Search Court Records by Name
Enter first name, last name, and state to prepare a court records search.
To Court Records | Free Public Search Online
This page helps users get to court records safely by choosing the right official source first: local county court, state court portal, federal PACER, clerk of court, recorder, probate office, criminal-history agency, or public-records request office. It is built for people who need a clean starting point without paying private “instant records” sites first.
Direct answer: To get to court records online, first identify the court system: federal, state, county, municipal, probate, family, traffic, juvenile, bankruptcy, or appellate. Use PACER for federal court records, your state judiciary or county clerk for state and county cases, the county recorder/register for property records, and the state criminal-history agency for official background checks. Online docket search may be free, but certified copies, transcripts, PACER documents, criminal-history reports, and records requests may have fees.
Where Should You Go To Court Records?
The right court-record source depends on the case type and jurisdiction. A federal PACER case is different from a county traffic ticket, divorce decree, probate file, deed, sheriff booking, police report, or official criminal-history report.
Use PACER or the federal court where the case was filed.
Use your state judiciary website, county clerk, or court clerk portal.
Use the county recorder, register of deeds, clerk-recorder, or land records office.
Use the state criminal-history agency, not only a public docket search.
| If you need this | Best official source | Search by | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, or appellate case | U.S. Courts Find a Case / PACER | Federal case number, party name, court, district, bankruptcy court, or PACER Case Locator. | State, county, municipal, or traffic court records. |
| State trial court case | State judiciary case search or county clerk of court | Name, case number, county, court division, date range, citation, or docket number. | Federal PACER or county recorder records. |
| Traffic ticket or municipal citation | Municipal court, county court, or state traffic court portal | Citation number, driver name, case number, license plate, or ticket date. | Criminal-history report or sheriff booking. |
| Divorce decree, custody order, family case | Family court, superior court, circuit court, probate/family court, or county clerk | Case number, party names, divorce year, court location, or document title. | Marriage certificate or vital-record office. |
| Estate, will, guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, name change | Probate court, surrogate court, register of wills, or county court | Decedent name, estate number, case number, party name, filing date, or docket. | Recorder property records or criminal records. |
| Deed, mortgage, lien, land document, recorded instrument | County recorder, register of deeds, clerk-recorder, land records, or registry of deeds | Grantor, grantee, book/page, instrument number, property address, parcel, or recording date. | Court case docket. |
| Arrest booking, inmate, jail custody, bond | Sheriff, jail, detention center, or corrections department | Name, booking number, inmate number, arrest date, or jail location. | Final court disposition or conviction. |
| Official criminal-history background check | State police, justice department, public safety agency, attorney general, or court-approved background portal | Identity details, fingerprints if required, date of birth, and agency form. | One public docket or private background website. |
How to Get To Court Records Online Without Getting Lost
Most record-search mistakes happen because users start with a broad search engine query instead of the court system. Use this workflow to reduce wrong portals, paid ads, and incomplete private reports.
Identify the jurisdiction
Look for the state, county, city, federal district, court name, or case caption. “Court records” always belong to a specific court or records office.
Identify the record type
Decide if you need a docket, complaint, judgment, divorce decree, probate file, traffic citation, criminal case, civil case, deed, arrest booking, or official background check.
Use official links first
Open the court, clerk, state judiciary, PACER, county recorder, sheriff, or state criminal-history agency directly before using paid private record sites.
Search broad, then narrow
Try case number first. If you do not have it, try party name, business name, date range, citation number, docket number, court location, or record year.
Request official copies when needed
Online search is not always enough. For legal use, ask the official record holder for a plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, transcript, docket sheet, or official report.
Federal Court Records: PACER, District Court, Bankruptcy and Appeals
For federal court records, the official public access service is PACER. U.S. Courts guidance explains that users can locate a federal case by using PACER or by visiting the Clerk’s Office of the courthouse where the case was filed. PACER can search a specific federal court or a nationwide index through the PACER Case Locator.
Use PACER for
- U.S. District Court civil and criminal cases
- Federal bankruptcy cases
- Federal appellate cases
- Nationwide federal case locator searches
- Federal docket sheets and filings
Before using PACER
- Confirm the case is federal, not state.
- Have the case number if possible.
- Know the district, bankruptcy court, or circuit.
- Review current PACER fees and exemptions.
- Do not assume sealed documents are public.
State, County and Local Court Records
Most everyday court records are state or county records: traffic, landlord-tenant, divorce, probate, small claims, misdemeanor, felony, civil lawsuit, domestic relations, and local ordinance cases. These are usually searched through the state judiciary website, county clerk of court, court clerk, municipal court, or e-file/docket portal.
State judiciary portal
Many states provide a statewide case search for trial courts or appellate courts. Some states separate public docket search from document-image access.
County clerk / clerk of court
County clerks often manage case dockets, court records, certified copies, divorce decrees, civil filings, and traffic/criminal payments.
Municipal court
City courts often handle traffic tickets, ordinance violations, parking-related court matters, local misdemeanors, and small municipal dockets.
Probate or surrogate court
Use for estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, name changes, adoptions, and related restricted records.
Family court
Use for divorce, custody, support, domestic relations, protective orders, and family-related records with privacy limits.
Recorder / land records
Use for deeds, liens, mortgages, UCC, homestead declarations, plats, plans, and recorded property instruments.
How to Request Court Records, Certified Copies and Transcripts
Online docket search can show basic information, but official use often requires the record holder to issue the correct document. The correct copy type depends on what the receiving agency needs.
| Copy type | What it means | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Docket sheet | Summary of filings, events, dates, status, and court actions. | Case review, attorney reference, basic verification. |
| Plain copy | Regular copy of a document without court certification. | Personal file, non-official review, informal reference. |
| Certified copy | Copy certified by the court or clerk as a true copy. | Government agency, benefits, licensing, name change, divorce proof, title work. |
| Exemplified / authenticated copy | Higher certification used when another jurisdiction or agency requires extra authentication. | Out-of-state, international, or special legal use. |
| Transcript | Written record of what was said in court, usually prepared by a court reporter or transcriber. | Appeal, legal review, attorney work, agency request. |
| Audio / recording | Court audio where available and allowed. | Hearing review, transcript preparation, official court request. |
Find the case number
A case number or docket number makes copy requests faster and reduces wrong-record risk.
Ask the receiving agency what it needs
Before paying, ask whether a plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, transcript, or background-check report is required.
Contact the correct clerk
Use the clerk of the court where the case was filed. A different county or court department may not be able to issue the record.
Confirm fee, delivery and timeline
Copy fees, search fees, certification fees, transcript deposits, and delivery methods vary by court.
Court Records vs Official Criminal History
A public criminal docket is not always the same as an official criminal-history background check. A docket may show a case, charge, event, or disposition in one court. A state criminal-history report may include statewide records, identity matching, fingerprints, or agency-certified background information.
Use court records when you need
- Case docket or case number
- Charges filed in a specific court
- Hearing dates and case events
- Judgment or disposition in one case
- Court filings or sentencing order
Use official background check when you need
- Employer or licensing background report
- Statewide criminal-history search
- Fingerprint-based report
- Immigration or agency review
- Record challenge, correction, or expungement route
How to Avoid Fake Court Payment and Records Websites
Search results can show private ads above official court pages. Some pages sell “instant court records,” “background reports,” or “official copies” but are not the court. Use caution before entering personal or payment information.
Check the domain
Official sources often use .gov, state judiciary domains, county clerk domains, court-specific domains, or recognized federal domains like uscourts.gov and pacer.uscourts.gov.
Read button labels
Use honest official actions such as “Case Search,” “Pay Citation,” “Request Certified Copy,” or “Public Records Request.” Avoid suspicious fake download buttons.
Save confirmation
For payments, save receipt number, date, amount, case number, court name, and payment confirmation until the official record updates.
Court Record Not Found? Try These Fixes
A missing search result does not always mean no record exists. Records may be restricted, old, sealed, under another name, recently filed, or located in another court.
Try another court
Search the correct court department: federal, state, county, municipal, probate, family, traffic, juvenile, or appellate.
Use fewer terms
Try last name only, business name, maiden name, middle initial, alternate spelling, or case number.
Check date range
Older records may be archived, microfilmed, retained offsite, or searchable only in person.
Check privacy limits
Juvenile, sealed, impounded, adoption, family, guardianship, mental health, and victim-related records may be restricted.
Use the right record type
Deeds are recorder records, arrests are sheriff or police records, and criminal history may be a state background-check record.
Call the clerk
Ask whether the record is public, online, in person only, archived, sealed, or held by another office.
To Court Records: Short Answer for Bing, Copilot and AI Search
To court records means getting to the correct official record source. Use PACER for federal court records, the state judiciary or county clerk for state and county cases, municipal court for local tickets, probate court for estates and guardianships, family court for divorce or custody, county recorder for deeds and liens, sheriff or jail for booking records, and the state criminal-history agency for official background checks. Always verify fees, copy rules, and case status with the official office.
| Question | Clean answer |
|---|---|
| Where do I start? | Start with the court name, county, state, and case type. Then use the official court or clerk website. |
| Where are federal records? | Federal court records are searched through PACER or the federal court where the case was filed. |
| Where are county records? | County court records are usually with the county clerk of court, local court clerk, or state judiciary portal. |
| Where are deeds and liens? | Use the county recorder, register of deeds, clerk-recorder, or land records office. |
| Do I need a certified copy? | For legal, agency, immigration, licensing, benefits, title, or court use, ask the receiving office if certification is required. |
Official Court Records Starting Points
U.S. Courts Court Records
Federal court-record guidance, including PACER and courthouse access.
Open U.S. Courts RecordsFind a Federal Case
Official U.S. Courts page explaining how to find federal cases through PACER or the courthouse.
Open Find a CasePACER
Federal Public Access to Court Electronic Records for district, bankruptcy, and appellate cases.
Open PACERPACER Case Locator
Search a nationwide index of federal court cases where available through PACER.
Open Case LocatorState Court Example: California
Public access guidance for court and judicial records in California.
Open California Records HelpState Court Example: New York
Guidance for getting case information and court records in New York courts.
Open New York Records HelpState Court Example: Maryland
Maryland court records and Case Search guidance for District and Circuit Courts.
Open Maryland Court RecordsState Court Example: North Carolina
Guidance for obtaining court records, background checks, and expunction information.
Open NC Court RecordsRecords Safety Reminder
Use official court, clerk, judiciary, or agency sources before paid private record reports.
Find State Government SitesTo Court Records FAQs
How do I get to court records online?
Identify the court system first. Use PACER for federal cases, your state judiciary or county clerk for state and county cases, municipal court for local tickets, probate court for estates, family court for divorce or custody, and the county recorder for property records.
Are court records free to search?
Many official court dockets can be searched online for free, but document images, certified copies, transcripts, federal PACER access, criminal-history reports, and records requests may have fees.
What is PACER?
PACER is the federal Public Access to Court Electronic Records service. It provides public electronic access to federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate court records.
Where do I search state court records?
Use the official state judiciary website, county clerk of court, local court clerk, or court-specific search portal for the county and case type involved.
Where do I get certified court records?
Request certified copies from the clerk or record office that maintains the case. Ask whether you need a plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, transcript, or official background report.
Are arrest records the same as court records?
No. Arrest or booking records are usually held by a sheriff, jail, police department, or corrections agency. Court records show court filings, hearings, charges, judgments, or dispositions.
Are deeds and liens court records?
Usually no. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded land documents are normally held by a county recorder, register of deeds, clerk-recorder, or land records office.
Why can’t I find a court record online?
The case may be in another court, filed under a different spelling, old, recently filed, sealed, expunged, impounded, juvenile, confidential, archived, or available only by request or in person.
Can I use a court docket for a background check?
A court docket can help you review a specific case, but official background checks usually come from a state criminal-history agency, law-enforcement agency, or approved background-check process.
How do I avoid fake court record sites?
Start with official court, clerk, state judiciary, county, federal, recorder, sheriff, or criminal-history agency websites. Be careful with ads, fake download buttons, and sites that look official but are private report sellers.
Best Next Step To Court Records
Start with the court system and record type. Use PACER for federal cases, the state judiciary or county clerk for state and county cases, municipal court for local citations, probate or family court for sensitive family/probate records, recorder/register for deeds and liens, sheriff or police for arrests and reports, and the state criminal-history agency for official background checks. Verify directly with the official office before paying, filing, publishing, or relying on a record.
Official-source check completed June 18, 2026. Court portals, fees, public-access rules, case availability, copy requirements, and payment links can change. Verify directly with the official court, clerk, recorder, sheriff, federal court, or state agency before relying on any record.