Search Family Court Records in Los Angeles

Los Angeles family court records are filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles is the main filing location for family law cases. Los Angeles County maintains the largest court system in the United States with over 50 locations serving more than 10 million residents. Family law matters include divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, and parentage cases. Electronic records go back to 1983 and are searchable online by case number or party name. California law limits remote access to most family law documents to protect privacy under Rule 2.503 of the California Rules of Court.

Los Angeles Family Court Location

Family law cases for Los Angeles residents are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. The courthouse is at 111 North Hill Street near City Hall. This is the central family law courthouse for the city of Los Angeles. The Self-Help Legal Access Center is on the first floor. The center offers free assistance with forms, procedures, and basic legal information. No appointment is required for brief services.

The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Public parking is available in nearby lots. Metro Red and Purple lines serve the Civic Center station two blocks away. All visitors pass through security at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID. Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced. Recording devices and large bags are prohibited.

Los Angeles County also has regional family law courthouses in Pasadena, Pomona, Long Beach, Torrance, and other cities. Residents can file at the courthouse nearest them or at the central location downtown. Check lacourt.org for a full list of courthouse locations and addresses.

Online Family Court Records Search

Los Angeles County offers online case access through two portals. The public index at lacourt.org lets you search for cases by party name or case number. Results show the register of actions with filing dates and event descriptions. This portal covers family law cases from 1983 to the present. You cannot view document images online due to state privacy rules.

LA Court Connect at lacc.lacourt.org is for registered users. Create a free account to file documents electronically, pay fees online, and view your own cases. The system does not show confidential family law filings to the public. Only parties and their attorneys can see the full file through their accounts. Electronic filing is available for most family law documents.

Search fees apply to some online services. A basic name search costs between $1.00 and $4.75 depending on search type. Searches by case number are free. Document images are not available online for family law cases per California Rules of Court Rule 2.503. To view filed documents, visit the courthouse in person.

Note: The online portal shows case indexes and calendars but not the actual documents filed in Los Angeles family court cases.

Self-Help Resources in Los Angeles

The Self-Help Legal Access Center at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse provides free assistance with family law cases. Staff help with form selection, basic instructions, and procedural questions. They cannot give legal advice or represent you in court. Services include help identifying forms, explaining how to fill them out, and answering questions about deadlines and court rules. The center has computers and printers for public use.

California Judicial Council forms are available at courts.ca.gov/forms.htm. All family law forms have an FL prefix. Common forms include FL-100 for divorce petitions, FL-300 for requests for order, FL-150 for income declarations, and FL-180 for judgments. Download and print forms at home or use the computers at the self-help center. Forms are free.

Los Angeles County also operates Self-Help Legal Access Centers at other courthouse locations including Pasadena, Pomona, Long Beach, Torrance, and Lancaster. Each center offers the same basic services. Find the nearest location at dcba.lacounty.gov/legal-access-centers. Hours vary by location. Call ahead to confirm hours and services.

Free Legal Help in Los Angeles

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves low-income residents throughout Los Angeles County. They offer free legal help in family law cases including divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence. To qualify, you must meet income limits. Call (800) 399-4529 for intake. You can also apply online at lafla.org. LAFLA has offices throughout the county and operates domestic violence clinics at several courthouses.

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County also serves the city of Los Angeles. They focus on family law cases involving domestic violence and child custody. Call (800) 433-6251 to check eligibility. NLSLA provides advice, brief services, and full representation in some cases. They prioritize cases with safety concerns and urgent matters involving children.

Other legal resources in Los Angeles:

• Los Angeles County Bar Modest Means Program: (213) 243-1525
• California State Bar Lawyer Referral: 1-800-392-5660
• Public Counsel Pro Bono Services: (213) 385-2977
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services: (323) 939-0506
• Asian Pacific American Legal Center: (213) 977-7500

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that connects people with private attorneys. The first consultation costs up to $50 for 30 minutes. After that, you pay the attorney's regular rate if you hire them. The service covers all areas of family law. Call (213) 243-1525 or visit lacba.org for referrals.

Note: Legal aid groups prioritize cases with domestic violence, children, or immediate safety needs.

Filing a Family Law Case in Los Angeles

To file a family law case in Los Angeles, start by completing the required forms. Each case type needs different forms. Divorce cases require a petition, summons, and financial disclosures. Custody cases may need a Request for Order and income declaration. Check the court website or ask the self-help center what forms apply to your case. Fill out all forms completely and sign where required. Make at least two copies of each form.

You must meet California residency requirements before filing. For divorce, you or your spouse must live in California for six months and in Los Angeles County for three months. If you recently moved to Los Angeles, wait until you meet the time requirement. The court will reject your filing if you do not meet residency. For custody or support cases without divorce, different rules may apply. Ask at the self-help center if you are unsure about residency.

File your forms at the clerk window at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse or another family law courthouse in Los Angeles County. Bring the originals and copies. The clerk files the original and stamps your copies. You pay the filing fee when you file. The fee is $435 for a new family law petition. If you cannot afford the fee, file a fee waiver request on form FW-001. The court reviews your income and expenses to decide if you qualify.

After filing, you must serve the other party. You cannot serve the papers yourself. Use a friend over 18, a registered process server, or the sheriff. The server delivers copies of your filed papers to the other party. The server then completes a Proof of Service form. File the proof with the court. The court cannot proceed with hearings or orders until proof of service is on file.

Note: Family law cases in Los Angeles County can take several months to over a year depending on complexity and whether parties agree.

Family Court Fees in Los Angeles

Family law filing fees in Los Angeles follow statewide rates. The first filing fee is $435 for a petition. This applies to divorce, legal separation, and parentage cases. Additional motions cost $60. Certified copies cost $40 for certification plus $0.50 per page. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. Fees can change. Call the court at (213) 633-6363 to confirm current rates.

Common fees in Los Angeles family court:

• Initial family law petition: $435
• Request for Order: $60
• Copy per page: $0.50
• Certification: $40
• Search fee (over 10 minutes): $15

Fee waivers are available for people with low income. Complete form FW-001 and file it with your petition. The court looks at household size, income, expenses, and public benefits. If you receive CalWorks, SSI, Medi-Cal, or food stamps, you likely qualify. If not, the court applies a formula based on income. The judge decides. You usually get an answer in a few days. If approved, the waiver covers most fees in your case.

Payment at Los Angeles courthouses is by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Credit card payments may have a convenience fee. Ask the clerk which methods have extra costs. You can also pay online through LA Court Connect if you have an account.

Access Limits on Los Angeles Family Court Records

California restricts public access to family law filings. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503, the court cannot provide remote access to most family law documents. This includes dissolution, custody, support, and domestic violence cases. The goal is to protect privacy in sensitive matters. You can still see these records at the courthouse but not online.

What you can find online for Los Angeles family court cases:

• Case numbers and party names
• Filing dates and case types
• Hearing dates and times
• Register of actions

What requires a courthouse visit:

• Petitions and responses
• Declarations and supporting documents
• Financial disclosures
• Settlement agreements
• Custody evaluations
• Final judgments and orders

To view documents, go to the clerk window with the case number. Bring photo ID. The clerk retrieves the file and gives it to you in a viewing area. You can take notes. You can order copies at $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 plus the per-page fee. Some files are sealed by court order. Only parties and attorneys can see sealed files.

Adoption records are always confidential under California Family Code. Juvenile dependency records also have strict limits. Ask the clerk if you have questions about access to a specific file in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Family Court Records

Los Angeles is the county seat and largest city in Los Angeles County. All family law cases go through the Los Angeles County Superior Court system. The county has over 50 courthouse locations and serves more than 10 million residents. For county-wide information, fee schedules, and other courthouse locations, visit the Los Angeles County family court records page.

View Los Angeles County Family Court Records

Other Major Cities in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County includes many large cities. Other cities with populations over 100,000 include Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Torrance, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, and Norwalk. All use the Los Angeles County Superior Court for family law filings.

• Long Beach Family Court Records
• Pasadena Family Court Records
• Lancaster Family Court Records
• Norwalk Family Court Records