Case Search

Riverside County CA case search services are provided by the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, through its online Public Access system and related court record services. The right search method depends on whether you already know the case number, need to search by a person's or organization's name, want to review the register of actions, need documents, or cannot locate an older case online. The information below explains how the official search systems work, which case types and date ranges are available, what fees may apply, how to request a court-conducted search, and when you may need to work with the courthouse handling the case.

Riverside Court Case Search

The Riverside Superior Court provides a central Search Court Records—Public Access page for people looking for Civil, Small Claims, Unlawful Detainer, Family Law, Probate, Criminal, and Traffic case information. The service is designed to provide access to available case data without requiring a courthouse visit.

The court makes an important distinction between online case information and the official court record. Information displayed through Public Access is provided as a public service and does not constitute the official record of the Riverside Superior Court. The data may contain errors or omissions, and the court does not guarantee that information displayed online is complete or suitable for a particular purpose.

This distinction matters when a court record will be used for a purpose that requires an official or certified document. Finding a case online can help identify the case number, filing history, hearing information, and available documents, but the online display itself should not be treated as an official certified record. Official certified records must be requested from the court.

Public Access Account Requirements

The court's Public Access portal requires users to create an online account. The portal limits online information according to the California Rules of Court governing electronic access to court records.

Before beginning a search, it helps to understand the different functions available in the portal because they do not all work the same way:

Index: Searches for cases using a person's or organization's name. This is considered a name search and a fee applies.

Register of Actions: Displays a list of documents filed in a particular case, including filing dates and the party that filed each document. A case number is required.

Calendar: Provides current and future hearing information, including hearing time, hearing type, and department.

Documents: Allows access to downloadable court documents when electronic access is permitted. A case number is required, and document download fees apply.

Probate Notes: Provides Probate Notes when a case number is supplied.

Because some functions require a case number while others are designed to locate one, users who do not know the number generally need to begin with a name search or request a records search from the court.

Searching by Case Number

A case number is the most direct way to search the Public Access system. Case number searches are free when the required information is provided. The result identifies the case and allows the user to select it and review the register of actions.

The register of actions can be especially useful because it identifies documents filed in the case and the dates associated with those filings. It can also help determine where the matter is currently being heard. Riverside Superior Court advises that cases are sometimes moved from one region to another for the convenience of the court or the parties. For that reason, the courthouse associated with a case number prefix is not always the courthouse where the matter is currently pending.

If the location matters because you need to submit something or contact the correct branch, review the register of actions and compare the courtroom or department with the court's Where Cases Are Heard reference guide. Documents generally should be filed at the facility where the case is being heard when a case has been transferred to another location.

Multiple-defendant criminal cases

Pay close attention to the full number when searching a criminal case involving multiple defendants. The court's records search system states that criminal case numbers in multiple-defendant cases now include endings such as “-1” and “-2.” The court gives RIF1234567-1 as an example. Leaving off the defendant-specific ending could interfere with locating the correct record.

Name Searches and Search Credits

Users who do not know the case number may search the index using a person's or organization's name. Both Civil and Criminal/Traffic name searches require payment.

Current Public Access name-search credit pricing in the supplied court information is:

$1 for one name-search credit.
$3.50 for five name-search credits.
$5 for 10 name-search credits.
$25 for 75 name-search credits.
$250 for unlimited name-search credits for 30 consecutive days.

The unlimited period is based on 30 consecutive days rather than a calendar month. After locating a name, the portal allows the user to view up to 10 cases associated with that name before another name search is required.

A name search returns matching case numbers and filing dates. Selecting a case number then opens the register of actions. This two-stage process is useful to remember: the paid portion is the name search that identifies potential cases, while searching a known case number does not carry the name-search fee.

Preparing a name search

Use the party information you have available and review the filing dates returned with the results before selecting a case. Similar names can produce multiple case numbers, so the presence of the same or similar name should not by itself be treated as confirmation that a record belongs to a particular person.

If the court's online index does not locate the case, that does not necessarily mean the case never existed. The record may fall outside the online date range, may have been purged under applicable retention rules, or may require a court-conducted records search.

Civil and Small Claims Records

Online availability for Civil and Small Claims records varies by courthouse and case type. The Riverside Superior Court lists the following starting dates for records available online:

Riverside Civil: October 1991 to present.
Indio Civil: May 1991 to present.
Palm Springs Civil: September 1993 to present.
Palm Springs Small Claims: September 1993 to present.
Corona Civil: March 1994 to present.
Indio Small Claims: April 1994 to present.
Blythe Civil: May 1994 to present.
Blythe Small Claims: November 1994 to present.
Corona Small Claims: November 1994 to present.
Moreno Valley Small Claims: November 1994 to present.
Temecula Small Claims: September 1996 to present.
Hemet Small Claims: September 1996 to present.
Perris Small Claims: September 1996 to present.
Hemet Civil: October 1996 to present.
Temecula Civil: October 1996 to present.

These differences are significant when searching older litigation. A search for a 1992 Riverside Civil case, for example, falls within the stated online range, while the same year would precede the stated online range for several other locations.

Unlawful detainer restrictions

Unlawful Detainer, commonly called eviction, records have an additional access restriction. Riverside Superior Court states that these cases are confidential during the first 60 days and cannot ordinarily be viewed through general public access during that period.

The court also states that interested parties may obtain access under the applicable rule when they can provide, at minimum, one plaintiff's name, one defendant's name, and the property address. Users searching a recently filed eviction case therefore should not assume that an empty public search result means no case has been filed.

Family Law Case Records

For Family Law matters, almost all cases from April 1992 forward are available through the court's online search system. A known case number can be used to locate the case directly, while a name search may be used when the number is unknown.

If the case cannot be found, the court also permits a records-search request. That service is intended to locate case-number information. It is separate from obtaining copies of the underlying file, so requesting a court-conducted search should not be treated as an order for pleadings, judgments, or other case documents.

Probate Case Information

Almost all Riverside County Probate cases from July 1994 onward are available for online searching. Once the correct case number has been located, users can review the register of actions and access Probate Notes through the Public Access portal.

Probate Notes timing

Probate Notes are updated in the evening three business days before the scheduled hearing. The notes reflect documents filed at least four court days before the hearing. Documents or responses filed after that cutoff are not included in those Probate Notes.

This timing can create an apparent difference between recently filed documents and what appears in the notes. A document may have been submitted after the Probate Notes cutoff and therefore not yet be reflected in the displayed notes for that hearing.

Criminal and Traffic Records

Criminal and Traffic online coverage also depends on location and case level. Riverside Superior Court identifies the following starting dates:

Riverside felonies: January 1990 to present.
Riverside misdemeanors: January 1994 to present.
Banning felonies: November 1996 to present.
Banning misdemeanors: November 1996 to present.
Mid-County Region felonies and misdemeanors: December 1996 to present.
Indio felonies: May 1990 to present.
Blythe, Indio, and Palm Springs misdemeanors: September 1993 to present.

Criminal and Traffic name searches are paid searches, while known case-number searches are free. Confidential or sealed information is not available through the public portal, and other case information may be restricted by governing statutes or court rules.

When a Case Is Missing

Several circumstances can explain why a Riverside County case does not appear in an online search. The first issue to check is the online date range for the applicable case type and courthouse. A case that predates the applicable range may not be represented in the searchable database.

Another possibility is record destruction. Riverside Superior Court routinely purges court records pursuant to Government Code section 68152. The court also states that certain records involving cannabis arrests or convictions are required to be destroyed within two years of the offense under the cited state law.

If a record appears to qualify for cannabis-related destruction but remains publicly available, the court identifies local form RI-CR091, Cannabis Records Removal, and an online notification option. The court also provides RI-CR092, an information sheet concerning destruction of cannabis-related arrest and conviction records.

Court-Performed Records Searches

People who cannot locate a case themselves may submit an official Request Records Search. The court charges $15 for each search request. If more than one records search is requested, the information must be completed and the fee paid separately for each search.

The court's request system accepts searches for:

Civil cases.
Family Law cases.
Probate cases.
Criminal cases.
Traffic cases.

The request asks for the period during which the case was filed. Additional information may also be supplied to help court staff locate the record, such as the type of case information sought, the courthouse where the matter may have been filed, other parties' names, or aliases.

A court-performed search is limited in scope. The search provides case-number information located by court staff; it does not include an option to order copies of the case file or particular documents.

Birth dates and license numbers

Clerk's Office staff have restrictions on using sensitive identifying information to perform a records search. Staff may search using a date of birth and/or driver's license number only when the person requesting the search is the defendant to whom the search applies and valid identification is shown.

A request for local summary criminal history information, as defined by Penal Code section 13300, requires the court's Declaration Pursuant to Penal Code 13300, local form RI-CR093.

Downloading Court Documents

Finding a case and obtaining a document are separate transactions. Non-confidential, non-sealed documents may be downloaded through Public Access when electronic access is permitted under the California Rules of Court.

A case number is required before a document can be downloaded. The court's stated document charges are $1 per page for the first five pages and 50 cents per page for each additional page of the same document, with a maximum charge of $50 per document.

Downloaded documents remain available through the system for 30 days. Users who need documents from multiple cases should therefore keep the case-number requirement and separate document charges in mind when planning their searches. The court's published charges can also be reviewed in its official fee schedule.

Certified Court Copies

A document downloaded from Public Access is different from a certified court copy. Riverside Superior Court provides a formal process for requesting certified copies in Civil, Family Law, Probate, Criminal, and Traffic matters.

The request uses local form RI-MC011, Request for Certified Copies. The completed form may be submitted online through eSubmit or delivered to the courthouse where the case is being heard through U.S. Mail or an available court drop box. For a mailed or drop-box request, the court instructs requesters to include a check or money order in the appropriate amount along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Because cases can be moved between regions, confirm where the case is currently heard before directing a certified-copy request to a courthouse. The register of actions and the court's case-location reference information can help identify the applicable courtroom or department.

Court Calendar Searches

Case searches and calendar searches serve different purposes. The Public Access portal can display current and future calendar dates up to seven days and may show the hearing time, hearing type, and assigned department.

The court also maintains a separate Court Calendars service covering daily calendars for Civil, Small Claims, Unlawful Detainer, Law and Motion, Probate, Guardianship, Family Law, Child Support Services, Criminal, and Traffic matters.

The court's eCalendar application covers Criminal, Traffic, and Probate courthouse locations and provides department calendars for the current day and the next three business days. Other calendar listings on the court site are organized by court region, location, and case type.

When you already have the case number and need the broader filing history, the register of actions is the more appropriate part of Public Access. When the immediate issue is the date, time, type, or department of a hearing, the calendar service may provide the more focused information.

Online Search Restrictions

Public Access does not expose every piece of information maintained by the court. Confidential and sealed case information is unavailable online, and other information can be restricted under statutes or court rules.

The court also imposes a usage limit to protect system performance and access. Each account is limited to a maximum of 30 searches or case lookups during a five-minute period. The limit applies to manual searches as well as automated activity.

Exceeding the restriction may result in immediate account suspension or permanent deactivation without advance notice. The court also warns that repeated violations or attempts to avoid the limit by using scripts, automation, or multiple accounts may result in additional measures. Users conducting a large number of searches should therefore stay within the portal's stated limits rather than repeatedly submitting rapid queries.

Browser and account issues

The Public Access site requires the browser to accept cookies, and popup-blocking software must be disabled for the site. These settings are worth checking if account creation or portal functions do not behave as expected.

The portal includes a Contact Us option for assistance with online account creation. For broader case-search questions, Riverside Superior Court also provides Court Web Chat for Civil, Family Law, Jury, Juvenile, Probate, Criminal, and Traffic matters.

Web Chat and Clerk Assistance

Court Web Chat operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., excluding court holidays and closure days. The court's chatbot is available 24 hours a day. Jury Services web chat follows different hours.

Attachments are not accepted through web chat. Documents sent through the chat service are discarded. A person who needs to file a document must use an appropriate filing service rather than treating chat as a filing channel.

Telephone assistance is also available through Riverside Superior Court. The court advises users to expect lengthy telephone waits and delayed email responses because only a limited number of staff are available to handle those communications. Current courthouse locations and operating information are published on the court's Locations and Contact Information page.

Common Search Mistakes

One common mistake is paying for a name search when the case number is already available. Case-number searches are free, while searching the index by a person's or organization's name requires a search credit.

Another is treating the online case display as a certified court record. Public Access provides case information and certain downloadable documents, but the court specifically states that information obtained from the site is not its official record. Certified records require a separate court request.

Users searching older matters should also compare the filing date with the applicable online availability period. Civil, Small Claims, Family Law, Probate, Criminal, and Traffic records do not all begin in the same year, and some Civil and Criminal date ranges vary by courthouse or region.

Recent eviction cases present a separate issue because Unlawful Detainer cases are confidential during their first 60 days. Similarly, confidential or sealed cases in other categories cannot be viewed through normal public online access.

When a case cannot be found, repeatedly purchasing name searches may not resolve the problem if the case predates online coverage or the record has been purged. The court's Request Records Search service provides a separate way to have staff search for case-number information, although that service carries a per-search fee and does not provide copies of case documents.

Finally, users should verify the current case location instead of assuming that a case-number prefix always identifies the courthouse where the case is presently heard. The court states that cases may be moved between regions, and the register of actions should be reviewed when the correct courtroom, department, or filing location matters.

Final Department List

Banning Justice Center
311 E. Ramsey Street, Banning, CA 92220
(951) 777-3147
Blythe Courthouse
265 N. Broadway, Blythe, CA 92225
(760) 393-2617
Corona Court
505 S. Buena Vista Ave. #201, Corona, CA 92882
(951) 777-3147
Larson Justice Center
46-200 Oasis Street, Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-2617
Menifee Justice Center
27401 Menifee Center Drive, Menifee, CA 92584
951-777-3147
Moreno Valley Courthouse
13800 Heacock Street, Bldg. D #201, Moreno Valley, CA 92553
(951) 777-3147
Palm Springs Courthouse
3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 393-2617
Riverside Family Law
4175 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 777-3147
Riverside Hall of Justice
4100 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 777-3147
Riverside Historic Courthouse
4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 777-3147
Riverside Juvenile
9991 County Farm Road, Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 777-3147
Southwest Justice Center
30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563
(951) 777-3147
Southwest Juvenile
30755-G Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563
(951) 777-3147

Case Search FAQs

Can I check a hearing schedule without opening the full case record?

Yes. Riverside Superior Court maintains separate court calendar listings for Civil, Small Claims, Unlawful Detainer, Law and Motion, Probate, Guardianship, Family Law, Child Support Services, Criminal, and Traffic matters. Criminal, Traffic, and Probate courthouse locations also use eCalendar, which displays department calendars for the current day and the next three business days. This can be useful when your immediate concern is whether a matter appears on a department's schedule rather than reviewing the complete case history.

Where should appeal papers be filed after locating a case?

Appeal filing rules can differ from the courthouse associated with the original case. According to the court's Where Cases Are Heard guide, notices of appeal and documents concerning preparation of the record for appeals to the Court of Appeal may be filed at any Riverside County courthouse. Appeals handled by the Appellate Division of the Riverside County Superior Court follow a different rule: notices of appeal and later documents must be filed at the Hall of Justice in Riverside. For infractions, appeal documents must be filed at the courthouse where judgment was issued.

Can a Public Access account reveal restricted case details?

No. Creating an account does not override California's electronic-access restrictions. The Riverside Superior Court Public Access portal limits information according to applicable California Rules of Court, and confidential or sealed case information is not made available online. If a case is visible but certain information is missing, the absence may reflect a legal access restriction rather than a problem with your account or search terms.

Are courthouse drop boxes available after a case search?

Most Riverside Superior Court locations listed on the court's locations and courthouse information page have drop boxes, but availability is not universal. The court states that facility drop boxes are available inside participating court buildings until 4:00 p.m., excluding weekends and court holidays. Before using one, confirm that the case belongs at that facility and that the particular branch accepts drop-box submissions.