US Court Records Search, Federal PACER Lookup and State Case Help
There is no single free website that searches every United States court record. Use this guide to choose the correct path for federal cases, state and county records, Supreme Court dockets, bankruptcy filings, civil lawsuits, criminal cases, divorce decrees, probate files, traffic tickets, certified copies and older archived records.
If you searched for us court records, the first step is not typing a name into a random database. The first step is identifying which court system created the record. Federal, state, county, municipal, appellate, bankruptcy, probate and Supreme Court records use different official systems.
Choose one option. The official action card below updates for federal PACER records, state and county cases, Supreme Court dockets, bankruptcy records, criminal and civil cases, divorce decrees, probate files, certified copies and archived records.
🇺🇸 Federal court case — use PACER or the PACER Case Locator
Use this for: federal district court, federal bankruptcy court and federal appellate court case records.
Best official path: use PACER if you know the federal court, or use the PACER Case Locator when you need a nationwide federal search.
Before relying on it: remember that PACER does not replace state, county, municipal, divorce, probate or local traffic court searches.
US Court Records Quick Facts Before You Search
US court records are official records created by federal, state, county, municipal, territorial, tribal and local courts. A record may include a docket sheet, complaint, petition, indictment, motion, order, judgment, sentence, hearing entry, transcript, notice or other case document. The correct search path depends on which court created the file.
The federal court system has three main levels: district courts, circuit courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. State and local courts handle most everyday cases, including many criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, divorce, custody, probate, small claims and traffic matters. That is why a broad search for “US court records” must quickly divide users into federal or state/local paths.
What This US Court Records Guide Covers
US Court Records Overview for Free Public Search
Many users expect one national website to search every court case in America for free. That assumption is wrong. The United States has a layered court system. Federal cases are searched through federal tools. State cases are searched through state judicial portals or local clerk offices. County-level matters often require county clerks, district clerks, circuit clerks, probate clerks, municipal courts or other local offices.
A court record can be public while still being difficult to find online. Some systems show only docket entries. Some display full documents. Some require registration. Some older files are archived. Some juvenile, sealed or confidential matters are not available to general public users. The job of a strong US court records guide is not to promise one magic search box. It is to route the user to the correct official source.
What may appear in a court record
- Docket sheet or case summary.
- Complaint, petition, indictment or information.
- Motions, briefs, responses and notices.
- Orders, judgments, decrees and sentencing entries.
- Hearing dates, minute entries and case events.
- Transcripts, exhibits or audio where available.
- Final disposition, dismissal, plea, verdict or judgment.
Federal vs State vs County Court Records in the United States
Federal courts and state courts are separate systems. The federal judiciary includes district courts, courts of appeals and the Supreme Court. State court systems vary widely by state and may include supreme courts, appellate courts, superior courts, circuit courts, district courts, municipal courts, probate courts and justice courts.
Most common everyday searches are not federal. Divorce, child custody, probate, small claims, landlord-tenant, traffic, local criminal charges and many civil disputes are usually handled by state or local courts. PACER is powerful, but it is the wrong tool for most county divorce or municipal ticket searches.
Use for: federal civil, federal criminal, bankruptcy and federal appellate cases.
Use for: statewide judicial portals, appellate records and trial-court systems managed by the state.
Use for: many trial-court dockets, local civil cases, probate, family cases and clerk-held copies.
Use for: city traffic tickets, ordinance violations and local misdemeanor matters in many areas.
Use for: estates, wills, guardianship and conservatorship matters where that court exists.
Use for: appeals from lower courts, often with separate docket and opinion systems.
Federal Search
Use PACER for district, bankruptcy and appellate federal cases.
One federal systemState & Local Search
Use the court or clerk where the case was filed.
Many local systemsFederal Court Records Search by PACER
PACER means Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It is the official electronic-access system for many federal appellate, district and bankruptcy court records. U.S. Courts explains that the main federal record is a case file containing a docket sheet and documents filed in the case.
PACER is useful for federal criminal prosecutions, federal civil lawsuits, bankruptcy cases, federal appeals, constitutional claims, patent disputes, federal tax matters, securities cases and other matters filed in federal courts. It is not a nationwide search for every county or state court case in America.
Create or use a PACER account
Registration is free. Use a case-search-only account if you only need to look up federal records.
Search the specific federal court when known
If you know the district, bankruptcy court or circuit, search that court directly for the fastest detail.
Use case number first when available
Case-number searches are more accurate than broad party-name searches and may reduce unnecessary document opens.
Open the docket before opening many documents
The docket gives the case timeline, document list and event sequence. Review it before downloading more than you need.
PACER Case Locator for Nationwide Federal Court Search
The PACER Case Locator is useful when you know a party name but do not know which federal court handled the case. It acts as a national index for federal district, bankruptcy and appellate courts. The Case Locator can help determine whether a party appears in federal litigation and then direct users to the original court record.
It is important to understand its limit. A nationwide PACER Case Locator search is still only a federal search. It does not replace state criminal searches, county divorce dockets, probate records, municipal tickets or local civil case portals.
You know a party name but do not know the federal court where the case was filed.
District, bankruptcy and appellate federal courts indexed through PACER.
The Case Locator gathers updates nightly from federal courts.
Most state, county, municipal, probate, family or traffic court records.
US Supreme Court Docket Search
Supreme Court records use their own official docket tools. The Supreme Court docket search lets users look up a case by docket number, case name or other words and numbers included in the docket report. The Court also explains that the docket is usually the most common way to find case information because it lists filings and rulings in chronological order.
This route is separate from ordinary PACER searches and separate from state court systems. If you need a Supreme Court petition, application, order list or docket history, use the Supreme Court’s own official website.
Use Supreme Court Docket For
Petitions, applications, docket reports, orders and filings before the U.S. Supreme Court.
SCOTUS pathUse PACER For
Federal district, bankruptcy and court-of-appeals matters.
Lower federal courtsState Court Records Search by State, County and Clerk
Most court-record searches in daily life are state or local searches rather than federal searches. State courts handle many criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, divorce, custody, probate, landlord-tenant, small claims, traffic and protection-order matters. Each state chooses its own public-access structure, so the process is not identical nationwide.
Some states provide strong statewide search portals. Others depend more on county-by-county lookup. Many counties split records between district clerks, county clerks, circuit clerks, probate clerks, municipal courts and justice courts. That is why the correct state and county must be known before a search becomes reliable.
Best order for state or county court search
- Identify the state where the case was filed.
- Check whether the state has an official statewide court portal.
- If not, search the exact county or local court website.
- Choose the correct case type: criminal, civil, family, probate, traffic or small claims.
- Use the court or clerk that maintains the original file for certified copies.
Criminal, Civil, Bankruptcy, Family, Probate and Traffic Court Records
Different court records answer different questions. A criminal case record may show charges, pleas, hearings, verdicts, dismissals, sentencing or final disposition. A civil case may show lawsuits, motions, judgments and injunctions. Bankruptcy cases are federal. Family cases may include divorce, custody and support. Probate files may involve estates, wills and guardianships. Traffic cases may belong to municipal, county or state courts depending on the jurisdiction.
Use for: charges, case status, pleas, sentencing, dismissal or conviction entries.
Use for: lawsuits, debt claims, contracts, landlord disputes, judgments and injunctions.
Use for: federal bankruptcy petitions and related case records through federal systems.
Use for: divorce, custody, support and domestic matters, often with privacy limits.
Use for: estates, wills filed with court, guardianships and conservatorships.
Use for: tickets, citations and ordinance matters, often held by municipal or lower courts.
How to Get Certified Copies of Court Records
An online docket is useful for research, but official uses often require more. Courts, government agencies, immigration filings, licensing boards, employers, schools, probate matters and legal filings may require a certified copy, sealed copy, decree, judgment or official disposition from the court that holds the file.
The clerk or official record custodian is usually the right office for copies. In federal courts, U.S. Courts states that case files may be accessed through PACER or from the clerk’s office where the case was filed. For state and local matters, the relevant court clerk or county clerk usually controls copy requests.
Locate the exact case
Confirm the court, case number, party names and case type before requesting any copy.
Name the exact document
Ask for the judgment, order, decree, disposition, complaint, petition, docket sheet or other specific document.
Ask whether certification is required
Do not pay for certification unless the receiving office actually needs it.
Confirm fees and delivery method
Courts may offer online, mail, in-person or electronic copy options, and fees vary by jurisdiction.
Free vs Paid US Court Records Search
Some court-record searches are free, but not every document is free. Many state or county portals allow free case lookup. PACER registration is free, but federal document access generally costs per page after the quarterly fee waiver threshold is exceeded. Certified copies, archived files, transcripts, paper copies and clerk-assisted searches may cost extra.
Usually Free
Basic case lookup, public docket search, court locator pages and many official state portals.
Good first stepOften Paid
Certified copies, transcripts, archived retrieval, many federal document views and clerk-assisted requests.
Use when requiredSealed, Confidential, Juvenile and Restricted Court Records
Public access is not unlimited. Courts may restrict juvenile matters, adoption records, sealed cases, protected-address filings, some family matters, mental-health records and documents protected by statute or court order. Even in public cases, courts may redact sensitive information.
A missing online result does not prove that no case exists. It may mean the record is sealed, confidential, archived, not digitized, filed under another spelling, held in another court or visible only to parties, attorneys or authorized users.
Records that may need special access
- Juvenile court files.
- Adoption and dependency records.
- Sealed criminal or civil cases.
- Protected family or domestic-violence documents.
- Mental-health or guardianship records in some jurisdictions.
- Documents restricted by statute or court order.
Old, Closed and Archived US Court Records
Older court records may not be fully online. Federal records can be transferred to the National Archives after courts retire materials, and National Archives court-record holdings cover more than two centuries of federal proceedings. State and county courts may also use archives, microfilm, off-site storage or clerk research for older cases.
If you need an old file, start with the court that originally handled the case. Ask where older records are maintained, whether the case was transferred, and what information is needed for a search. Case number, party names, filing year and court location become much more important with historical records.
Start with the federal court or National Archives court-record guidance.
Start with the state court, county clerk or court archive that handled the case.
Case number, names, court, county, filing year and case type.
Older records may require manual staff retrieval instead of instant online access.
Official US Court Records Links
Use these official sources for federal records, nationwide federal search, Supreme Court dockets, state court resources, bankruptcy records, archived files and divorce-decree help.
U.S. Courts Records
Main federal court-records overview explaining case files, dockets and PACER access.
Open Court RecordsFind a Federal Case
Official instructions for searching a specific federal court or using nationwide search.
Find a CasePACER Case Locator
Nationwide index for federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court cases.
Open Case LocatorSupreme Court Docket
Official docket search for Supreme Court cases by docket number or case name.
Open Docket SearchState Court Resources
U.S. Department of Justice directory linking to court resources by state.
Open State DirectoryBankruptcy Records
Federal guidance for bankruptcy case records and clerk-office access.
Open Bankruptcy RecordsNational Archives
Federal archive guidance for older court records and historical case materials.
Open Archives GuideDivorce Decree Help
USA.gov guidance on ordering divorce decrees from the correct local clerk.
Open Divorce HelpFind a Courthouse Near You Before Requesting Records
For state and local records, the correct courthouse is usually the one that handled the case. For federal records, use the court or PACER route first. The map below is only a broad “courthouse near me” search aid; always confirm the official court name, record office and hours before visiting.
Courthouse near me search
Use official court websites to confirm the correct clerk, address, record type and copy process before you go.
US Court Records FAQs
Is there one free website for all US court records?
No. Federal records use PACER, while state and local records use separate state portals, county clerks, court websites or municipal systems. There is no single free database that contains every court record in the United States.
How do I search federal court records?
Use PACER. If you know the specific federal court, search that court directly. If you do not know the court, use the PACER Case Locator for a nationwide federal search.
How do I search state court records?
Start with the official state judicial website or the official court/clerk website for the county where the case was filed. The best source varies by state and case type.
Are US court records public?
Many are public, but access is not absolute. Sealed, juvenile, adoption, confidential family, mental-health and protected documents may be restricted.
How much does PACER cost?
PACER registration is free. Access generally costs $0.10 per page, but users are not billed if their quarterly total does not exceed $30. Many individual documents are capped at $3.
What is the PACER Case Locator?
It is a nationwide index for federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court cases. Use it when you do not know which federal court handled the case.
How do I search Supreme Court records?
Use the official Supreme Court docket search. You can search by docket number, case name or other terms included in the docket report.
How do I get a certified copy of a court record?
Contact the clerk or official record custodian for the court that holds the file. Ask for the exact document and whether a certified copy is required for your purpose.
How do I get a divorce decree?
Contact the clerk of the county or city where the divorce occurred. The clerk can explain ordering steps, cost and required information.
Are bankruptcy records federal?
Yes. Bankruptcy cases are handled in federal bankruptcy courts, and records can be searched through PACER or accessed through the bankruptcy clerk’s office.
Why can’t I find a court record online?
The record may be in another court system, sealed, restricted, archived, not digitized, filed under another spelling or outside the years covered by the portal you searched.
Are jail records the same as court records?
No. Jail records usually show custody status. Court records show filings, dockets, hearings, judgments and legal case activity. Use the correct system for the information you need.
Bottom Line for US Court Records Search
The smartest way to search US court records is to identify the court system first. Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy and appellate cases. Use the official Supreme Court docket search for Supreme Court matters. Use the state court or local clerk where the case was filed for most criminal, civil, divorce, probate, traffic and county-level records.
Do not confuse a free docket lookup with an official certified record, and do not assume one portal searches every court in America. Once you know the jurisdiction, switch from a broad national search to the correct state, county or clerk guide for the cleanest result.