County-Specific Civil Record Search
This search will identify civil records filed in one jurisdiction which are associated with a specific individual or entity. Separate searches can be performed simultaneously in multiple jurisdictions to identify if an individual or entity has been named in a previous or ongoing civil complaint. Currently the industry standard for a civil search is a seven-year search period, but more thorough searches can also be performed.
It is important to note civil records are filed by name only, meaning that no other identifiers, such as date of birth or Social Security number are associated with civil records. If the subject of the investigation has a common name, additional research may be required to determine if the civil records found are actually associated with subject of the investigation. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the subject’s middle name or initial, to aid in separate possible records from records actually associated with the subject.
Like county specific criminal record searches, civil record searches can be performed through an index or by hand at the county seat. We recommend performing an index search to identify all possible cases associated with your subject and then running a hand search to obtain any details that were not available on the index.
Civil records filed at the county level are generally divided between the lower court and upper court, based on the monetary amount of the claim (cutoff figures may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction). For example, in Los Angeles County, California, civil cases commonly filed at the lower court include Small Claims cases and cases where the dollar amount does not exceed $7,500, such as unlawful detainer (eviction) and collections. Cases with higher monetary values are filed at the upper court and such case types as breach of contract, fraud, and tort cases.
Please contact us to inquire on costs for specific jurisdictions as well as turnaround time for results.
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