In the California state court system, trial courts are called superior courts. There is a superior court in each of California's 58 counties, and they hear most types of cases including civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and small claims cases. There is also an appellate court, that reviews superior court decisions, and the California Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the state.

If you're seeking California court records, you'll need to contact the superior court where the case took place. Although most California court documents are public record, procedures for viewing or obtaining copies varies by county (a link to each county's superior court website can be found at http://www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm.) Some counties require that you go to the courthouse during business hours, and in others, there are online California court records databases that provide basic information or even scanned copies of court documents. If you're seeking records from California's appellate or Supreme Court, you'll need to complete a 'Request for Judicial Administrative Records' form, which can be found at http://www.courts.ca.gov/requestforms.htm. California also has a comprehensive self-help section where you can obtain forms and information regarding a wide variety of type of cases – http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm.