California public records. Learn how to access public records maintained by the California Department of Justice, such as criminal history information, Megan's Law, and consumer information. This Self-Help Guide only has legal information, not information about individual court cases. Accessing Court Case Files Court case files are public records and subject to public inspection. Free arrest, police reports, open warrants and court searches. Every The Open Government Guide summarizes the legal landscape for open meeting and open records laws in California. , Birth Records, Death Records, or Divorce Records) to search for your subject matter. Effective 4/9/21 Public records in the possession of the Government Operations Agency (GovOps) which are not exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act shall be available for inspection, and copies of such public records shall be provided, pursuant to these The California Public Records Act requires that governmental records be accessible to the public when requested, unless exempt by the law. They include documents regarding matters being heard by the court and those litigated in the past. Guidelines for Access to Public Records: California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250, et seq. More Search California public records, including arrests, criminal records, divorce records, background checks, and CA state records on anyone. 530. California Rules of Court, rule 2. Find California government offices, criminal, court, inmate, marriage, divorce, birth and death records. This may include written or electronic information. Within 10 days after the request is received, CRD will determine whether it possesses the requested records, the cost to produce the records, and, if no cost, the estimated The California State Archives has some original and microfilm local government records from 28 California counties. Superior Court (2017) 2 Cal. California Vital Records Death Records Death Certificates California Death Certificate Search In California, the Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) is tasked with generating and managing all California death records, including death certificates. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot process criminal history requests or requests for records held by other state agencies and local government agencies. The California freedom of information act, foia is a law that allows citizens partial or full access to government public records. Discover where to find free marriage records and how to locate obtain copies in California. Find out the guidelines, fees, exemptions, and online form for requesting records. Code § 6250 et seq. Find reliable, up-to-date information from various government services and entities. GOVQA LINK Records exempt: Records are open to public inspection at all times during normal working hours. Learn how to locate marriage records, including marriage certificates, marriage licenses and other documents. Documents on file are vital to the real estate, legal and banking communities and the general economy of the County. It is the goal of the City to provide service in a transparent manner, which includes timely access to requested records in accordance with the California Public Records Act (PRA), Government Code Sections 7920 to 7931 . If a records request involves review of physical records by more than one department, a mutually agreeable time should be established for the inspection of records. org The California Public Records Act (PRA) gives every person the right to access public records in the physical custody of the Secretary of State unless the records are exempt from disclosure by law. 400 (a) states that all papers in the court files may be inspected by the public in the office of the clerk. The law is similar to the Freedom of The California Public Records Act provides for an extension of the initial 10-day period to respond to the request in some limited circumstances, such as when inspection of voluminous records is required. See the text of the CPRA in sections 6250 and 6253 of the California The Public Records Act (PRA) gives you access to public records we maintain unless they’re exempt from disclosure by law. Exemptions We are exempt from disclosing certain public records or portions of public records. . Rule 2. The California Public Records Act (PRA) gives every person the right to access public records in the physical custody of the Secretary of State unless the records are exempt from disclosure by law. Gaining access to public records is a fundamental aspect of upholding transparency and accountability in any democratic society. Learn how to request and obtain public records from the Secretary of State, such as business filings, elections, and archives. Dec 26, 2024 · Explore the nuances of California Government Code 6254, detailing exemptions and their impact on public access to records. Disclaimer To begin your search for information, select "Accept and Enter" to proceed. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. If so, no member of the public may view the electronic case record, either at the courthouse or through remote access. Find California criminal, court, inmate, marriage, divorce, birth, death, phone, address, bankruptcy, sex offender, property, arrest, people, relatives, legal, tax and other records on StateRecords. Mar 13, 2024 · Search California public records such as court, criminal, inmate, marriage, divorce, birth, death, phone, address, bankruptcy, sex offender, property, arrest, legal, tax and other state records. 550 (a) says that unless confidential or sealed by law, all court records are presumed open. The purpose of the Act is to give the public access to information that The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) can ONLY provide certified copies of certificates for public marriages that occurred in the years: Today two laws are fundamental to the public’s right to access public records, the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 7920. APN searches remain available only at our in-person kiosks conveniently The California Public Records Online Directory is a Portal to the Recorder’s, Assessor’s and Treasurer’s offices that have developed web sites for the retrieval of available public records over the Internet. Find the general type of record you are seeking (e. Generally, CRD does not release records from open cases. Additional Right to Access: Legal Authority The California Public Records Act provides for a right of access to public records and other information. Find out more in guidelines, pdf for accessing public records maintained by the California Department of Justice. " The County is subject to California laws relating to public records. A copy of these In 1968, the California Legislature enacted the California Public Records Act (CPRA) under Government Code (GC) sections 6250-6270. While certified certificates are only available to family members, informational copies are available to anyone. ). " Updated including changes effective January 1, 2025 Representing California public and private entities since 1954 Learn how to obtain public records in California, including court records, birth records, death records, marriage records, and more. ) and the following guidelines: I. Stay updated on local law enforcement activities. Public records in the possession of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) which are not exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act shall be available for inspection, and copies of such public records shall be provided, pursuant to these guidelines. 000 to 7931. (a) Public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect any public record, except as hereafter provided. Understanding California Public Records Accessing public records in California can be a powerful tool for a variety of purposes, from genealogy research to background checks and legal investigations. Public records are open to inspection by appointment during normal business hours. These guidelines are posted in all Department offices and on the department's public website. Juvenile cases, Traffic/Minor Offense cases, and cases from before 1974 are not included in the Court Index. Labor Commissioner's Office - Public Record Requests Labor Commissioner's Office - Public Record Requests Public records maintained by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) are available for inspection by members of the public pursuant to the Public Records Act (PRA) which is contained in the California Government Code sections 7920-7931. Compare your state’s laws. , Vital Records), then select the desired subcategory (e. That right is provided for in the California Public Records Act and the state constitution, and it includes the right to inspect and copy records of state and local government agencies. PUBLIC INFORMATION & RECORDS Los Angeles County is committed to open government and the public’s right to timely information. This handbook was updated in 2023 to reflect the renumbering of the California Public Records Act. Remote Access to Case Records by Parties and Other People Related to the Case Certain people, such as a party or a party’s attorney can always use remote access, if available, to look at the full electronic court case record. Our gratitude to James Chadwick, formerly of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, author of the 2006 guide. Apr 23, 2025 · Right of Public Access: The public has a general right to inspect and/or obtain copies of public records maintained by state and local agencies pursuant to the Public Records Act (PRA). This page has general information about how to look up cases with the court. The county courts keep all court records. org. A summary of the Public Records Act can be found on the Attorney General's website. A California death certificate provides vital You can locate a case if you know: The name of a party associated with the case, or The case number, or The District Attorney (DA) case number (criminal cases) Please note: Civil Limited and Misdemeanor Records may be available only for 10 years for some court locations. 000 et seq. Aug 1, 2023 · California Public Records Act Primer This handbook is a project of the First Amendment Coalition. Learn how to request copies of judicial administrative records and case records from the Judicial Council and the courts. Search California public public records on ThePublicIndex. While many records are accessible, the PRA as well as other statutes may protect (exempt) records from disclosure, including but not limited to, confidential records such as medical records, investigative DWC Obtaining information or records from the Division Obtaining information or records from the Division Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, the public has the right to inspect or obtain a copy of any identifiable public record, except those records that are legally exempt from public disclosure. Types of records include: Probate (primarily indexes and case files), Courts (County, District, Judicial, and Superior Court case files, judgments, registers, and fee books), Bonds, Letters and Wills, Naturalization, Deeds, Homesteads (may include Homestead declarations and Vital Records The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) maintains birth, death, fetal death/still birth, marriage, and divorce records for California. California birth, death, marriage and divorce records are maintained by the California Department of Public Health Vital Records (CDPH). Follow these simple steps to retrieve arrest, warrant, and inmate records, property THE BASICS The Public Records Act is designed to give the public access to information in possession of public agencies: "public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of theagency and every person has a right to inspect any public record, except as . Jul 31, 2025 · The California Public Records Act, which can be found at California Government Code sections 7920 - 7931, is the California law that provides the public the right to inspect and the right to promptly obtain copies of "public records. This is for informational purposes only. Public Records Request The California Legislature has declared that access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in California, as set forth in Article 1, Section 3 of the California Constitution and the California Public Records Act (Gov’t. CDPH provides a database with contact information for every local registrar of births and deaths and every county recorder. The Public has a right to inspect and/or obtain copies of public records maintained by state and local agencies pursuant to the California Public Records Act (PRA). Search California state records. May 15, 2025 · What is the California Public Records Act (CPRA)? The California Public Records Act (CPRA) was passed by the California Legislature in 1968 for government agencies and requires that government records be disclosed to the public, upon request, unless there are privacy and/or public safety exemptions which would prevent doing so. The California Public Records Act (PRA), Government Code Sections 7920. Public Records Act. The information provided on and obtained from this site does not constitute the official record of Kern County Superior Court. The California Public Records Act (Statutes of 1968, Chapter 1473; currently codified as Division 10 of Title 1 of the California Government Code) [1] was a law passed by the California State Legislature and signed by governor Ronald Reagan in 1968 requiring inspection or disclosure of governmental records to the public upon request, unless exempted by law. Unlike some states with strict access laws, California offers a broad range of public records that can be obtained by citizens. Public records are any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by the The California Public Records Act (PRA) gives every person the right to access public records in the physical custody of the Secretary of State unless the records are exempt from disclosure by law. To facilitate processing your Public Records Act request, we encourage you to use the electronic form provided below which will be submitted directly to the Public Records Coordinator of the Attorney General’s Office. Note Sep 9, 2025 · Note: This page covers information specific to California. Each member devoted countless hours to this project, and the League sincerely thanks each of them. The California Public Records Act was created to "guarantee access to information concerning the conduct of the People's business a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state. The Public Archives Act (PDF) created in 1850 established a public archives under the Secretary of State to ensure California's history would be preserved. Efficiently search through California’s public records using our official portal. This information is provided as a service to the general public. Find California Marriage Records. The California Public Records Act also establishes reasonable procedures providing for prompt disclosure while allowing government agencies the time to locate records and to determine which records, if any, are exempt from disclosure. Inspection of Records In general, all public records are open to inspection by any person on any state business day from 3 days ago · Search public records in California by name, phone, address, or email. However, individuals have the right to request a copy of their own criminal history record from the Department to review for accuracy and completeness. (§ 6253 Access to criminal history summary records maintained by the DOJ is restricted by law to legitimate law enforcement purposes and authorized applicant agencies. Public Records Act Requests Public records in the possession of the California State Auditor’s Office that are not exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act and other applicable laws are available for inspection or copying pursuant to these guidelines. Find out the fees, exemptions, and procedures for inspecting or copying records. The California Public Records Act does not require and, in some cases, forbids the production of certain information and/or records. THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS: A Guide to the California Public Records Act ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AUTHORS OF THE PEOPLE’S BUSINESS The League gratefully acknowledges the work of the Public Records Act Publication Committee, which authored this guide. Find links to commonly requested records, such as divorce, name change, criminal background, and traffic records. Use our hand-picked collection to verify licenses, find court records, corporations, property, deeds, and more. All information contained in a CPRA request, including a requester’s information, is considered public record, and may be subject to public inspection, pursuant to Government Code Section 7920. 530): California Government Code section 6252(e) states: "Public records" includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Comprehensive Online Guide to California Public Records Online. 6253. Apr 9, 2021 · State of CaliforniaGuidelines for Access to Public Records: California Public Records Act Government Code section 6250, et seq. For general information concerning access to government records see the Access to Government Records section of this guide. You have a statutory right to inspect a vast number of California's public records using the state's California Public Records Act (CPRA). While many records are accessible, the PRA as well as other statutes may preclude disclosure of records including, but not limited to, specified personnel View Article May 11, 2022 · The California Public Records Act (“CPRA”) strikes a balance between the need for privacy in certain records and the people’s interest in transparent government. The Public Records Act makes all non-exempt CSD records – including the remainder of records after exempt portions are redacted – in any form or medium – subject to public inspection during CSD's regular office hours or other reasonable timeframe Explore California arrest records. This comprehensive legislation, passed in 1968, applies to both state and local government entities, making it a valuable tool Easily locate California public records utilizing our intuitive, human-edited directory of public record sources. Search California public, government employee, workers salaries, pensions and compensation Under the California Public Records Act and applicable legal privileges, certain records are available to the public and others are exempt from public disclosure. Riverside County certificates of births or deaths that occurred this year and last year only can be ordered from Riverside University Health System-Public Health CALIFORNIA STATE LAW CHANGE - NO APN SEARCHES ALLOWED ONLINE Effective December 9, 2024 Changes to Official Record Search Due to California state law (Assembly Bill 1785) – California Public Records Act, the Assessor Parcel Number (APN) search functionality is no longer available in our online Official Record Search. (Government Code section 7920. How to look up a court case You cannot find case information on this website. This blog post discusses several topics related to CPRA requests, including the requirements of the The recording operation services several Los Angeles County departments, such as the Assessor, Health Services, Public Social Services and Regional Planning. Search police logs, crime reports, and press releases across various counties. pro-vided, [and to receive] an exact copy” of an identifiable record unless impracticable. 000 et seq) and the California Information Practices Act (Civil Code section 1798 et seq). " The Act Concerning the Public Archives 6253. In its findings and declarations, mindful of the right of individuals' privacy, the Legislature declared it was the public’s right to access information concerning the people’s business. Can I obtain records of other state agencies or local government agencies from the DOJ Public January 2023 California citizens have a right to access public information maintained by government agencies, including the Department of Justice (Department). The California Law Revision Commission has this table showing how previous sections of the Public Records Act were renumbered. Updates by staff of the First Amendment Coalition: Legal Director David Loy and Legal Fellows Monica Price and Khrystan Policarpio, with contributions from Advocacy Director Ginny LaRoe and Office of Vital Records, RUHS-Public Health Birth and Death Certificates for current year and last year only. What Are Public Records? Public records are official documents Search California criminal and public records access statewide. Find out the eligibility requirements, fees, and contact information for different government agencies. Questions / Comments 1106 Madison Street Oakland, CA 94607 local:1-510-272-6362 toll free:1-888-280-7708 Official Public Records Disclaimer Information on this web site is collected, maintained and provided by the Alameda County Clerk/Recorder's Office as a service to the community. The California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) maintains a permanent, public record of every birth that has occurred in California since July 1905. What is a Public Record? City of San Jose v. Here is a partial list of exempt documents: Request Public Records Make a new Public Records Act request Submit a request, correspond with the County, and track requests online. which appertain to or are in any way connected with the political history and past administration of the government of California. Sep 24, 2025 · Santa Ana, CA – O range County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is proud to highlight the success of the department’s Pre-Paid Marriage Certificate Program, a convenient service designed to save newlyweds time, travel, and stress after their wedding. The County’s Open Data Portal and other key resources are linked below. Typically, the best first step is to look for information on the court's website Go to the court's What are California Criminal Court Records? California criminal court records consist of all case files and documents created in relation to a criminal court proceeding within the state’s judicial branch. Oct 30, 2023 · -- Last revised 10/30/23 -- California Public Records Act Clean-Up - Study G-400 Chapter 150 of the Statutes of 2016 directs the Law Revision Commission to: [S]tudy, report on, and prepare recommended legislation as soon as possible, considering the Commission's preexisting duties and workload demands, concerning the revision of the portions of the California Public Records Act and related Public Records Request It is the policy of the Department of Health Care Access and Information to provide access to public records consistent with the requirements of the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 7920, et seq. ) Public records in the possession of the State Treasurer’s Office (STO) and the boards, authorities, and commissions chaired by the State Treasurer which are not exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Public Records Act shall be available for inspection, and copies of such public On March 2, 2017, a unanimous California Supreme Court ruled that written communications that primarily involve government business made by public officials on private accounts or privately-owned devices are public records under the PRA. However, these records usually exclude criminal histories or inmate records as they are California public record databases. 000, requires the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to make public records available for inspection by the public and to provide copies upon request. For example, personally identifiable information such as a public employee’s home address, home telephone number, cell phone number, and birth date cannot be released in response to a California Public Records Act request, pursuant to California Government Code The City of Sacramento understands and supports the public's right to access the public records created and maintained by the City in the course of their normal business. We do not perform legal research or Vital Records Access to vital records such as birth and death records and public marriage records by county. The Office of Vital Records in the Public Health department registers all births and deaths within the County of Riverside. These certificates are open to the public per California Public Records Act. 5th 608 In San Jose, the California Supreme Court focused on the definition of “public record” under the CPRA (Gov’t Code, § 7920. A Records Liaison will be happy to assist you! View contact information for City departments. Any user of this California Public Records Act (CPRA) Requests at OAH Requests for records may be oral or in writing; however, OAH encourages written requests to be submitted via the GovQA system (link below) in order to assist the department in providing accurate, complete and timely responses. Access CA criminal records, court filings, property data, and more. Services provided by CDPH-VR include issuing certified copies of California vital records and registering and amending vital records as authorized by law. . Taken together, these records represent the legal foundation of state government and are frequently used by the courts, the legal community, state and local governments, and the public. This web portal will help you communicate with the State Bar of California about what documents you need. In California, the Public Records Act (CPRA) ensures that government agencies disclose records to the public upon request. Requests from third parties are not authorized and will not be processed. Every effort is made to keep this information accurate. The ruling applies to all elected officials and employees of a public agency such as the City. Learn what is covered under the California freedom of information act, the records exempt from foia in California, how to file an California foia request and the cost and lenght of time it takes to process a foia request in California. What is a Public Records Coordinator? An official appointed to assist private citizens access California Department of Justice's public information, per the California Public Records Act. g. The reality of the balance is that it may – and often does – weigh heavily upon agencies that must respond to CPRA requests. The California State Archives California's first legislature, meeting in 1849–50, charged the Secretary of State to receive "…all public records, registered maps, books, papers, rolls, documents and other writings . Government Code 7920 et seq. PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS The California Public Records Act declares that access to government information is a fundamental right of residents. les ajxx ses ftbqan wfzui2 vtq9a 1o z37ips 8q2d zvaor