Court Records Glossary
A plain-English trust page explaining court-record terms users often see in official portals, screenshots, docket summaries and clerk instructions.
Why a glossary builds safer use
Court terminology can confuse users. A person may misunderstand “disposed,” “continued,” “vacated,” “sealed,” “dismissed,” “judgment,” “warrant,” “motion,” “order,” or “certified copy.” Misreading a term can lead to wrong assumptions. This glossary helps users know when to verify with the official court or attorney.
Common terms
| Term | Plain meaning | Important reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | Unique identifier assigned by the court. | Formatting varies by court. |
| Docket | Chronological list of filings and events. | Not always the full document text. |
| Disposition | A status or outcome entry. | Meaning depends on court and case type. |
| Judgment | Court decision/order resolving an issue or case. | Certified copies may be needed for official use. |
| Motion | Request filed asking the court to do something. | A filed motion is not automatically granted. |
| Order | Court instruction or decision. | Read official document; summaries may be incomplete. |
| Sealed record | Record restricted from public access by law/court order. | Do not attempt to bypass restrictions. |
| Expunged record | Record handled under legal removal/sealing process. | Rules vary by state and case type. |
| Certified copy | Official copy certified by clerk/court. | Usually requires official request and fee. |
| PACER | Federal electronic court records access system. | Federal records are separate from state/local courts. |
Use glossary terms carefully
Courts use terms differently by jurisdiction and case type. If a term affects your rights, deadlines, payments, obligations or legal strategy, contact the court or an attorney.
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.