Guide
How to Search County Records
Select Your County
Choose a county from the grid below to access that county's official public records portal, court system, and government offices.
Identify the Record Type
Decide what you need: court records, property deeds, vital records, business filings, or tax assessment records, each is held by a different county office.
Search Online or In Person
Each superior court runs its own online case index, every county recorder indexes deeds online, and birth and death certificates are ordered from the county recorder or the state Department of Public Health, in person, by mail or through VitalChek.
Pay Any Required Fees
California vital record fees are set by statute and were adjusted on January 1, 2026; county recorders such as Monterey County charge $31 for a certified birth certificate, and Public Records Act copies cost only the direct cost of duplication.
Verify Identity if Required
Public records and informational copies need no ID. An authorized certified birth or death certificate requires photo ID in person or a notarized sworn statement by mail, and only the registrant, close relatives and legal representatives qualify.
Guide
What Records Are Available
Court Records: civil, criminal, family, probate and traffic cases.
Property Records: deeds, mortgages, liens and ownership transfers.
Vital Records: birth, death, marriage and divorce records.
Business Records: business licenses, assumed names (DBAs), UCC filings and permits.
Voter Registration: registration status, polling places and voting districts.
Tax Records: property tax assessments, tax bills, payment history and exemptions.
Guide
Select a County in California
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Straight answers
California County Public Records, questions
Are county records public information?
Yes. The California Public Records Act, Government Code section 7920.000 and following, gives everyone the right to inspect county records, and an agency has 10 days to respond to a written request. Court case indexes, recorded documents and assessor rolls are open. Birth and death records are public too, but anyone outside the authorized group gets an informational copy stamped not valid to establish identity; authorized certified copies go only to the registrant, parents, close relatives and legal representatives.
How much do certified copies cost?
California vital record fees are set by state statute and were adjusted on January 1, 2026; a certified birth certificate now costs $31 at county recorder offices such as Monterey and Nevada counties, and the state Department of Public Health charges $31 for a certified birth record and $26 for a death record on its 2026 application forms. Ordering through VitalChek adds a vendor fee, $12.95 per transaction in Monterey County. Agencies may charge only the direct cost of duplication for Public Records Act copies, and electronic copies are often free.
Can I search county records online?
There is no single statewide case portal; each superior court runs its own online case index, such as Santa Clara County's Case Information Online, and the Judicial Council explains which electronic records can be viewed remotely and which only at the courthouse. Every county recorder offers an online index of deeds and other recorded documents, and assessor parcel data is online in most counties. Birth and death certificates are ordered from the county recorder or the state, in person, by mail or through VitalChek; state law bars posting vital record indexes on the internet.
What identification do I need?
Public records and informational copies need no ID. For an authorized certified copy of a birth or death record you must either appear with photo ID or mail a notarized sworn statement of identity, and you must fall into the authorized group: the registrant, a parent or legal guardian, a child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, or an attorney or agency acting for the person.
How long does it take to receive records?
County recorders are usually faster than the state: San Mateo County, for example, processes mailed orders in about 5 to 10 business days, and many recorder offices issue certificates over the counter. The state Department of Public Health posts its own processing times, which grow when request volumes rise. Online court case indexes and recorded document searches are immediate.