Public Access Help and Information Page

Public access to trial court records maintained in electronic format is governed by California Rules of Court, rules 2.500 through 2.507.  Click here to view a copy of these rules.

This page has answers to the following questions

  1. What types of cases can be viewed at this site?
  2. What kinds of searching can be done at this site?
  3. When is the case data updated?
  4. For case types not on the site now, when will they be, and how can they be viewed in the meantime?
  5. How can I get more help on using this site?
  6. How can I contact the Court about problems with this site?
  7. How can I obtain a CD-ROM containing the civil and small claims case data available on this site?
  8. How can I obtain a copy of a document/pleading filed on a case?
  1. What types of cases can be viewed at this site?

    2. This site contains searchable case information for non-confidential cases filed at the Santa Clara County Superior Court.  Confidential case types include adoption, confidential paternity, juvenile delinquency and dependency, and mental health.  In addition, sealed cases and sealed or confidential parties and documents on non-confidential cases are not included.

    The site currently contains information for the following types of cases:

     Includes
    AppealsCivil
    Civil Limited &
    Unlimited Jurisdiction    		Contracts
    Employment
    Real Property
    Torts
    Unlawful Detainers filed
        more than 60 days ago
    Family LawChild Support
    Domestic Violence
    Marital Relations
    ProbateConservatorships
    Estates
    Guardianships
    Trusts
    Small ClaimsAll small claims cases
    TrafficAll traffic cases

  2. What kinds of searching can be done at this site?

    3. Cases are searchable by calendar date and by case index.  Calendared cases can be accessed by case number, case title, party name, department, or attorney within a date range.  The case index also can be searched by case number, case title, and party name and by case information, including filed date, disposed date, case status (open and/or disposed) and category within a case type.

    See the help section below for more on searching this site.

  3. When is the case data updated?

    Case information is generally updated each weeknight with that day's activity.  The exact time of the most recent update is shown on the home page. 

  4. For case types not on the site now, when will they be, and how can they be viewed in the meantime?

    5. Criminal cases will be added to the site by the end of 2008.

    Our self service site has information on viewing cases of public record that are not currently available at this site:

    Information that is not public record (sealed cases and sealed or confidential parties and documents on non-confidential cases) will never be included on this site.

  5. How can I get more help on using this site?

    6. There are some PowerPoint slides (in PDF format) that have additional information on using this site. Click on links below to access those information files.


    Note: If you need to download a free version of Adobe® Reader® to view PDF files, you may obtain it from the Adobe Systems website.

  6. How can I contact the Court about problems with this site?

    7. For questions or problems regarding this site, visit the "Contact the Court" page at our Self Service website.  This page has information on how to contact the court by phone, mail, email and in person.

  7. How can I obtain a CD-ROM containing the civil and small claims case data available on this site?

    8. To obtain a CD-ROM containing the civil and small claims case data available on this site, visit the "Requesting a CD-ROM of the Public Case Index" page at the court's Main Website.

  8. How can I obtain a copy of a document/pleading filed on a case?

    9. For information on obtaining copies of case records, visit the "How do I find case information" page at our Self Service website.