Los Angeles Divorce Decree Search

Los Angeles divorce decree records are maintained by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The city has nearly 4 million residents and is the largest in California. It serves as both the state's largest city and the county seat. All dissolution cases for Los Angeles go through the county court system. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles is the main family law location. You can get copies of your divorce decree there or from the county archives. Certified copies cost $15. Plain copies are 50 cents per page. Online search is available for cases from 1983 forward with documents available for cases filed after January 2000.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Los Angeles residents file for divorce at Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street is the main family law courthouse for downtown and central Los Angeles. This location handles many dissolution filings, hearings, and records for the area. Los Angeles County has four main family law courthouses serving different regions.

The Stanley Mosk Courthouse is in downtown Los Angeles near city hall and the civic center. Public transit serves the area with Metro Rail and bus lines. Parking is available in nearby lots and structures. The courthouse handles a high volume of family law cases given the size of Los Angeles. Plan extra time when visiting due to security screening and waiting.

Call (213) 830-0803 for general court info. The Family Law Call Center is (213) 633-6363. The Self-Help Center is (213) 830-0845. For online services and records questions, email OnlineServices@lacourt.org. The main court website is lacourt.org. You can search for case info online and order copies of some documents.

How to Get Los Angeles Divorce Records

There are three main ways to get divorce records for Los Angeles cases. Go to the courthouse in person. Send a request by mail. Use the online portal for some cases. Each method works for different situations and needs.

In-person requests give you the fastest service. Visit the Stanley Mosk Courthouse or the courthouse where your case was filed. Bring photo ID. Tell the clerk which documents you need and whether you want certified or plain copies. If the file is on-site, staff can make copies while you wait. If the file is stored at the archives, it may take a few days to retrieve. Call ahead to check where your file is located.

Mail requests work when you cannot visit in person. Write to Los Angeles Superior Court at the courthouse where your case was filed. If you do not know which courthouse, write to the Archives and Records Center at 222 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Include both spouses' full names, case number if you have it, date of divorce or filing, and which documents you need. Say if you want certified copies. Include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing takes a few weeks.

Online search and ordering is available at lacourt.org. You can search family law cases from 1983 to present. Document images are available for cases filed after May 1, 2000. Name searches cost $4.75 each. If you find your case, you can order copies. The first five pages of each document cost $1 per page. Additional pages are 40 cents each. Max charge is $40 per document.

Filing for Divorce in Los Angeles

Los Angeles residents must meet California residency requirements. One spouse must live in California for six months before filing. That same spouse must also live in Los Angeles County for three months before filing. If you just moved to Los Angeles from another state or county, you may need to wait before you can file.

California is a no-fault divorce state. The most common ground is irreconcilable differences under California Family Code Section 2310. This means the marriage has problems that cannot be fixed. You do not need to prove your spouse did anything wrong to get a divorce in California.

File your petition for dissolution at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse or another Los Angeles County family law courthouse. The filing fee is about $435. After filing, you must serve your spouse with a copy of the papers. You cannot serve them yourself. You must use a process server, the sheriff, or any adult over 18 who is not part of your case. The server fills out a proof of service form that gets filed with the court.

There is a mandatory six-month waiting period under California Family Code Section 2339. The court cannot finalize your divorce until six months pass from the date your spouse was served. This wait applies to all Los Angeles cases. During these six months, you negotiate issues like property division, spousal support, and child custody. If you reach an agreement, you file a marital settlement agreement. If you cannot agree, the case may go to mediation or trial.

Note: Los Angeles County requires divorcing parents with minor children to complete a parenting class before the divorce can be finalized.

Fees for Divorce Records

Los Angeles County follows state fee laws for court records. A certified divorce decree costs $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This fee applies only to dissolution judgments. Other documents like settlement agreements or court orders cost $40 to certify plus copy fees.

Plain copies are 50 cents per page. If your decree has four pages, plain copies would be $2.00. Add the $15 certification fee for a total of $17.00 if you need a certified copy. Some agencies require certified copies while others accept plain copies. Ask which type you need before ordering.

Online name searches cost $4.75 per search. This fee applies whether the search finds a case or not. The fee is for searching, not for results. In-person searches using public terminals at the courthouse are free. If court staff must search for you and it takes over 10 minutes, they may charge a $15 search fee. File retrieval from off-site storage costs $10. This is separate from copy fees.

Legal Resources in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has many groups that offer help with family law cases. The Los Angeles Superior Court Self-Help Center at 111 North Hill Street provides free assistance. Call (213) 830-0845. Staff can help you fill out forms and understand court procedures. They do not give legal advice, but they can show you how to navigate the court system.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles provides free legal services to people with low income throughout Los Angeles County. Call (800) 399-4529 to see if you qualify. Their website is lafla.org. They handle divorce cases involving domestic violence, child custody, support, and other family law matters.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at (213) 243-1525. The first consultation is $35 for 30 minutes. They can match you with a family law attorney who practices in Los Angeles. The Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law at (213) 388-7515 offers free legal help for low-income people. Visit hbcfl.org for more info.

Public Counsel provides pro bono legal services at (213) 385-2977. They may assist with family law cases for qualifying individuals. Bet Tzedek Legal Services at (323) 939-0506 helps seniors and people with disabilities with legal issues including divorce. The Domestic Violence Hotline for Los Angeles is 1-800-978-3600.

Archives for Older Records

Older Los Angeles divorce cases are stored at the Archives and Records Center at 222 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Call (213) 830-0198. Cases from the central Los Angeles area are transferred to archives within two or three years of filing. Once a file is in archives, you must request it from that location.

The archives hold millions of case files dating back many decades. Some very old files may be on microfilm or in other formats. Archives staff can tell you what is available for your specific case. There is a $10 retrieval fee to pull files from storage. Once retrieved, you can view the file or order copies. Standard copy fees apply.

Other Major Cities in Los Angeles County

Many other large cities near Los Angeles also use Los Angeles County Superior Court for divorce records. Long Beach is the second largest city in the county. Glendale is in the northern part of the county. Santa Clarita is in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Lancaster and Palmdale are in the Antelope Valley. Pasadena is in the San Gabriel Valley. Torrance and Inglewood are in the South Bay area. All these cities file dissolution cases with the same county court system.