How to Search Orange County, CA Records (Start Here)
Orange County (Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine) has a separate Clerk-Recorder from the Assessor, and multiple court case search portals.
- Court cases (civil): occourts.org/online-services/case-access — case search by number. For name search, use namesearch.occourts.org (free enrollment required).
- Criminal and traffic cases: visionpublic.occourts.org — separate from civil case search.
- Recorded documents: OC Clerk-Recorder at ocrecorder.com/search — deeds, liens, marriage certificates.
- Property assessments: OC Assessor at ocassessor.gov/search — property ownership, values, and recorded documents.
- Criminal background: No free statewide search in California. Live Scan through CA DOJ.
These databases link to official government portals — no middleman, no fees.
Criminal & Court Records
Criminal & Court Records
OC Superior Court — Criminal & Traffic Search
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
Official Free
Search criminal and traffic cases in Orange County Superior Court. Separate from the civil case search.
Jail & Inmate Records
Most Wanted
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
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Most wanted fugitives list from the Orange County Sheriff Department.
OC Sheriff — Inmate Lookup
Visit →Jail & Inmate Records
Official Free
Search who is currently in Orange County jail. Includes booking photos, charges, and bail amounts.
Property & Tax Records
Property - Tax Information
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search for Orange County property tax information by parcel number or situs address.
Recorded Documents
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Orange County deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents searchable by name, document number or type, or by recording date.
OC Assessor — Property Search
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search property ownership, assessed values, and recorded documents for Orange County properties.
OC Treasurer-Tax Collector
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Property tax payments, tax bills, and prior year tax information for Orange County.
Business, Voter & Other
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there separate court search systems in Orange County? ▼
Civil cases and criminal/traffic cases use different search portals. Civil: occourts.org/online-services/case-access. Criminal and traffic: visionpublic.occourts.org. Name-based search requires free enrollment at namesearch.occourts.org.
Where are Orange County property deeds? ▼
The OC Clerk-Recorder at ocrecorder.com/search. This is separate from the Assessor — the Clerk-Recorder handles recorded documents while the Assessor handles valuations.
Do I need an account to search OC court records? ▼
Case number searches are free without an account. Name-based searches require free enrollment at namesearch.occourts.org.
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