How do I find a Los Angeles County court case without a case number?
Use the court's official name-search service to locate the case number. Open the Los Angeles Superior Court Access a Case page and choose Search For Case by Name. Select the appropriate criminal or noncriminal route, enter the name requested, and compare possible matches with the details you know. Review the service's fees before searching.
Independent information: This website is not affiliated with the court and does not search court records or accept search payments or records requests.
Check Your Existing Documents First
If you are a party to the case, check your summons, complaint, petition, hearing notice, judgment, or attorney correspondence before paying for a search. Look for “Case Number” or “Case No.”
Confirm the court named on the document. This guide concerns Los Angeles Superior Court; federal cases and cases filed in other counties use their own court services. A police report number or inmate booking number is not a court case number.
Prepare the Details You Know
Gather information that can help you find and distinguish the intended case:
- Name: The person's full name or the business's legal name as used in the filing.
- Known name variations: A former surname, middle initial, or alternate spelling appearing in existing documents.
- Case type: For example, criminal, civil, family law, probate, small claims, or eviction.
- Approximate filing period: The year or date range when the case was filed.
- Other identifying details: Another party's name or the courthouse mentioned in correspondence.
Not every detail is an online search field. Keep the information available to compare results or explain your request to a clerk. The filing date may differ from the incident, arrest, separation, or hearing date.
Choose the Correct Official Search
Use the name-search route rather than a service that requires a case number. The starting point depends on the matter:
| Matter | Starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, family law, probate, or small claims | Search For Case by Name through Access a Case. | Use an individual or company name as permitted and review the service's coverage. |
| Criminal | Search for Case by Defendant Name. | This index excludes traffic and other infractions. |
| Residential eviction | The court's name-search instructions and Eviction Case Access information through Access a Case. | Public access restrictions may affect whether the case is available. |
| Traffic or another infraction | Traffic Citations on the court website. | Follow that service's identifier and assistance instructions. |
| An appeal with a known underlying trial case number | Appellate Case Access on the Find Case Information page. | The court provides a lookup using the underlying trial case number. |
Search by Name and Check Possible Matches
- Read the selected service's instructions. Check record coverage, account or guest options, and search requirements.
- Enter the name. Use the fields provided for a person or company and the name likely to appear in the filing.
- Apply supported filters. Use date or matching options only when offered and when your information is reliable.
- Review before payment. Check spelling, selected options, and the displayed charge.
- Compare possible matches. Use available case titles, party names, case types, filing dates, and locations to identify the intended case.
A matching name alone does not establish identity. If several results remain plausible, ask the responsible court office how to clarify the match before relying on a case number.
If the first search is unsuccessful, check your documents before trying another known name variation. For example, a divorce case may use the surname held when it was filed, while a business case may use a legal company name rather than a storefront name.
Once you identify the correct case, save the complete case number, case type, and filing location. Use the matching service on the Find Case Information page to confirm the available case details.
Understand Name-Search Fees
The court's Online Services FAQ explains that name-search fees are charged for performing the search and may apply even when the desired record is not found. Review the selected service's current charges and terms before submitting or repeating a search.
If You Still Cannot Find the Case Number
Use Contacts & Locations on the court website to identify the appropriate courthouse or division. Explain that you do not have the case number and provide the party names, likely case type, approximate filing year, and any known courthouse. Ask what search assistance and fees apply.
For older cases outside the online index's coverage, ask about Archives and Records assistance. Check the office's instructions and any appointment requirements before visiting; do not assume every clerk's office provides a courtwide telephone search.
An unsuccessful search does not establish that no case exists. Restricted records may require a separate access process. For further troubleshooting, see why a Los Angeles County court case may not appear online.
Search options, fees, and record availability may change. Follow current court instructions and direct search assistance requests to the responsible office. Messages submitted to this website do not reach the court.