# CA Civil Court records **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789 "2007-03-20T23:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/1 "2007-03-20T23:14:37Z")
How might I go about getting a California civil court record check? I need this for a job application, and the list of paperwork to bring with me includes “civil court check from the state in which you reside.” I tried [my.ca.gov](http://my.ca.gov), and Google, but alas… ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/2 "2007-03-22T03:56:28Z")
I’m sorry you haven’t gotten any responses. I think it’s an interesting question, and I’d love to know the answer. I don’t know what a “civil court check” is, but I thought maybe an HR person would know. Just so you know, you were very close to reaching court websites with [ca.gov](http://ca.gov), but the judicial branch’s website in California is [courtinfo.ca.gov](http://courtinfo.ca.gov). From there, you can reach the self-help center, as well as links to each county’s website. If you find out what they meant by a civil court check, will you post it? I’m intrigued now… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/3 "2007-03-22T04:05:05Z")
To get my current job, I had to apply for a background check in my home state–California. Here’s the folks I contacted for that: [Fingerprint Submissions](http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/security.php). Odd thing, though, is that they never cashed the check. Terminology comment: Some places differentiate between _civil courts_ and _military courts_. In that case, there are civil offenses (as opposed to civil matters, like suing someone for building a fence on your property) and military offenses. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/4 "2007-03-22T04:05:41Z")
I’m curious, too. Are they wanting to know if you’ve ever been party to a lawsuit? Presently a party? Outstanding judgements? Restraining orders? I know LEXIS has, or at least once had, databases that contain some information from parts of California. I suspect other companies have similar databases… ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/5 "2007-03-22T04:07:26Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] I know LEXIS has, or at least once had, databases that contain some information from parts of California. I suspect other companies have similar databases… [/QUOTE] Well, sure, but that’s not available to every schmoe off the street. Also, can they ask you about civil suits? That just seems wrong to me (she says, hoping an employment lawyer will stop by). ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/6 "2007-03-22T04:15:44Z")
[QUOTE=Campion] Well, sure, but that’s not available to every schmoe off the street. Also, can they ask you about civil suits? That just seems wrong to me (she says, hoping an employment lawyer will stop by). [/QUOTE] Hmmm..wouldn’t it be a matter of public record in most types of cases? If the position was bonded or something, it may make a difference. I will also be hoping an employment guy stops by… Editted to add…isn’t LEXIS available to anyone on a pay-per-search basis? Seems like there was an option for that, or maybe a limited time access deal…but it’s been a long time since I dealt with that… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-civil-court-records/396789/7 "2007-03-22T07:01:56Z")
Thanks for the replies. I was sadly watching my thread sink to the bottom of GD. I’ll check out the links, and see what I can see. I’ll know for certain after the 4th exactly what it is they wanted, and I’ll post that as well.