Search California Residents Directory
California keeps a wide range of public records that help you find people. Voter rolls, court files, property deeds, and vital records hold key facts about state residents. The California Residents Directory brings these sources into one place so you can search for people across the state. Look up names and check addresses. Find contact info through official state databases. Many of these records are free to search online. Others need a small fee or a trip to a county office. This guide walks you through each source and shows you where to start your California residents search.
California Residents Directory Quick Facts
California Residents Directory Sources
Public records in California come from state and local agencies at every level. The Secretary of State keeps voter registration files. County recorders store property deeds and liens. The court system holds civil and criminal case files that span decades. Each of these databases can help you find California residents by name. When you run a search in the California Residents Directory, results may pull data from more than one of these systems at the same time. That gives you a fuller picture of the person you are trying to find.
The state also runs several other databases that hold information about California residents. The Department of Consumer Affairs tracks more than 150 professional license types. You can search this data at search.dca.ca.gov to find licensed professionals across California. The Department of Public Health keeps birth, death, and marriage records going back to 1905. County health offices issue vital record copies at the local level too. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs an inmate search tool that is free and open to anyone. And the State Controller has unclaimed property records tied to California residents who may have moved or lost track of old accounts. All of these sources feed into the California Residents Directory and give you more ways to locate someone in the state.
California public records used for residents directory searches include:
- Voter registration files with names, addresses, and party data
- Superior Court case records for civil, criminal, and family law matters
- Property deeds and county assessor data
- Professional license databases from the Department of Consumer Affairs
- Birth, death, and marriage certificates from vital records offices
- Inmate and corrections records from CDCR
- Unclaimed property records from the State Controller
Most of these records are public under California law. The California Public Records Act gives every person the right to inspect them.
Voter Records for California Residents
Voter registration data is one of the best ways to find California residents. The state keeps a record for every person who signs up to vote. These files include names, dates of birth, home addresses, mailing addresses, and party preference. Registration dates and voting history are part of the file too. You can request this data from the Secretary of State or from a county elections office. A statewide file costs $100. It holds records for all registered voters in California. Single voter lookups cost $30 each, with a cap of $100 per request. You can submit up to 10 names per application. County-level files are available straight from your local elections office, and fees vary by county across California.
The Secretary of State runs the VoteCal system, which is the centralized voter registration database for all of California. It connects to county election management systems, the DMV, and the Department of Corrections. This setup helps keep voter records current across all 58 counties. Officials can check for duplicate registrations and flag changes in real time. You can check your own voter status online, but full file requests require a formal application and a stated purpose.
The Secretary of State voter registration page explains how to request voter data from California.
This page shows the voter file request form and fee schedule. Processing takes 7 to 14 business days after you submit your application.
The VoteCal project page has details on how the centralized California voter database works.
VoteCal links voter data across all 58 counties. It is the single source of truth for voter records in California and keeps the residents directory data current statewide.
Note: Voter home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses are confidential under California Elections Code Section 2269 and cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Search California Court Records
Court records are another strong source for finding California residents. The state court system handles cases across all 58 counties. Each Superior Court keeps its own files. You can search many of these records online through county court portals. Name searches, case numbers, and date ranges are the most common search options. Some courts charge a fee for online access. Others let you search for free. The types of cases vary widely, and each one generates records tied to real people in California.
Court records you can search in the California residents directory include:
- Divorce decrees and family law orders
- Name change records
- Criminal history and traffic violations
- Probate records and guardianships
- Civil lawsuits and small claims filings
The California Courts public records page explains how to request Judicial Council records if you cannot find what you need online. The copying fee is 10 cents per page. Requests take about 10 days to process. You can email your request to PAJAR@jud.ca.gov or mail it to 455 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. Family law and juvenile case records are only available at the courthouse, not through online portals, under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503.
The page above is the main public records portal for the California court system. It covers both electronic and paper record requests for anyone searching the California Residents Directory.
California License Directory Search
The Department of Consumer Affairs tracks more than 150 license types in California. Doctors, nurses, contractors, real estate agents, and many other professionals must hold a valid state license. You can search the directory at search.dca.ca.gov to verify credentials or find a California resident's professional info. Each record shows whether the license is current, expired, or under discipline. The data gets refreshed at the start of each month. This is one of the fastest ways to check on someone through the California Residents Directory.
Contractors have a separate lookup tool through the Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov. The BreEZe system handles online licensing for many of the other boards. Both tools are free to use. They help you locate California residents who hold professional licenses and confirm their standing. License numbers in California do not contain letters for contractors, so enter only digits when you search that system.
You can also download bulk license data from the DCA public information page for free.
Vital Records for California Residents
The California Department of Public Health keeps birth, death, and marriage records for the whole state. Birth records go back to July 1905. These are useful for finding people because they confirm full legal names, dates of birth, and other personal details tied to California residents. Certified copies cost $31 each for birth or death records. Fetal death certificates cost $24. Processing by mail takes 5 to 7 weeks on average. You send your request to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410. County offices often have shorter wait times for in-person requests. Marriage records are kept by the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Both types of vital records are useful in a California residents directory search.
The CDPH vital records page shows what forms you need and how to submit your request for California records.
This page shows current wait times at the California Department of Public Health. Times can shift based on volume, so check before you send your request.
Note: Only authorized persons can get certified copies of California vital records. Others can request informational copies, which are marked as not valid for legal purposes.
Find California Residents in CDCR
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs a free online search tool called CIRIS. That stands for California Incarcerated Records and Information Search. You can look up anyone in CDCR custody right now. Results show the person's name, CDCR number, age, current facility, commitment counties, and parole hearing dates. The tool works around the clock. No account is needed. It is one of the most complete public databases in the state for this kind of California residents directory lookup. You can also call the CDCR ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 during business hours if you need more help with your search.
Visit the CIRIS portal to search for incarcerated individuals in California.
The CIRIS search page shown above is the main way to find incarcerated people through the California Residents Directory. It is maintained by Viapath Technologies on behalf of CDCR.
Note: Victim services are available at 1-877-256-6877 for anyone who needs to track an offender's status in California.
California Unclaimed Property Search
The State Controller's Office keeps a database of unclaimed property tied to California residents. This includes old bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, stocks, and other assets. You can search by name for free. The database updates every Thursday. Unclaimed property records often include names and past addresses, which makes them another useful source for finding California residents. There is no fee to search or to claim property. The Controller's Office also lets you download the full property records database in CSV format at no cost. That file is helpful if you need to search a large number of California names at once.
Go to the unclaimed property search page to look up California residents by name.
The search page shown above takes only a few seconds to run. Enter a name to see if there is unclaimed property tied to that California resident.
California Public Records Laws
The California Public Records Act is the main law behind access to government records in the state. It is codified in Government Code Section 7920.000, formerly Section 6250. This law requires state and local agencies to make records available for public inspection during office hours. Agencies must respond to your request within 10 calendar days. They can ask for a 14-day extension if they need more time. Some records are exempt from disclosure. These include personnel files, medical records, and home addresses of crime victims or public safety officials. But most public records in California are open to anyone. You do not need to give a reason for your request, and agencies cannot ask why you want the records.
Voter registration data has its own rules under California Elections Code Section 2269. You can only use voter data for election, scholarly, journalistic, or political purposes. Personal or commercial use is not allowed. Willful misuse is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $5,000. Driver's license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers are never included in voter files released to the public in California.
The California Information Practices Act adds rules for how agencies collect and share personal data about California residents. It gives people the right to access and correct their own records held by state agencies. Section 1798.29 also requires agencies to notify residents if a data breach exposes their personal information. Together, these three laws shape how the California Residents Directory works and what data you can access.
DMV records keep addresses and Social Security numbers confidential. You can request statistical driving and vehicle records through the DMV Information Release Unit for $5 by mail. Court records from family law, juvenile, and mental health cases are only available at the courthouse under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503. Property records are available at county recorder offices. Recording fees run $15 for the first page and $4 for each page after that in California.
Note: California law does not allow home addresses of certain officials to be posted online without written permission under Government Code Section 27288.1.
Browse California Residents by County
California has 58 counties, each with its own clerk-recorder, courts, and public record offices. The counties below are the largest in the state. Pick one to find local people records and residents directory resources for that area.
View All 10 California Counties
California Residents in Major Cities
Major cities in California are served by their county court and clerk offices. Pick a city below to find people records and residents directory info for that area.