Q: How can I access information about my son's case related to a drunk driving incident?

A: CAUTION!!! YOUR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS EXPIRES ON APRIL 8TH! That is a HARD deadline. You can't miss this deadline. You "must" file a lawsuit prior to expiration of the Statute of Limitations, or you lose. Period. Full stop. Don't worry about what his father is doing. You need to take immediate steps NOW to protect "your" legal rights. Get on the phone NOW... not tomorrow... and call some wrongful death attorneys. You cannot let this deadline expire.

A: It would be prudent to do as the below attorney suggests and file a case for yourself. You can go to the county court's website and do a name search. Once you find the complaint it should give you all the information you want. The county will either be the county where the accident occured or the county where a defendant lives. You also might be able to join in the case your ex filed? Good luck to you.. TED

A: You have my deepest condolences for the loss of your son in such tragic circumstances. As a parent seeking information about a legal case concerning your child, you have options available in California to access these records, even if you are not directly involved in the proceedings.

In California, court records are generally public documents that can be accessed by interested parties. Your first step should be to contact the Superior Court in the county where the incident occurred or where your son's father filed the case. You can visit the court's website or call their clerk's office to inquire about search procedures for both criminal cases (against the driver) and civil cases (wrongful death lawsuit). The court staff can guide you through their specific process for records requests, which typically requires basic information such as your son's name and approximate date of filing.

If you encounter difficulty locating the case, consider consulting with a legal professional who can assist with records searches and potentially file motions for information access if necessary. Many courts now offer online case information systems where you can search by name, though some sensitive details may require in-person requests with proper identification. Additionally, you might contact the District Attorney's office in the relevant county if this involves criminal proceedings, as victim services departments often provide case information to immediate family members regardless of who initiated contact with authorities.