Los Angeles County Divorce Decree

Los Angeles County divorce decree records are maintained by the Superior Court. The court keeps all files for divorce cases filed in this county. You can get copies of your divorce decree from the courthouse where your case was heard or from the Archives and Records Center if your case is older. The county has four main family law courthouses and one central archive facility. Each location handles requests for divorce records. Certified copies cost $15 per decree. Plain copies cost 50 cents per page. You can request records in person, by mail, or online through the court portal for some cases filed after January 2000.

Superior Court Locations

Los Angeles County has four main courthouses for family law cases. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles handles many divorce filings for the central area. The other three locations serve different regions of the county. Each courthouse processes divorce cases for residents in its service area.

Family law cases filed in Los Angeles are later transferred to the County Record Center, usually within two or three years of filing. The Archives and Records Center is at 222 North Hill Street. This is where older divorce files are stored. If you need records from a case that is several years old, you will likely need to contact the archives rather than the courthouse where it was originally filed.

The main phone number for Los Angeles Superior Court is (213) 830-0803. The Family Law Call Center can be reached at (213) 633-6363. The Self-Help Center phone is (213) 830-0845. For online services and records questions, you can email OnlineServices@lacourt.org. Court staff can tell you which location holds your specific case file.

According to lavote.gov, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does not record or house divorce records. All divorce information must be obtained from the Superior Court. The County Clerk can only direct you to the correct court location. They cannot provide divorce certificates or decrees themselves.

Online Records Access

Los Angeles County offers online case search and document ordering for some divorce cases. The system is available at lacourt.org. You can search for cases by name or case number. Family law cases from 1983 to present are searchable. Document images are available for cases filed after May 1, 2000.

Online name searches cost $4.75 per search. This fee applies even if no match is found. The fee is for searching, not for results. If you find the case you need, you can then order documents. The cost is $1 per page for the first five pages of each document. Additional pages cost 40 cents each. The maximum charge per document is $40.

Only imaged family law divorce judgments entered after January 2000 are available to order online according to lacourt.org. If your divorce was finalized before 2000, you must request copies in person or by mail. The online portal does not have older records available for digital delivery.

You need to create an account to use the online ordering system. The court accepts credit card payment. Documents are usually delivered by email or postal mail within a few business days. For urgent needs, in-person requests at the courthouse may be faster than online ordering.

Requesting Copies by Mail

You can request divorce decree copies by mail from Los Angeles Superior Court. Send your request to the business office where your case was originally filed. If you do not know which courthouse handled your case, send your request to the Archives and Records Center at 222 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Your written request should include the following information:

• Full legal names of both parties
• Approximate date of divorce or case filing
• Case number if known
• Type of document needed (certified decree, plain copy, etc.)
• Your contact information and return address

Include payment with your request. Check or money order should be made payable to Los Angeles Superior Court. Fees are $15 for a certified divorce decree, plus 50 cents per page if the decree has multiple pages. Add enough postage to your self-addressed envelope for the court to mail the copies back to you. Processing time for mail requests varies based on the court's workload and whether your file is stored off-site.

Note: All requests must be claimed within 30 days of the order being filled, according to form LASC ADM 080.

Fee Schedule

Los Angeles County follows the state fee schedule set by California law. Standard fees apply to most requests. Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15 under California Government Code Section 70674. This includes the certification and the first page.

Additional page copies cost 50 cents each. If you need other documents from your case file certified, such as settlement agreements or court orders, the fee is $40 per document plus 50 cents per page. Plain copies without certification are just 50 cents per page.

Name searches cost $4.75 when done through the online portal. In-person searches at the courthouse are free if you look up the records yourself using the public terminals. If you need court staff to search for a case and the search takes more than 10 minutes, the court may charge a $15 search fee under state law.

If your case file is in storage at the archives, you pay a $10 retrieval fee to have the file brought from off-site storage. This fee is separate from copy fees. Rush service may cost more. Always confirm current fees with the court before sending payment, as costs can change.

Archives and Old Records

Older divorce cases in Los Angeles County are stored at the Archives and Records Center. The address is 222 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The phone number is (213) 830-0198. This facility holds millions of case files from all court divisions including family law.

Divorce filings from the Central Los Angeles area are normally transferred to the archives within two to three years of filing. Files from other courthouse locations may be transferred on different schedules. Once a file is in the archives, you must request it from that location. The courthouse where the case was originally filed will not have the physical file anymore.

To access archived files, call ahead or send a written request. The archives staff will retrieve the file for you. There is a $10 fee for retrieving files from storage. Once retrieved, you can view the file in person at the archives or request copies to be made. Standard copy fees apply.

Some very old divorce records may be stored differently or have limited information available. If you need records from a divorce that occurred many decades ago, the archives staff can tell you what records still exist and how to access them. Processing requests for very old files may take longer than requests for recent cases.

Legal Help Resources

Several organizations in Los Angeles County offer help with family law matters. The Superior Court Self-Help Center provides free assistance to people representing themselves in divorce cases. The center is located at 111 North Hill Street. Call (213) 830-0845 for hours and services. Staff can help you fill out forms and understand court procedures.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles offers free legal services to low-income residents. They handle family law cases including divorce. Call (800) 399-4529 to see if you qualify for their services. They have multiple offices throughout Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call (213) 243-1525 to get connected with a family law attorney in your area. The first consultation costs $35 for 30 minutes. The bar association can match you with an attorney who handles divorce cases.

Cities in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County includes many cities with population over 100,000. Residents of these cities file for divorce at Los Angeles County Superior Court. Select a city below for local information.

Nearby Counties

Los Angeles County borders several other California counties. Each has its own Superior Court system.