganslaw.ca.gov - DOJ sex offender database with map search.
  • Property: county-level - each county Assessor/Recorder handles its own records.
Population
39.4M
Households
13.3M
Median Income
$91,905
Median Home Value
$659,300

Statewide Databases

60 official California government databases. Click a tab to filter by record type.

Court Records

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Superior Courts
Official Free
California Superior Courts directory.
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Court Records — Court of Appeals Cases
Official Free
Search California Court of Appeals case docket information.
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Supreme Court & Court of Appeals — Archives
Official Free
Archived opinions from the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
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California Supreme Court & Appeals Decisions
Official Free
Search California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal published and unpublished opinions.
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Court Opinions 1850-Present
Official Free
Comprehensive archive of California court opinions from 1850 to present.
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Judges
Official Free
Roster of judges in California Superior Courts.
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Attorney General Opinions
Official Free
Search California Attorney General formal legal opinions.
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Court Records — PACER Federal District Courts
Official Free
California federal district court records via PACER.

Criminal Records

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Inmates — Department of Corrections
Official Free
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) inmate locator.
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Inmates — Death Row
Official Free
California Death Row inmates list maintained by CDCR.
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Missing Persons
Official Free
California missing persons database from the Attorney General.
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Registered Offenders
Official Free
California sex offender database with map search.
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Criminal Records — Applicant Agencies
Official Free
California DOJ list of agencies authorized to request applicant fingerprint background checks.
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Criminal Records — Your Record
Official Free
Request your own California criminal history record from the DOJ.

Vital Records

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Death Records — Prior to 1905
Official Free
California death records before 1905 indexed by county.
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Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates
Official Free
Order California birth, death, and marriage certificates from CDPH.
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Births — 1905-1995
Official Free
Free search of California Birth Index 1905-1995.

Property Records

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Unclaimed Property
Official Free
California unclaimed property search by name of owner.
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Recorders Offices
Official Free
Directory of California County Recorders Offices.
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Tax Assessors
Official Free
California county Assessors directory.
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Tax Rates — City & County
Official Free
California sales and use tax rates by city and county.
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Estates of Deceased Persons
Official Free
California estates of deceased persons under State Controller jurisdiction.

Licenses

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DMV Personalized Plates
Official Free
Order or search California personalized license plates.
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Attorneys — State Bar
Official Free
Verify California attorney license status through the State Bar.
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Business Permit Requirements
Official Free
CalGold California business permit assistance portal.
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Charitable Organizations
Official Free
California Attorney General charitable trust registry.
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Apprentice Programs
Official Free
California apprentice programs directory.
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Smog Test Results
Official Free
California vehicle smog test inspection results.
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Apprentice Programs — Public Works
Official Free
California apprentice programs for public works.
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Licenses — Professional, Medical & Business
Official Free
California professional, medical, and business license search hub.
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DMV Insurance Inquiry
Official Free
Verify California vehicle insurance coverage through DMV.
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Health Care Benefits — Covered California
Official Free
Shop and compare California health care plans through Covered California.
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Obamacare Doctors
Official Free
LA Times searchable database of Covered California physicians.

Business Records

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California Business Entity Search
Official Free
Search California Secretary of State records for corporations, LLCs, and partnerships.
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Corporations — Securities, Investment, Franchises
Official Free
California DFPI regulated entities including securities and franchises.
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Bankruptcies — Judgments — Tax Liens
Official Free
California bankruptcies, judgments, and tax liens premium search.
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Uniform Commercial Code Filings
Official Free
California UCC filings search through Secretary of State.
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Corporations — Publicly Traded Disclosures
Official Free
California publicly traded corporation disclosures.
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Fictitious Business Names
Official Free
California fictitious business names search hub.

Civic Records

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Traffic Incident Reports
Official Free
Real-time California Highway Patrol traffic incident reports.
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Employees Directory
Official Free
Directory of California state government departments and employees.
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Codes and Statutes
Official Free
California codes and statutes online.
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State Agencies
Official Free
Directory of California state agencies.
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Campaign Finance
Official Free
California campaign finance disclosures via Cal-Access.
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Legislation
Official Free
Search California legislation, bills, and codes.
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California Official State Page
Official Free
Official California state government homepage.
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Public Notices
Official Free
California public notices published in newspapers.
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Campaign Finance — Power Search
Official Free
Advanced California campaign finance search by MapLight.

Other Records

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Correct an Address in California
Official Free
UB CEDAR address standardization for California addresses.
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College Courses
Official Free
California Virtual Campus online college courses.
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School Quality
Official Free
California school LCFF accountability reports.
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Coastal Photographs
Official Free
California Coastal Records Project aerial photography of the coastline.
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Missing Children
Official Free
California missing children search via NCMEC.
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Adoption Lawyers
Official Free
California Academy of Adoption Lawyers member directory.
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Shipwrecks
Official Free
California State Lands Commission shipwreck index.
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Museums
Official Free
California Association of Museums directory.
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Narratives — 1849-1900
Official Free
Library of Congress California first-person narratives 1849-1900.
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School Data
Official Free
Ed-Data California school district and school performance data.
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School Ratings
Official Free
California School Dashboard performance ratings.
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Earthquakes
Official Free
UCSB real-time California earthquake map.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. California does not offer a free public criminal history database. You can search individual county Superior Court websites for court-level criminal cases. For a full background, you need a Live Scan fingerprint check through the California Department of Justice - this requires the subject's consent.

Each county runs its own Superior Court case search - there is no single statewide court portal. Go to the county Superior Court website where the case was filed. Major counties like LA (lacourt.org), San Diego (sdcourt.ca.gov), and SF (sf.courts.ca.gov) have online case search.

The Secretary of State at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. Search corporations, LLCs, LPs, and other business entities filed in California.

The Assessor determines property values for tax purposes. The Recorder (or Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents. Some counties combine them into one office (San Diego, Sonoma, Marin). Others keep them separate (LA, Santa Clara). Check the specific county page for details.

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