Learn How To Find And Understand Public Court Records
Court records document proceedings handled by federal, state, and local courts. Depending on the court and case, a public file may include a docket, party names, filings, orders, judgments, or information about scheduled proceedings. Some cases or documents are sealed, confidential, redacted, or otherwise unavailable to the general public.
There is no single court database containing every case in the United States. Federal courts operate separately from state court systems, and states may divide records among trial courts, appellate courts, county courts, municipal courts, and specialized courts. Identifying the likely jurisdiction is often the most important first step in finding a specific case.
Name searches can be useful for locating possible court matters, but a matching name alone is not enough to establish identity. Common names can produce unrelated cases, and spelling variations or name changes can affect results. Compare location, case dates, middle names or initials, and other available details before associating a case with a particular person.
A docket is a chronological record of activity in a court case and can provide useful context about filings, hearings, orders, and case status. A docket entry may summarize an event without containing the full underlying document. When the precise contents matter, obtain the actual filing or order from the court when it is publicly available.
Federal and state courts maintain their own record systems, and access varies by jurisdiction. PACER provides public access to many federal court records, subject to its access rules and fees. When accuracy is especially important, the court or clerk responsible for the original record is the best source for verification.
