Long Beach Civil Court Records

Civil court records for Long Beach are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Long Beach is the second largest city in Los Angeles County, so all civil cases filed here go through the Los Angeles County court system. The court manages unlimited civil cases over $35,000, limited civil cases between $10,000 and $35,000, and small claims under $10,000. Long Beach has its own courthouse located in the city. Online access to case information is available through the Los Angeles County Civil Index portal. You can search by party name or case number. Each name search costs $4.75. Document downloads are available for many cases at $1.00 per page for the first 5 pages and $0.40 per additional page.

Court Jurisdiction

All civil cases for Long Beach are filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Long Beach has a local courthouse that serves the area. Cases involving Long Beach residents or businesses are typically filed at the Long Beach courthouse or another nearby Los Angeles County courthouse.

Los Angeles County is one of the largest court systems in the nation. It includes more than 40 courthouse locations throughout the county. The court uses the Tyler Technologies case management system for electronic records and e-filing.

Even though Long Beach is a large city, it does not have its own separate county court system. The city is part of Los Angeles County, so the county Superior Court has jurisdiction over all civil litigation.

Search Civil Records Online

Los Angeles Superior Court provides online case search through the Civil Index portal at lacourt.ca.gov. You search by name to find cases. The system shows party names, case numbers, filing dates, court locations, and document counts.

Each name search costs $4.75. You pay by credit card when you conduct the search. The fee reimburses the court for providing public access to electronic records. The system is updated daily with new filings and case activity.

Document downloads cost $1.00 per page for the first 5 pages of a document. Each additional page costs $0.40. The maximum fee per document is $40.00. Not all cases have documents available online. Older cases or cases from certain courthouses may not have digital images.

The online system contains unlimited civil records from 1983 forward. Limited civil records begin in 1991. Small claims records start in 1992. This extensive date range covers most modern civil litigation in Los Angeles County.

Filing Civil Cases

Los Angeles County requires electronic filing for most civil cases. The e-filing portal at portal-lasc.journaltech.com is powered by Journal Technologies. You must create an account to file documents. The system accepts PDF files 24 hours a day.

Filing fees are paid through the portal by credit card or e-check. A complaint in an unlimited civil case costs $435. The answer costs $435. Limited civil fees are lower based on the dispute amount. Small claims fees depend on the claim amount.

Some self-represented parties may file in person at the courthouse instead of electronically. Check the court website for exceptions to the e-filing requirement.

Long Beach Courthouse

Long Beach has a Los Angeles County Superior Court courthouse located in the city. The courthouse handles civil cases filed in the Long Beach area. You can view case files in person at this location. Bring photo ID for courthouse security.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $40 certification fee. If you need a certified copy of a dissolution judgment, the fee is $15 instead of $40.

Clerks at the Long Beach courthouse can answer questions about procedures but cannot give legal advice. The courthouse has public hours on weekdays, typically from morning until late afternoon.

Long Beach City Records

The City of Long Beach maintains separate administrative records from the court system. City Clerk records include city contracts, permits, ordinances, and city business documents. The City Clerk office is at 411 W. Ocean Boulevard. Phone is (562) 570-6101. Public records requests can be made at longbeach.gov/pra.

City records are not civil court cases. If you need to file a lawsuit or search for civil litigation, you must use Los Angeles County Superior Court. The city does not maintain court case files.

Court Help and Resources

The Los Angeles Superior Court website at lacourt.ca.gov provides extensive information about procedures, forms, and services. The site includes guides for different case types and answers to common questions.

For technical help with the online portal, email onlineServices@lacourt.org. Include details about any errors you encounter. The online services team responds during business hours.

Legal aid organizations in Long Beach and Los Angeles County serve low-income residents with civil legal problems. These groups focus on housing, family law, consumer issues, and other civil matters.

Nearby Cities

Other major cities in Southern California with populations over 100,000: