Accessing Court Case Files

Court case files are public records and subject to public inspection. California Rules of Court, rule 2.400(a) states that all papers in the court files may be inspected by the public in the office of the clerk. Rule 2.550(a) says that unless confidential or sealed by law, all court records are presumed open.

The public may view and obtain copies of the following case types:

• Criminal
• Civil
• Domestic (Divorce, Child Custody, Legal Separation, and Domestic Violence)
• Mental Health (Civil and Criminal)
• Minor Offense (Traffic and Infractions)
• Probate
• Small claims
  
  
• How to locate a court file
• View a court file
• Obtain a copy of a court file