Place an Order
Order online any time through our client portals. Most services are ordered through the Litigation Portal, and records obtained by subpoena have a portal of their own.
- Free accounts, no setup fees
- Orders 24/7
- Serving California since 1961
Most orders
Litigation Portal
Process serving, court filing, e-filing, court documents, and more.
- Process serving
- E-filing
- Court filing
- Court document retrieval
- Courtesy copy delivery
- E-recording
- Writ levies
- Skip tracing
New to the portal? See our step-by-step guides
Free account, set up online in a few minutes. Help: (800) 675-5376
Records by subpoena
Records Retrieval Portal
Medical, employment, and business records, and deposition officer services.
- Medical and billing records
- Employment and business records
- California, federal, and out-of-state subpoenas
- Notices to consumer
- Medical authorizations
- Deposition officer services
- On-site and off-site scanning
- X-ray handling
Accounts are set up by our Records Division. Help: (213) 484-9000
Court Document Retrieval or Records Retrieval?
These two services sound alike but are ordered in different places. Court document retrieval gets copies of documents that are already in a court case file. Records retrieval uses a subpoena to get records that a hospital, employer, or other business keeps.
Quick test: if the document is already in a court file or a county record, use the Litigation Portal. If you need records from a person or business by subpoena, use the Records Retrieval Portal.
| You Need | Order Through | Service |
|---|---|---|
| A copy of a complaint, judgment, or other document filed in a court case | Litigation Portal | Court document retrieval |
| A copy of a deed, lien, or other document recorded with a county recorder | Litigation Portal | Document retrieval |
| Papers served on a party or witness | Litigation Portal | Process serving |
| Documents filed or e-filed with a court | Litigation Portal | E-filing or court filing |
| A bank levy, wage garnishment, or other writ levy | Litigation Portal | Writ levies |
| Medical, billing, or X-ray records from a hospital or doctor | Records Retrieval Portal | Records retrieval by subpoena |
| Employment, payroll, bank, insurance, or school records | Records Retrieval Portal | Records retrieval by subpoena |
| A deposition officer for a records subpoena | Records Retrieval Portal | Deposition officer services |
How to Place an Order
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Open Your Account
Litigation Portal accounts are free and set up online in a few minutes; we email you to verify the account. Records Retrieval Portal accounts are set up by our Records Division after you send the request form.
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Place the Order
Choose the service, enter the case and party details, and upload your documents as PDFs. The portals take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Track It Online
Follow each order in your account as it moves from assignment to completion, and download the completed documents when they are ready.
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Pay and Print Invoices
Pay with the card on your account, or ask for ACH payment or credit terms (subject to approval) when you sign up. Invoices can be printed from the portal at any time.
Videos and Step-by-Step Guides
New to the portal? These short videos and step-by-step guides walk through each kind of order.
- VideoHow to Create an AccountSigning up for e-filing and process serving.
- VideoOrder, Track, and Pay OnlineA complete walk through the Litigation Portal.
- GuideHow to E-File a New CaseStep-by-step guide to starting a new case.
- GuideHow to E-File in an Existing CaseFiling in a case that is already open.
- GuideHow to Place an E-Recording OrderRecording deeds, liens, and other documents.
- GuideHow to Place a Writ Levy OrderBank levies, wage garnishments, and more.
- GuideUsing Clio with Direct Legal SupportE-filing straight from your Clio matters.
- GuideUsing NetDocuments with Direct Legal SupportE-filing straight from NetDocuments.
- PDFWrit Levy Document ChecklistWhat to send with a levy order.
- VideoE-Filing TutorialsSubmitting e-filings with California courts.
See all of our client portal guides, more videos on our tutorials page, and court forms on our forms and downloads page.
Other Ways to Order
| Process Serving, Filing, and Other Orders | (800) 675-5376 Los Angeles office (213) 483-4900 |
|---|---|
| Concierge E-Filing | Email your PDFs with your account number to support@directlegal.com and we submit the e-filing for you. |
| Records Retrieval | Email your records orders and account requests to rrorders@directlegal.com, or call our Records Division at (213) 484-9000. |
Ordering Questions
Which portal do I use to order a copy of a court document?
The Litigation Portal. Court document retrieval is ordered there along with process serving, court filing, e-filing, e-recording, courtesy copies, writ levies, and skip tracing. The Records Retrieval Portal is only for records obtained by subpoena and for deposition officer services.
What is the difference between court document retrieval and records retrieval?
Court document retrieval gets copies of documents already filed in a court case, such as a complaint, a judgment, or the whole case file, from the court clerk. Records retrieval uses a deposition subpoena to get records that a person or business keeps, such as medical, employment, bank, or insurance records, with notice to the consumer or employee when the records are personal.
I already have a records retrieval account. Can I use it to order process serving?
No. The two portals use separate accounts. Records retrieval clients can open a Litigation Portal account online in a few minutes and use it for process serving, court filing, e-filing, and court documents.
Is there a fee to open an account?
No. Accounts are free, and there are no setup fees. You pay only for the orders you place.
Can more than one person at my firm order on the same account?
Yes. On the Litigation Portal sign-up page, choose Add a User to an Existing Account and enter your customer account number and ZIP code. Each person gets their own login on the firm's account.
How do I pay for orders?
Litigation Portal accounts pay by credit or debit card, and during sign-up you can request ACH payment or credit terms instead, subject to approval. Invoices can be printed from the portal at any time.
Can I order without an attorney?
Yes, for most services. The Litigation Portal has account types for individuals and companies, and each service page lists the rates for parties without an attorney. Skip tracing and records retrieval are available only to law firms and legal departments.
How fast will my order be handled?
Process serving orders received by 1:30 PM Pacific can have a first attempt the same day with Urgent service. Court filing deadlines depend on the courthouse and are shown on our court filing page. If a deadline is close, call (800) 675-5376.
Can I send an order by email instead?
Yes. Email records orders to rrorders@directlegal.com, and send e-filings to support@directlegal.com for Concierge e-filing with your account number. For other services, call (800) 675-5376.
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Use the Forgot password link on the portal's login page, or call us at (800) 675-5376 and we will help you get back in.
Talk to Our Team
Not sure which service you need, or want help with your first order? Call us or send a message, and we will point you to the right portal.
Records Division: (213) 484-9000