California public records are spread across state agencies and 58 counties. The Secretary of State (BizFile), the Department of Public Health, the DOJ, and county recorders and courts each hold different records. The California Public Records Act guarantees broad access, though vital records and compiled criminal histories carry the usual privacy limits.
Good to know: California does not participate in MissingMoney.com — search the State Controller's site directly for unclaimed property.
Last Updated: July 2026 · Reviewed quarterly by the Searchadex editorial team.
Assessor data is free; recorded deeds often require a county login or copy fee.
No unified statewide search; each Superior Court runs its own case portal.
Search LLCs and corporations; Statement of Information status shown.
Index/ordering online; certified copies restricted and fee-based.
Compiled history restricted to the subject; CDCR locator free.
Free status check; bulk file restricted to authorized uses.
Free name and address search run by CA DOJ.
Free search and claim; CA does not participate in MissingMoney.
Yes. Most California public records — business filings, property data, court dockets, and unclaimed property — can be searched for free through official state and county portals. Some agencies charge only for certified copies of underlying documents.
California business entity filings are searchable for free through the official state portal. California does not participate in MissingMoney.com — search the State Controller's site directly for unclaimed property.
California property ownership, parcel, and assessment data are maintained at the county level. Use the county assessor or recorder portal for the county where the property is located to find the owner of record and parcel number at no cost.
Many California courts publish case dockets online for free. Federal cases are available through PACER, and state cases through the California judiciary portal or the county clerk of court where the case was filed.
Official portals are perfect for verifying a single record. When you need compiled reports — combined people search, contact data, or multi-source background information — these professional lookup tools go further. They are paid services, not government sources.
People search, contact info, and background reports.
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Background checks and public-records reports.
Disclosure: links to professional tools are affiliate links. Searchadex may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. These are not government sources, and results are not FCRA-compliant for employment, housing, or credit decisions.
Occasional updates when we add new record types, states, or official portals. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.