The California Public Records Act (PRA) gives every person the right to access public records in the physical custody of the Secretary of State unless the records are exempt from disclosure by law. (Government Code section 7920.000 et seq.).
Public records are any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by the Secretary of State regardless of physical form or characteristics. (Government Code section 7920.530(a)).
Numerous public records, such as Agency reports on a number of the Agency's programs, or California Archives digital collections and exhibits, are posted on the Secretary of State website.
Certified copies, certificates of status and plain copies of business entity (corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships) records along with certified and plain copies of Uniform Commercial Code records are available on the bizfile Online portal.
To order certified copies of business entity records for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships, associations and other types, submit a Business Entities Records - Order Form (PDF).
For public records that are not available on the Secretary of State website or bizfile Online portal, and cannot be ordered through the Business Entities Records Order Form, submit the PRA Request Form.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions website for guidelines and questions regarding the PRA and record requests. The guidelines are posted at the public counters located at the Secretary of State Office, 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, California, and the Secretary of State Office in Los Angeles, 300 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, California. A copy of these guidelines will be made available at no charge to any person upon request.
