Search San Francisco County Court Cases

This page helps users complete a case search in San Francisco, California by explaining the main online court search options, record limits, and official next steps.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco provides case query tools for civil and criminal matters, plus records offices for copy requests and file review when online information is limited.

San Francisco case query

For many case search needs, start with the court’s online case query options. Civil case information is available for Unlimited Civil, Limited Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims cases filed from 1987 to present. Criminal case searches can be done by case number, defendant name, or attorney name.

• Case number
• Last name and first name
• Defendant name for criminal matters
• Attorney name for criminal matters

Use the tool that matches the type of case you need.

• Use the search civil case information tool for supported civil, family law, probate, and small claims searches.
• Use the search criminal case portal for criminal case searches.
• Review the search results for the case number, party details, filing information, dates, and available case entries.
• Contact the proper court department or records office when the case type or record detail is not available online.

Civil, family, probate, and small claims records

The civil case search covers Unlimited Civil, Limited Civil, Family Law, Probate, and Small Claims cases by case number or case name for cases filed from 1987 to present. Other case types should be handled through the appropriate court department.

Civil registers of actions are viewable online. Civil imaged documents are viewable from 2001 to present. Small Claims registers of actions are viewable online, and Small Claims imaged documents are viewable from 2008 to present.

Family Law registers of actions are viewable online only when the user has the case number. Family Law imaged documents are not viewable online. Probate registers of actions are available for estate, trust, guardianship, conservatorship, and elder abuse cases, but online imaged documents are available only for estate and trust cases from 2001 to present.

Access limit: Restricted, confidential, and sealed cases are not viewable online. Mini-minutes are also not viewable online.

Criminal case searches and index records

Criminal case information can be searched through the court’s criminal portal by case number, defendant name, and attorney name. The court also provides cumulative criminal index records that are updated weekly.

Use the search cumulative criminal index records option when you need index-style criminal case information rather than the regular criminal portal search.

If you do not have a criminal case number and need criminal records, obtain a local RAP sheet before requesting records from the court. The RAP sheet request is handled through the San Francisco Police Department Identification Bureau, Room 475, on the 4th floor of the Hall of Justice.

UD and rental debt case information

Limited unlawful detainer case information can be accessed through the San Francisco Superior Court website using the access codes provided on the Notice to Defendants or payment receipt.

For these searches, enter the name of at least one plaintiff, one defendant, and the premises address, including the apartment or unit number, exactly as it appears on the complaint.

Case calendars and hearing information

The court’s case calendar search allows users to search case calendars by case type and date. Calendar information is available up to 120 calendar days from today.

Calendar results may include the case number, case title, purpose, location, department, date, and time. For listening access to court proceedings, state and local court rules prohibit recording court proceedings without a court order.

Copies, file review, and record limits

The Civil Records Division provides access to information for Limited Civil, Unlimited Civil, Probate/Wills, and Family Law case files. It can assist with use of computers for case search and inquiry, requests to view files, photocopies, certified dissolution copies, and off-site or warehouse file retrieval.

The Civil Records Division cannot provide legal advice or fill out court forms. To view case files, a valid government-issued photo identification card must be deposited with the clerk.

If a civil case file is at least two years old, it may be stored off-site. Off-site file retrieval has a $6 retrieval fee, and users should allow at least 15 business days before expecting notice that the file is available.

Copy processing depends on the file and request size. If a copy request is less than five pages and the court file is on-site, it may be processed while the user waits. Requests over six pages may take 12 to 15 court days, and exemplification requests may take 12 to 15 working days.

Official copy and record fees

The court lists several record-related fees for copies and certifications.

San Francisco court records contacts

Use these court contacts when online case information does not cover the record type, copy request, or file review you need.

• Civil Records Division, Civic Center Clerk's Office, 400 McAllister St., Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514
  Phone: (415) 551-3802
  Email: [email protected]
  Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
  Dropbox hours: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
• Criminal Clerk's Office, Room 101, Hall of Justice
  Criminal Records Department phone: (415) 551-0651
  Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00pm-1:00pm
  Phone hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00pm-1:00pm
• Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
  Phone: (415) 551-4000
• Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant St., San Francisco, CA 94103
• Polk Street Annex, 575 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94102
• Juvenile Justice Center, 375 Woodside Ave., San Francisco, CA 94127