Screenshot and Visual Guidance Policy

Public Court Records • Trust Center

Screenshot and Visual Guidance Policy

A strong screenshot policy for court-record guides that use visual walkthroughs, portal screenshots, search-box callouts and step-by-step navigation examples.

Human-reviewedWritten and audited by an editorial team.

Official-source firstCourts, clerks, judiciary portals and PACER where relevant.

Manual checksLinks, addresses, numbers, maps and screenshots reviewed.

Information onlyPractical guide, not legal advice or official record service.

Why screenshots help

Official court portals can be difficult for first-time users. A user might not know whether to click “case search,” “public access,” “civil,” “criminal,” “records request,” “online payments,” “smart search,” “calendar,” “party search,” “traffic citation,” “ePay,” “document request” or “clerk services.” Screenshots can reduce confusion and help users recognise the right area of the page.

Our screenshot guidance is meant to support navigation only. It is not a legal instruction, official endorsement, guarantee of current layout or substitute for the current official website.

Screenshot and visual guidance: Screenshots, callout boxes and visual walkthroughs are used only to help users recognise a portal step or office route. Official websites may redesign without notice. The current official page always controls over an older screenshot.

Screenshot safety rules

No private data

Screenshots should not expose full names from real cases, addresses, DOBs, SSNs, minors, sealed records, financial details or private filings.

Navigation focus

Screenshots should show buttons, search fields, menus, filters, help text, official labels or request paths—not sensitive case details.

Current-page caution

If the official site changes, written instructions and official labels should be updated; screenshots may be refreshed or annotated.

Accessibility support

Visual guidance should also be explained in text so users are not forced to rely only on an image.

Source clarity

A screenshot should make it clear which official page or portal it is explaining.

Editorial review

Screenshots go through human review before publication or replacement.

How users should read screenshots

Open official link first

Use the guide’s official-source link, then compare the current page to the screenshot.

Look for similar labels

Menus may move. Match wording such as case search, docket, records, citation, clerk, calendar or payment.

Avoid entering data too early

Before typing names, case numbers, payment details or personal information, confirm you are on the correct official/authorised site.

Use current page over image

If a screenshot differs from the live official page, follow the current official page and report the outdated screenshot.

Contact the clerk if stuck

If portal options are unclear, the clerk office can explain the correct public-record route.

Screenshot update request

If a screenshot is outdated, send the guide URL and the current official page URL. Describe what changed: button moved, search box renamed, portal redesigned, payment path replaced, or record request page relocated. We will review it under our corrections policy.

Site-wide trust note

publiccourtrecords.org/ is built for educational and informational use. Our guides are written to help users understand court-record systems, official portals, clerk routes, case-number searches, courthouse contact paths, screenshots and public-record limits. We are not a court, clerk, attorney, government agency, consumer reporting agency, background-check company or official record issuer.

When a guide contains links, phone numbers, addresses, maps, screenshots or resource notes, our content process is to manually review those details before publication or update. Court systems still control final access, fees, restrictions, filings, sealed records, certified copies and official case status.