We help Americans find, understand, and access court records across every state and county — from local superior courts to federal PACER filings — with accurate, plain-English guides and verified official government links.
Our Mission
Court Records was built to solve a simple problem: the United States operates thousands of separate court systems — 94 federal district courts, 50 state supreme courts, and more than 3,000 county-level trial courts — each with its own portals, forms, fee schedules, and rules. Finding the right way to access a case record can take hours of frustrating research on confusingly designed government websites.
We exist to flatten that complexity. Every guide on this site is researched directly from primary government sources, written in language regular people can understand, and organized around the actual steps someone needs to take — not bureaucratic jargon.
What We Do
We publish step-by-step guides covering:
- Criminal case records — defendant name searches, case summaries, warrant checks, and arrest record retrieval
- Civil case records — lawsuits, personal injury, contract disputes, and landlord-tenant matters
- Family law records — divorce decrees, custody orders, support judgments, and restraining orders
- Probate records — wills, trust administration, conservatorships, and guardianships
- Small claims & traffic — ticket payment, traffic school, and small claims filing
- Federal court records — PACER access, bankruptcy filings, and federal criminal records
- Expungement & record sealing — how to clear convictions and seal arrest records
- Certified copies — ordering official court documents for immigration, court, or professional use
Our Editorial Standards
Every government URL, phone number, fee, and procedure on this site is verified directly against primary court sources before publication. We never rely on aggregator data or recycled internet information.
Court fees change. Websites move. Offices relocate. We audit every published guide at least once per quarter and update content whenever we learn of significant changes.
Legal topics are complex but our writing doesn’t need to be. We prioritize clarity over jargon so self-represented litigants, researchers, and first-time users can actually use what we publish.
We are not affiliated with any court, government agency, law firm, or records broker. We do not sell records, run background checks, or accept payment for favorable coverage.
Who We Serve
Our readers include:
- Self-represented litigants navigating divorce, small claims, or eviction without an attorney
- Journalists and researchers investigating civil and criminal cases
- Genealogists searching historical probate and naturalization records
- Property owners researching deeds, liens, and title disputes
- Individuals seeking expungement, sealing, or certified copies for immigration or licensing
- Law students and paralegals learning how different court systems operate in practice
- Background check subjects reviewing their own records
What We Are Not
We are not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. We do not represent clients, file documents on anyone’s behalf, or substitute for a licensed attorney.
We are not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Our guides are not for use in employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, or insurance underwriting.
We are not a government agency. We have no affiliation with any court, clerk’s office, or records department. We simply help people find the official sources that do the work.
Contact & Corrections
Found a broken link, outdated fee, or incorrect procedure? We want to know. Every correction makes our guides better for the next reader. Please use our contact page to reach us — we respond to every message within 3 business days.
We read every message. Court systems change constantly and your on-the-ground experience helps us stay accurate.
Contact Our Editorial Team