Politics & Government

Sunshine Week: Citizen's Guide to Information

As Sunshine Week comes to a close, Patch offers this Citizen's Guide to Information to help give access to public information. If you have other resources that you'd like to share, let us know.

Sunshine Week, when media organizations, libraries, nonprofits and schools highlight the importance of government transparency and the value of open records, is coming to a close. It was started by journalists, but Sunshine Week is about the public's right to know what its government is doing.

One of Sunshine Week's goals is to empower members of the public to play an active role in their government and give them access to information to improve their personal lives and their communities. With that in mind, Patch presents this Citizen’s Guide to Information.

Patch has compiled a list of agencies that you can contact for information and questions on topics including court documents and restaurant closures. Tell us if there are other agencies or organizations we should add to this list. Send your email here.

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COURTS

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Superior Courts

  • What: Each of the 58 counties in California has a Superior Court that hears civil and criminal cases.
  • Where: Each courthouse has a clerk’s office in which members of the public may request to view court documents.
  • What to bring: Court case number.
  • Cost: Free to view. A small per page fee is charged for copies.
  • Where to go: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/find.htm

California Courts of Appeal

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  • What: There are six California Courts of Appeal spread throughout the state that hear criminal and civil appeals of judgments from the Superior Courts.
  • Where: Each courthouse has a clerk’s office in which members of the public may request to view court documents. Opinions are also published online within hours of a finding.
  • What to bring: Court case number.
  • Cost: Free to view. A small per page fee is charged for copies.
  • Where to go: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/find.htm, http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/courtsofappeal/

California Supreme Court

  • What: The highest state court in California with headquarters in San Francisco and regular sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
  • Where: The high court headquarters is at 350 McAllister St. in San Francisco. A court calendar of scheduled arguments is available online and opinions are normally filed Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and posted online.
  • What to bring: Court case number.
  • Cost: Free to view. A small per page fee is charged for copies.
  • Where to go: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/find.htm, http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/

RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

RESTAURANT CLOSURES

COMISSIONS

L.A. City Ethics Commission
Provides information regarding disclosure laws and ethics: Whistle-Blower Hotline,, Lobbying Neighborhood Councils, Contributors, LAUSD Candidates, Summary of the Ralph M. Brown Act

Contact number:

  • Office of the City Attorney:     213-847-3141
  • Whistle-Blower Hotline:          213-978-1999 (toll free: 800-824-4825)

California Fair Practices Commission
Provides information on state regulations regarding government’s fair and efficient use of public resources. How to file a complaint

Anonymous Complaints: Toll Free tip line 800-561-1861

VITAL RECORDS

Birth Certificates

  • What's in it: Name, date, time and location of birth. Mother's maiden name. Race of each parent.
  • Who can get it: 
    • The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant
    •  A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code
    • A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business                                                                                                                 
    • A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant                                                                                                   
    • An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant’s estate.
  • Where to get it: Apply in person at the County Clerk’s office at the following locations:

1028 W. Avenue J2

Lancaster

(661) 945-6446

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

11701 S. La Cienega Blvd, 6th Floor

LAX Courthouse

(310) 727-6142

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

4716 East Cesar Chavez Avenue

Los Angeles

(323) 260-2991

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

7807 S. Compton Avenue

Los Angeles

(323) 586-6192

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

12400 Imperial Highway

Norwalk

(562) 462-2137

Hrs: 8a.m. - 5p.m., M-F

14340 West Sylvan Street

Van Nuys

(818) 376-3700

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

If you apply in person you will need a valid photo ID. Same-day service is available for births 1964 to present. Certificates for births before 1964 will be mailed within 20 working days.

  • Apply by mail:
    • Submit an Application for birth record
    • Submit a notarized Certificate of Identity
    • Include a preaddressed stamped envelope. Payment can be made by check or money order payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. DO NOT SEND CASH. Out of state checks are accepted. Mail to: Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Birth Records P.O. Box 489 Norwalk, CA 90651-0489. Requests are processed within 20 working days.
  • Apply online:  http://www.vitalchek.com/los-angeles-county-express-vital-records.aspx
  • What it costs: $19 by mail, $14 in person.

Death Certificates

  • What's in it: Vital statistics, including name, date and place of birth, occupation, parents' names and official cause of death.
  • Who can get it:
    • A parent or legal guardian of the registrant
    • A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business
    • A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of the registrant
    • An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant estate
    • Any funeral director or agent/employee of a funeral establishment acting within the scope of their employment who orders certified copies of a death on behalf of any individual specified in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive of subdivision (a) of Section 7100 of the Health and Safety Code.
  • Where to get it: Apply in person at the County Clerk’s office at any of the following locations:

1028 W. Avenue J2

Lancaster

(661) 945-6446

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

11701 S. La Cienega Blvd, 6th Floor

LAX Courthouse

(310) 727-6142

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

4716 East Cesar Chavez Avenue

Los Angeles

(323) 260-2991

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

7807 S. Compton Avenue

Los Angeles

(323) 586-6192

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

12400 Imperial Highway

Norwalk

(562) 462-2137

Hrs: 8a.m. - 5p.m., M-F

14340 West Sylvan Street

Van Nuys

(818) 376-3700

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F


If you apply in person you will need a valid photo ID. Same-day service is available for deaths that happened in 1995 to the present. Deaths before 1995 will be mailed within 20 working days.

  • Apply by mail:
    • Submit the Application for Death Record
    • Submit a notarized Certificate of Identity
    • Include a preaddressed stamped envelope. Payment can be made by check or money order payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. DO NOT SEND CASH. Out of state checks are accepted. Mail request and fee to: Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Birth Records P.O. Box 489 Norwalk, CA 90651-0489. Requests are processed within 20 working days.

Marriage Certificates

  • What's in it: Names of bride and groom, date and place of birth, date and location of marriage.
  • Who can get it:
    • One of the parties to the marriage or a parent or legal guardian of one of the parties.
    • A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business
    • A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or domestic partner of one of the parties to the marriage. An attorney representing one of the parties to the marriage or the party’s estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of one of the parties to the marriage or the party’s estate
  • Where to get it: Apply in person at the County Clerk’s office at the following locations:

1028 W. Avenue J2

Lancaster

(661) 945-6446

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

11701 S. La Cienega Blvd, 6th Floor

LAX Courthouse

(310) 727-6142

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

4716 East Cesar Chavez Avenue

Los Angeles

(323) 260-2991

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

7807 S. Compton Avenue

Los Angeles

(323) 586-6192

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

12400 Imperial Highway

Norwalk

(562) 462-2137

Hrs: 8a.m. - 5p.m., M-F

14340 West Sylvan Street

Van Nuys

(818) 376-3700

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F


If you apply in person you will need a valid photo ID. Same-day service is available for marriages that began in 1995 to the present. Marriages that began before 1995 will be mailed within 20 working days.

Divorce Certificates

  • What's in it: Vital statistics, including names of husband and wife involved, their birth dates, place of marriage, number of children and name changes to be made after divorce.
  • Who can get it: Anyone. Divorce records are public domain.
  • Where to get it: At the Superior Court where the divorce was filed. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does not have any divorce information or files. If the Superior Court location is not known, information can be obtained at the County Courthouse,  111 North Hill St., Los Angeles, telephone 213-974-5171 or 213-974-5192.
  • Divorce filings that took place within the central Los Angeles area are transferred to the County Record Center (Archives) normally within two to three years of the filing. Divorce filings outside of the central Los Angeles area can take five or more years for transfer to the archives. Records are transferred to the archives when storage space at the courthouses becomes limited. The archives are located at 222 North Hill St., Los Angeles, telephone 213-974-1378 or 213-974-1379.
  • Online: Some divorce records are available online. Visit: https://lasuperiorcourt.org

SCHOOLS

BUSINESS LICENSE RECORDS

State License Verification

  • What’s in it: The name and location of a license, accusations filed and disciplinary decisions effective on or after January of the previous year
  • Who can get it: General public.
  • Where to get it: The state Department of Consumer Affairs’ website.
  • What you need: Know which license type you’re searching for. You may search by business name, city or county.
  • Contact number: 800-952-5210

County License Verification

  • What’s in it: Certain businesses are required to obtain a license from the county of Los Angeles if they are conducted in an unincorporated area or in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Diamond Bar, Malibu, Santa Clarita and Westlake Village. Activities requiring a business license are listed online, along with their requirements.
  • Who can get it: General public
  • Where to get it: The county Treasurer and Tax Collector website.
  • What you need: Know which license type you’re searching for. You may search by business name, city or county.
  • Contact number: 213-974-2011

Patch editors Paul Chavez, Samantha Page, Kelly Hartog, Jared Morgan and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this article.


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