How to search San Diego County court records
San Diego County runs its own case-search portal, separate from California's statewide system. There's no charge and no account required.
county-run free criminal data
Open the official San Diego County portal →
What's actually there
Party Name Search covers civil, criminal, family, mental health and probate cases. The first page of most civil documents can be previewed free; full copies cost a fee.
Other official lookups for San Diego County
Why look at the county instead of the state?
Most criminal prosecutions happen at the county level, and California's statewide system either doesn't cover San Diego County in full or doesn't cover trial courts at all. See the California guide for the full picture.
Federal cases
This portal only covers San Diego County's own courts. For federal criminal, civil or bankruptcy cases, use CourtRecordsFree's live federal search instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to search San Diego County court records online?
Yes. San Diego County's portal is free to use, with no account required.
Does this include criminal records?
Yes, San Diego County's portal includes criminal cases alongside civil.
Links move. If the San Diego County portal link above is dead, tell us on the corrections page.