How to Get Court Records, Search Cases and Request Official Copies
Use this practical guide to find the right court record path: state or local case search, federal PACER search, clerk copy request, divorce decree, criminal case, civil lawsuit, probate file, sealed record or older archived case. The fastest result comes from choosing the correct court system before you search.
If you searched for get court records, the first question is not “which website is fastest?” The first question is what kind of court record do you need? State and local court records, federal court records, divorce decrees, criminal cases, probate files, sealed records and old archived files do not all come from the same office.
Choose one option. The official action card below updates for state/local records, federal PACER cases, certified copies, divorce decrees, criminal cases, civil lawsuits, probate files, sealed matters and older archived records.
🏛️ State or local case — use the court or clerk where the case was filed
Use this for: most county, city, municipal, district, circuit, superior, probate, family and state trial-court records.
Best official path: identify the state, county, court level and case type, then use that court’s official case-search portal or clerk’s office.
Before relying on it: verify the case number, party names, court, date and case type before treating a name match as correct.
Get Court Records Quick Facts Before You Search
The phrase get court records sounds simple, but the search path changes depending on who created the record. Federal court records are searched through PACER or the federal courthouse clerk. State and local court records are usually maintained by the specific court or clerk where the case was filed. Divorce decrees usually come from the county or city clerk where the divorce happened. Older files may be stored outside the online portal.
The fastest useful search is not the broadest search. It is the search that matches the case type to the correct court. Before typing a name into any portal, try to identify four things: where the case was filed, what type of case it is, the case number if available, and whether you need a lookup or an official copy.
What This Get Court Records Guide Covers
Fastest Way to Get Court Records Without Wasting Time
The best method is simple: match the record to the court that created it. If the case is federal, use PACER or the clerk of the federal courthouse where the case was filed. If the case is state or local, use the official portal or clerk for that exact court. If you need a divorce decree, contact the county or city clerk where the divorce happened. If you need an old federal file, the clerk may direct you to archived-record procedures.
Most failed court-record searches happen because users skip this step. They search a county portal for a federal case, a deed-recording site for a criminal case, a jail roster for a court disposition, or a statewide portal for a municipal ticket that only exists on a local city court site.
Identify the court system first
Decide whether the case is federal, state, county, municipal, probate, family or appellate. The court name on a notice, citation, complaint, order or judgment is usually the strongest clue.
Use the narrowest accurate search
Case number is best when available. If not, search by full legal name, business name or attorney with the correct court selected.
Confirm the match before relying on it
Check court, county, party role, filing date, case type and case number. Do not rely on name alone.
Ask for official copies when needed
If the record will be used for legal, government, immigration, licensing, employment or probate purposes, ask the clerk whether you need a certified copy.
How to Get State and Local Court Records
State and local court records are usually handled by the specific court or clerk where the case was filed. The United States has federal, state, territory, county and municipal courts, so there is no single national free database that contains every local case file in one place.
That means county and court level matter. A felony case may be with a district or superior court clerk. A divorce may be in family or circuit court. A probate estate may be held by probate court. A small claim or eviction may be in justice court. A traffic ticket may be handled by a municipal court. Even within one state, different case types can live in different official portals.
Why: many trial-court records are stored where the case was filed, not in one perfect statewide system.
Why: superior, district, circuit, municipal, probate and appellate courts handle different case types.
Why: criminal, civil, family, probate and traffic records may use different search tools.
Why: the clerk is often the official custodian who can help with copies and record access.
How to Get Federal Court Records Through PACER
Federal court records are separate from state and local court records. U.S. Courts explains that federal case files contain a docket sheet and documents filed in a case, and that these records can be found through PACER or by visiting the clerk’s office of the courthouse where the federal case was filed.
PACER lets registered users search federal court records either in the specific court where a case was filed or through the nationwide PACER Case Locator when the filing court is unknown. Federal case information is available through PACER around the clock, but access can involve fees after registration depending on usage.
Use PACER For
Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy and appellate case records.
Federal systemUse Local Courts For
County, city, state trial-court and most family, probate or traffic matters.
State/local systemFederal court records search checklist
- Use PACER when the case was filed in federal district court, bankruptcy court or federal appellate court.
- Search the specific court directly if you know where the federal case was filed.
- Use the PACER Case Locator when you do not know the filing court.
- Visit or contact the federal clerk’s office if you need paper copies or help with courthouse-held records.
- Do not expect PACER to contain state-court divorce, probate, municipal or county criminal cases.
How to Search Court Records by Case Number, Name or Court
A case-number search is usually the strongest search because it points to one specific file. A name search is more flexible but more dangerous because many people share similar names. A court search is useful when you know the courthouse or county but do not yet know the exact case number.
Best for: the cleanest lookup when you already have a notice, order, complaint, ticket, judgment or docket number.
Best for: finding a case when you do not know the number yet. Verify identity carefully before relying on the result.
Best for: civil lawsuits, contract disputes, collections, landlord-tenant cases and corporate filings.
Best for: narrowing a search when you know the county, city, district or courthouse where the case was filed.
Criminal, Civil, Family, Probate and Traffic Court Records
Different court records answer different user questions. A criminal docket may show charges, hearings, dispositions or sentencing entries. A civil case may show claims, motions, judgments and orders. A family case may include divorce, custody or support matters. A probate file may involve estates, guardianships or wills. A traffic case may live in municipal or local court rather than a county-wide portal.
Match the record type to the right search path
- Criminal records: identify whether the matter is felony, misdemeanor, ordinance or federal.
- Civil records: search the trial court that handles lawsuits, judgments, evictions or debt claims.
- Family records: use the family, circuit or district court that handled divorce, custody or support.
- Probate records: search probate court, surrogate court or the county clerk depending on the state.
- Traffic records: check municipal, district or local court depending on where the citation was filed.
How to Get Certified Copies of Court Records
If you only need to read a public docket, an online search may be enough. If you need proof for a court, government agency, employer, school, immigration filing, estate matter or legal transaction, you may need a certified copy from the official record custodian.
The clerk’s office is usually the right place to ask for certified documents. Federal court guidance also explains that the clerk’s office is the official custodian of the record and can help the public access court records. Copy fees, certification fees, delivery methods and processing times vary by court.
Find the exact case first
Use the correct court portal or clerk office to confirm the case number and the specific document you need.
Name the exact document
Ask for the judgment, order, decree, disposition, docket sheet, complaint, petition or other specific item instead of saying “send everything.”
Ask whether certification is required
Some tasks need a certified copy; others only need a plain copy. Ask the receiving agency before paying extra.
Confirm fees and delivery options
Courts may provide online, in-person, mail or electronic options depending on the record and jurisdiction.
How to Get a Divorce Decree or Court Order
A divorce decree is a court order ending a marriage and may include terms about property, support, custody or visitation. USA.gov explains that people who need a copy of a divorce decree should contact the clerk of the county or city where the divorce took place. That clerk can explain the cost, required information and ordering method.
Do not confuse a divorce decree with a divorce certificate. A divorce decree comes from the court. A divorce certificate, where available, is usually handled through a state vital records office and may not include the same legal terms.
Divorce Decree
Court order with the terms of the divorce. Usually requested from the local clerk where the divorce was granted.
Court recordDivorce Certificate
Vital record proving a divorce occurred. Usually handled by the state vital records office if issued.
Vital recordSealed, Confidential, Juvenile and Restricted Court Records
Not every court record is available online or open to every user. Judges may seal records in some circumstances, and many jurisdictions restrict juvenile, adoption, mental health, protected-address, family violence, paternity or other sensitive matters. Even when a case is public, some documents or personal identifiers may be redacted.
Records that may need special access
- Sealed cases or sealed documents.
- Juvenile court matters.
- Adoption, mental health or dependency records.
- Protected-address or domestic-violence-related documents.
- Family files containing sensitive personal or child information.
- Documents restricted by statute, rule or court order.
How to Get Old, Closed or Archived Court Records
Older court records are often harder to get because not every file was born digital. Some older federal records may be transferred to a Federal Records Center or the National Archives, while older state and local cases may remain in courthouse storage, archives or off-site records facilities.
The practical approach is the same: start with the court that handled the case, ask where older records are maintained, and request the exact file or document if you know it. Case number, party names, filing year and court location become even more important with old files.
A closed case may still be searchable online, but documents can be archived or moved later.
Older cases may require clerk research, archive retrieval or a special request form.
Some older federal files may be handled through records centers or National Archives procedures.
Use the case number, court, year and party names together whenever possible.
Free vs Paid Court Records Search
Many courts provide free public case lookups. That is usually enough when you only need to find a case number, review docket information or confirm the filing court. Official copies, certifications, printed documents, archived searches and some federal PACER activity may involve fees.
The biggest cost mistake is paying a private third-party website before checking the official court source. A private report may be convenient, but it can be incomplete, outdated, mixed with another person’s record or missing the official court context.
Free Search
Best for finding a public case, case number, docket, court location or basic case status.
Good first stepPaid Official Copy
Needed when you require a certified order, decree, judgment, disposition or archived document.
Use when requiredOfficial Resources for Getting Court Records
Use these official sources to understand court levels, search federal records, request divorce decrees, identify archived federal files and learn how the clerk’s office helps with records.
USA.gov Courts
Overview of federal, state, county and municipal court systems in the United States.
Open Courts GuideU.S. Courts Records
Federal court record guidance explaining case files, dockets and PACER access.
Open Court RecordsPACER
Federal public access system for district, bankruptcy and appellate court records.
Open PACERFind a Federal Case
Official federal instructions for locating a case through PACER or the courthouse clerk.
Open Find a CaseDivorce Decree Help
USA.gov guidance on obtaining a divorce decree from the county or city clerk.
Open Divorce GuidanceNational Archives
Federal court-record archive guidance for older files and transferred records.
Open Archives GuideFind a Courthouse Near You Before Requesting Records
For state and local records, the best office is often the court or clerk where the case was filed. Use the case notice, county court website or local government website to confirm the exact courthouse before visiting. The map below is a broad search aid for nearby courthouses, not a replacement for official court verification.
Courthouse near me search
Use official court websites to confirm address, hours, record office and copy rules before you go.
Get Court Records FAQs
How do I get court records for free?
Start with the official court or clerk website for the court where the case was filed. Many courts offer free public case lookup. Official copies, certified copies, archived searches and some federal PACER activity may involve fees.
What is the best first step to get a court record?
Identify the court system first: federal, state, county, municipal, probate, family or appellate. Then search the official portal or contact the clerk for that exact court.
How do I get federal court records?
Use PACER for federal court case records or contact the clerk’s office of the federal courthouse where the case was filed. If you do not know the court, use the PACER Case Locator.
How do I get a certified copy of a court record?
Contact the clerk or official record custodian for the court that holds the case. Ask for the exact document and whether a certified copy is required for your purpose.
How do I get a copy of a divorce decree?
Contact the clerk of the county or city where the divorce occurred. They can explain how to order the decree, the cost and the information needed.
Can I search court records by name?
Often yes, but name searches can return the wrong person. Use case number first when available and verify court, filing date, case type and party details before relying on a match.
Are all court records public?
No. Some records are sealed, confidential, juvenile, adoption-related, protected by statute or restricted by court order. Public access rules vary by jurisdiction and case type.
Why can’t I find a case online?
The case may be sealed, restricted, archived, filed under another name, held in a different court, not digitized, or federal when you are searching a local system.
Are jail records the same as court records?
No. Jail records usually show custody status. Court records show case filings, hearings, orders, judgments or dispositions. Use the right record for your need.
Do old court records still exist if they are not online?
Often yes. Older files may be stored by the clerk, courthouse archives, off-site storage or records centers. Ask the original court where older records are maintained.
Is a docket screenshot enough for official use?
Usually not when formal proof is needed. Ask the receiving agency whether it requires a certified copy, court-sealed copy or other official document.
What is the safest way to get court records online?
Use official government court websites first, match the record to the correct court system, verify the case carefully and request official copies from the clerk when needed.
Bottom Line on How to Get Court Records
The smartest way to get court records is to choose the correct court system before you search. Use the exact state or local court for county and municipal cases, PACER for federal cases, the local clerk for certified copies, the divorce court clerk for decrees and the original court or archive route for older files.
Do not confuse a free lookup with an official copy, and do not confuse court records with jail records, police reports, vital records or background checks. If the record matters, verify the case number, court, party details and document type before relying on it.