Online Services - Q & A's

Q & A's

Important
If you are unable to find the answer to your question on our web site or the following "Common Questions and Answers," you may e-mail OnlineServices@lacourt.org.

Updated 09/18/2018

► General

▼ General
Is this a secure website? The Los Angeles Superior Court maintains a high standard of security on its web site and HTTP and HTTPS protocols are used where appropriate. The site uses a full 128-bit encryption with SSL certificate issued by Verisign, Inc. Our systems are protected by network firewalls and intrusion detection devices ensuring that confidential information such as credit card information, names, passwords, etc. remains secure.
What are the system requirements of this website? This site requires that your computer must have at least 64MB of RAM to view case documents. Your browser must accept cookies from this site and pop up blockers must be disabled. Documents are in PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible software to view, save and/or print documents. The site is best viewed using Internet Explorer 10.0 or higher.
May I pay for Online Services by check?  No. Currently, the site only accepts payment via valid Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or debit cards. American Express cards are NOT accepted.
What is a credit card verification code and where can I find it?  The credit card verification code is the three-digit security code that is printed on the back of your card at the end of the signature panel. On some cards, the verification code is preceded by the last four digits of the card number. Our site requires you to input a credit card verification code for each credit card transaction for security reasons.
Is there a program to allow "no fee" searches for government or non-profit organizations?  At this time, the Court has no plans to develop a "no fee" program for government agencies.
How do I register an account to use Online Services? Start on either the Case Document Images, Search for Case Number by Name, or Search for Case Number by Defendant Name pages to register an account with the Court. You can find theses under the Online Services tab on our website.  Click on the Continue button to begin the registration process, then To register, click here on the login page. Type "I Agree" (without the quotations "") at the bottom of the User Agreement and input your information selecting Regular account type on the New User Registration page. The Regular account type allows users to pay as you go. You may use your User ID and password to login immediately
What is the format for Registered User IDs and passwords? The User ID must contain only letters and/or numbers, spaces are not allowed.  It must have 6 – 8 characters and it is NOT case sensitive. The password must contain at least one letter, at least one number and at least one special character (a special character is a printable character that is not a letter and is not a number. ie: *, #, %) – no spaces.  It must have 6 – 12 characters and IS case sensitive.
Is there a way to set up a prepayment billing account? Yes, users may establish a prepayment billing account by registering online with the Los Angeles Superior Court and selecting "Regular Account" (as described above) on the "New Registration" page. After you register, please send your request for "Prepayment Account" via e-mail to OnlineServices@lacourt.org. Please include: Your User ID The last four digits of the credit card The credit card billing address Your contact telephone number. Once the information is received and verified, we will convert your account to a prepayment account and notify you via e-mail. At that time, you may deposit funds into your account. The amount you deposit is non-refundable and non-interest bearing. A valid credit card is required for the deposit. Multiple searches may be performed (up to your prepaid limit) without authorizing your credit card for each search.
I forgot my password and/or User ID. What can I do to access my account? You may retrieve a forgotten Password by using the Automated Password tool. You may retrieve a forgotten User ID by using the Automated User ID tool.
I requested a password reset or my user ID and I did not receive an email. What happened? The email address entered is not: Associated with the account. Verfied or validated. If you requested a password reset and an email address is not associated with the account, you will be prompted to provide additional information before the password may be changed. If you do not have an email associated with your account, you cannot use the automated user ID retrieval feature. In addition, if your email has not been verified, this site will not issue an email for a password reset or send you your user ID.
How do I change the email address associated with the account? You may change the account information online. After logging in, click 'Update Account' on the Confirm User Information screen. Scroll down to the Update User Information screen, change the information in the appropriate fields and click on the 'Update' button. Keep in mind that only the account administrator (of a multiple member account) may change the credit card information.
What is a verified/validated email? Once you have associated an email address to your Online Services account, the system will send that email address a verification code to confirm your email address is correct. Until this verification code has been entered into the system, your email is considered unverified and you will not be able to use the automated password/user id retrieval.
How do I reactivate my Online Services account? Send an e-mail to onlineservices@lacourt.org. You will need to provide the following information for verification purposes: Your User ID The last four digits of the credit card registered with this account The billing address for the credit card (for verification purposes) We will research your account and reply appropriately via e-mail when the information is received and verified. Normal support hours are Mon – Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Support is not available on weekends or on Court Holidays
How do I update or change my credit card information, billing address, etc.? You may change the account information online. After logging in, click 'Update Account' on the Confirm User Information screen. Scroll down to the Update User Information screen, change the information in the appropriate fields and click on the 'Update' button. Keep in mind that only the account administrator (of a multiple member account) may change the credit card information.
I'm asked for the 'Administrator Password' when I try to update my credit card information. What is the 'Administrator Password?' The account administrator is the person who initially registered the account. On a Multiple Member account, the account administrator is the one who can issue individual member IDs and passwords and update credit card information. On regular accounts, the 'Administrator Password' is simply the same password that is used when logging in.
What kind of questions can I send to onlineservices@lacourt.org? The webmaster will only respond to questions about Online Services within the Los Angeles Superior Court. Please contact the appropriate court location for questions related to: A specific case Case history information Court operations You can find out how to contact the different court locations at http://www.lacourt.org/courthouse Questions regarding other government agencies should be directed to the appropriate agency.
The web page disclaimer says information obtained from this site does not constitute the official record of the court. How can I obtain a certified copy of an official record of the court? You should contact the appropriate office for your case type at the courthouse that handles the case. You can find a list of courthouse locations and office phone numbers at http://www.lacourt.org/courthouse Any request for certified copies can be submitted by U.S. Mail and addressed to the Los Angeles Superior Court, 111 N. Hill Street, Certification Unit Room 112C, Los Angeles, CA 90012. All such copies, either ordered in person or via U.S. Mail, must be prepaid. Our Certification Unit does not accept credit cards. Customers who place orders by mail must provide a blank check made out to "Clerk, Los Angeles Superior Court" with the check protector under the written amount line: "Not for more than $15.00" (or whatever amount is estimated as sufficient to cover the copy cost and return postage. You can view the Court's Fee Schedule which includes copy and certification fees here: http://www.lacourt.org/forms/Fees.
Who owns the information on this website? Specific copyright and other proprietary rights may apply to information in a case file obtained from this site, absent an express grant of additional rights by the holder of the copyright or other proprietary right, use of such information is permissible only to the extent permitted by law or court order, and any use inconsistent with proprietary rights is prohibited.
How do I contact Online Services? Contact onlineservices@lacourt.org and include: Registered accounts (you have a UserID and Password) The User ID for your registered account Receipt number(s) associated with the transaction(s) The last four digits of the credit card registered with this account (for verification purposes) The credit card billing address A brief description of the problem and any error message displayed Guest Accounts (you do NOT have a UserID and Password) Receipt number(s) associated with the transaction(s) The last four digits of the credit card registered with this account (for verification purposes) The credit card billing address A brief description of the problem and any error message displayed Once the information is received and verified, we will reply appropriately.

► Multiple Users Account Feature

▼ Multiple Users Account Feature
What is the multiple users account feature? Online Services provide an optional feature whereby multiple users or members share one account and draw from the same credit card to pay for transactions. The person who registers the account with the Court is designated as the account administrator.
What are the benefits of the multiple users account feature? This feature allows members to share one account but prevents members from seeing the credit card and other personal information registered with the Court. Only the account administrator has access to this sensitive information. Only the account administrator has access to this sensitive information. In addition, individual Transaction Summary Reports for each member are available for prepayment account users.
What administrative functions are available to an account administrator? Account administrators may: Add new members and assign User IDs and temporary passwords for individual members. Disable or reinstate individual member access to the site. Change administrator's password for the Online Services accoun.t Authorize deposits to prepayment accounts. Update credit card and other personal information registered with the Court View transaction summary reports for all members. View deposit summary reports for all prepayment deposits made to the account.
How do I add members to an Administrator Account? Follow these steps to add new members: Register an Online Services account. Login to the website. Click on the "Manage Members" button on the 'Confirm User Information' screen. Click on the "Add Member" button and fill in the information on the 'New Member Registration' screen. Click on the "Add" button. New members are required to change their password when they first login to the site.
What is the format for Registered User IDs and passwords? The User ID must contain only letters and/or numbers, spaces are not allowed.  It must have 6 – 8 characters and it is NOT case sensitive.   The password must contain at least one letter, at least one number and at least one special character (a special character is a printable character that is not a letter and is not a number. ie: *, #, %) – no spaces.  It must have 6 – 12 characters and IS case sensitive.
How do individual members log in? To login, use the administrator-assigned User ID and password. During the first login, members will be prompted to change the administrator-assigned password.
What is a transaction summary report? Transaction Summary Reports display a running 6-month history of transaction information. The following information is displayed: Date Receipt number Type (name search, document download, etc.) Remarks Amount
How do I get a copy of a transaction receipt? The court does not provide duplicate copies of printable receipt. You can access transaction information by clicking on the "Transaction Report" button on the "Confirm User Information" page after you sign into the Online Services application. The Transaction Summary Report feature is available for registered accounts. It is not available for Guest accounts. You can view the transaction history for a specific member or view transactions for all members of your account. The transaction remark field, if used accordingly, will assist you identifying who or what the transaction was for. You are limited to the prior six (6) months of account activity. For privacy reasons, the Court does not track the case numbers or the names searched. For each transaction, a printable receipt page is displayed. We suggest that the receipt page be printed and retained for record keeping purposes.

► Guest Users Accounts

▼ Guest Users Accounts
Can I search for a case or do a name search without registering? You can select the "Guest" account at the login page and search for case information.
How much will I be charged for a name search? Your credit card will be charged $4.75 per every name search.
How much will I be charged for downloading documents? The fee to download documents is based on the number of pages in the document. Fee Schedule Documents 1-5 pages per document (fee per page) $1.00 6+ additional pages per document (fee per page) $0.40 Maximum per document $40.00
How do I pay for a search without an account? You will be required to enter a valid Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or debit card. American Express cards are NOT accepted.
When will I be charged for the transaction? If you are searching for a case by party name or by defendant name, you will be charged BEFORE the search results appear. A confirmation screen will allow you the opportunity to authorize payment prior to being charged.
If a name search fails to provide records (no match found), will the credit card still be charged? Yes, the fee is to search for the record. There is no guarantee that the information being searched for is in our system. Pursuant to California Rule of Court Section 2.506 and Government Code Section 68150(l), the Los Angeles Superior Court may impose fees for the costs of providing access to its electronic record.
Can I recover the results of a previous name search? The Court does not save the results of searches. You will need to do a new search if you need the information again.
I'm having problems with my document download. What do I do? Send an email to onlineservices@lacourt.org. You will need to provide the following information: Your transaction receipt number The last four digits of the credit card used for the transaction The credit card billing address (for verification purposes) A brief description of what happened Any error message displayed (screen shot if possible) Once received and verified, we will reply appropriately. Normal support hours: Mon – Fri, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Support is not available on weekends or on Court Holidays

► Search for Case Number by Defendant Name in Criminal Cases

▼ Search for Case Number by Defendant Name in Criminal Cases
What is Search for Case Number by Defendant Name? Search for Case Number by Defendant Name allows you to search by the defendant’s name for Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Cases.
How will users be billed? Each user can create an online account or use the Guest user account. The account information requires a valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover, or debit card). American Express cards or checks are NOT accepted as payment. Your credit card will be charged per search. The fee is non-refundable and will apply regardless of whether the desired information is found. Registered User Name Search Fee Schedule. Per search fee for search number 1 to 10 $1.00 Per search fee for search number 11 to 99 $4.75 Per search fee for search number 100 to 999 $4.50 Per search fee for search number 1000 to 10000 $4.25/li> Per search fee for search number 10001 and above $4.00 Note: The above fees are per search. For example, if you perform 10 name searches then you would be charged $10.00. Guest User Name Search Fee Schedule Per search fee $4.75
What are the different Search Types? Exact Match - Defendants whose first or last name exactly matches the name entered If you enter the last name ‘Miyamoto,’ the site will only search for the defendants whose last name is ‘Miyamoto’. Starts With - Defendants whose first or last name matches at least the characters entered if you enter the last name ‘Miya,’ the site will return defendants whose last name is ‘Miya’, ‘Miyamoto’ and ‘Miyata’. The more characters you add to the search, the more manageable the results. Sounds Like - Defendants whose first or last name is phonetically like the name entered If you enter ‘Miyamoto’ the site will return defendants whose last names are ‘Montoya’, ‘Minatoyo’, and ‘Monette’. Helpful hint: Apply the ‘Exact Match’ search method on the first name if you wish to narrow the results of your search to a more manageable size.
How do I narrow down my search? The optional Date of Birth and Filing Date fields will narrow down the scope of your search. Date of Birth - Defendants that have a birth date that matches the date you entered If the date you enter does not match any of the defendants’ date of birth, the site will display the message ‘No records found matching the information you provided. Filing Date - Defendants whose cases match the filing date range you entered If the date you enter does not match any of the defendants’ filing date, the site will display the message ‘No records found matching the information you provided.
When is the online Search for Case Number by Defendant Name in Criminal Cases available? The online Search for Case Number by Defendant Name site is available 24 hours a day, except for scheduled regular maintenance.
How many years of records does the online Index contain? The online Index contains felony cases records from 1980 to the present and misdemeanor case records from 1988 to present. Some misdemeanor index information goes back to 1983, but this data retrieval date varies based on when the former Municipal Court locations automated their criminal records.
Will my account still be charged if a search fails to provide criminal record information (no match found)? Yes, the fee is to search for the record. There is no guarantee that the information being searched for is in our system. Pursuant to California Rule of Court Section 2.506 and Government Code Section 68150(l), the Los Angeles Superior Court may impose cost recovery fees for providing access to its electronic record.
Will bail/bond status information be provided online? At this time, the Court has no plans to provide bail/bond status online.
What does Held to Answer (HTA) mean? When a felony complaint is filed, a defendant is arraigned on the charges and a preliminary hearing is conducted to determine if there is enough evidence to bind a defendant over for trial. The HTA means that the court found that there was sufficient evidence to hold the defendant over for trial.
How do we get the additional sentencing information? For instance, was there time served or probation, etc.? Additional information can be attained by visiting the appropriate Court location.
After completing a search, how do I search additional names without re-logging in? Click on the "New Search" button.

► Case Document Images

▼ Case Document Images
What is Case Document Images? Case Document Images is an online service that provides scanned electronic images of actual case documents that can be downloaded, viewed and printed via the Internet.
What records are available on the Case Document Images website? The Case Document Images website contains: Unlimited Civil (General Jurisdiction) - Stanley Mosk Courthouse 01/2008 - present Unlimited Civil (General Jurisdiction) - Central Civil West Courthouse 08/01/2016 - present Limited Civil (includes Unlawful Detainer/Eviction) case documents filed at all courthouses that hear limited jurisdiction civil cases as of 07/31/2017. Small claims documents filed at all courthouses that hear small claims matters as of 05/31/2016. Probate documents (Estate and Trusts only) 07/01/2008 - present. The site does not contain probate, divorce (family law), unlawful detainer, and civil harassment document images. Note: Additional documents are also available at the Public Access Computers located at all courthouses in Los Angeles County or you can contact the courthouse handling the case.
What information is required to search for case documents? You may search for documents using the: Case Number Last and first names of a party to a case Company name of a party to a case If you do not have the case number, you can use the Search for Case Number by Name to find a case number. Note: an additional fee will be charged for each name search.
How will users be billed? Users can create an online account or use the Guest user account. The account information requires a valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover, or debit card). American Express cards or checks are NOT accepted as payment. Your credit card will be charged based on the number of downloaded pages. The fee is non-refundable and will apply regardless of whether the desired information is found. Fee Schedule Documents 1-5 pages per document (fee per page) $1.00 6+ additional pages per document (fee per page) $0.40 Maximum per document $40.00
When will I be charged? You will be charged AFTER search results appear and you have selected the document(s) you want to download. A confirmation screen will allow you the opportunity to authorize payment prior to being charged.
If a search by case number fails to provide records, will my account still be charged? No, you will only be charged if a document is found and downloaded.
I'm having problems downloading or locating document(s). What do I do? Contact OnlineServices@lacourt.org including your User ID, receipt number(s) associated with the transaction(s), and the last four digits of the credit card registered with this account (for verification purposes). Once received and verified, we will attempt to send the document(s) via e-mail.
How do I save my document(s) for future viewing? Please click on your Adobe Acrobat (or compatible software) "Save As" icon or drop-down link to save documents to your hard drive. If you fail to save a document before exiting the web site, you will be charged again to re-download the document.
I'm a Mac user. Can I download documents? Yes. Mac users may use Preview, Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible software to view, save and/or print documents.
When are Document Images from cases available? In general, case documents are scanned, imaged and made avaiable on the Court web site within 72 hours, not including weekends and Court holidays. Under some circumstances, the availability of case documents may be delayed. Only the following types of documents are available online: General Jurisdiction civil case documents filed in the Stanley Mosk and Civil Central West Courthouses. Limited Jurisdiction Civil Case documents filed after 07/31/2017. Small Claims documents filed beginning May 31st, 2016. Probate documents (Estate and Trusts only) filed after July 1st 2008 Case documents from other types of cases and from other Court locations are not available via the web site.
Why aren’t some case documents available online? Documents ordered sealed or deemed confidential are not available for public viewing and therefore not available online. In addition, only the following types of documents are available online: General Jurisdiction civil case documents filed in the Stanley Mosk and Civil Central West Courthouses that have been scanned. Limited Jurisdiction Civil Case documents filed after 07/31/2017. Small Claims documents filed beginning May 31st, 2016. Probate documents (Estate and Trusts only) filed after July 1st 2008
When is the Case Document Images service available? The online Case Document Images site is available 24 hours a day, except for scheduled regular maintenance.
After completing a search, how do I search for additional documents or cases without logging in again? Click on the "List of available documents" link to download additional documents from the same case. Or, click on the "Case Document" link on the left side navigation bar to perform subsequent searches on different cases.

► Search for Case Number by Name

▼ Search for Case Number by Name
What is Search for Case Number by Name? Search for Case Number by Name is an online service that allows users to search by name for court wide civil cases.
What records does Search for Case Number by Name contain? The online Search for Case Number by Name web site contains name index information for General Jurisdiction Civil (lawsuits greater than $25,000), Limited Jurisdiction Civil (lawsuits $25,000 or less, including Unlawful Detainer), Probate, Family Law (including divorce) and Small Claims cases within the County of Los Angeles. Search for Case Number by Name will return the following data: litigant name, case type, filing date and the fling location if a record is found. The number of case document images available will be displayed and made available for purchase at an additional charge.
How many years of records does the online Search for Case Number by Name contain? Search for Case Number by Name contains the following case records: Family Law 1983 – present Limited Civil (includes Unlawful Detainer/Eviction) 1991 - present Probate 1983 – present Small Claims 1992 – present Unlimited Civil (General Jurisdiction) 1983 - present Note: Contact Archives for availability of older cases.
What information is required to search by name? You may search by last and first names OR company name of a party to a case.
When would I search by name for case documents? If you do not have a case number, you must perform a name search first then select a case number to view case documents.
How will users be billed? Each user can create an online account or use the Guest user account. The account information requires a valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover, or debit card). American Express cards or checks are NOT accepted as payment. Your credit card will be charged per search. The fee is non-refundable and will apply regardless of whether the desired information is found. Registered User Name Search Fee Schedule. Per search fee for search number 1 to 10 $1.00 Per search fee for search number 11 to 99 $4.75 Per search fee for search number 100 to 999 $4.50 Per search fee for search number 1000 to 10000 $4.25/li> Per search fee for search number 10001 and above $4.00 Note: The above fees are per search. For example, if you perform 10 name searches then you would be charged $10.00. Guest User Name Search Fee Schedule Per search fee $4.75
When will I be charged? If you are searching for a case by party name, you will be charged BEFORE the search results appear. A confirmation screen will allow you the opportunity to authorize payment prior to being charged.
If a name search fails to provide records (no match found), will my account still be charged? Yes, the fee is to search for the record. There is no guarantee that the information being searched for is in our system. Pursuant to California Rule of Court Section 2.506 and Government Code Section 68150(l), the Los Angeles Superior Court may impose cost recovery fees for providing access to its electronic record.
Why aren’t some case records available online? Information ordered sealed or deemed confidential, paternity cases and other cases involving minors are not available for public viewing and therefore not available online. Additionally, in compliance with Code of Civil Procedure 1161.2, Unlawful Detainer case information is not available to the public for the first 60 days. For cases filed after January 1, 2004, this section further requires that the case remain unavailable in the event any defendant prevails during this 60 day period.
When is Search for Case Number by Name available? The online Search for Case Number by Name web site is available 24 hours a day except for scheduled regular maintenance each Friday from 11:00 p.m. to the following Saturday at 3:00 a.m. Users who log in prior to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays will have until 11:15 p.m. to complete their transaction. Users will not be able to log in after 11:00 p.m.
After completing a search, how do I search for additional names without logging in again? Click on the "Search for Case Number by Name" link on the left side navigation bar to perform subsequent searches on different cases.