Find a Public Court Case by Name, Case Number or Filing Court
There is no single national database containing every state, county, city, federal, bankruptcy, appellate and specialty-court record. A successful search begins by identifying the jurisdiction and court level before entering a name.
This guide shows how to choose the correct court, search a person or business, verify a same-name result, read a docket, locate missing documents, recover older cases and request a certified copy from the office that holds the official file.
Start With the Information You Have
Use the route that matches your situation. This prevents wasted searches, unnecessary fees and requests sent to the wrong clerk.
Run a broad legal-name search first, test name variations and verify every result against the actual court file.
Follow the name-search methodThe complete number is usually more accurate than a name and can reveal the court, year or case category.
Use the case number correctlySearch the specific federal court or use the nationwide PACER Case Locator when the filing court is unknown.
Search federal recordsA search result, docket page or downloaded PDF is not automatically a certified court document.
Prepare a copy requestKnow What a Court Record Includes Before You Search
“Court record” can mean a basic case index, a chronological docket, an individual filing, a judgment, a hearing calendar or a certified copy. These are not interchangeable.
Case index
A searchable listing that may show the party names, court, case number, filing date and broad case type. An index may not show documents or the final outcome.
Docket or register of actions
A chronological list of filings, hearings, orders, payments and other case events. A docket entry does not always include the underlying PDF.
Filed document
A complaint, petition, answer, motion, order, judgment, decree or another paper submitted to or issued by the court.
Certified copy
A copy authenticated by the court clerk. It is commonly required when a government office, bank, court or licensing body needs official proof.
| Information needed | Is it normally a court record? | Best source |
|---|---|---|
| Civil or criminal docket | Yes | The trial, appellate or federal court that holds the case. |
| Judgment, decree or court order | Yes | The filing court’s online portal or clerk. |
| Police report | No | The police department, sheriff or investigating agency. |
| Current jail custody | No | County jail, sheriff, state corrections department or federal Bureau of Prisons. |
| Criminal-history report | Different service | State criminal-history agency, fingerprint repository or FBI-approved process. |
| Birth, death or marriage certificate | No | State or local vital-records office. |
| Property deed or lien record | Usually separate | County recorder, register of deeds or land-record office. |
| Immigration court case status | Specialized system | Executive Office for Immigration Review case-status service. |
Identify the Jurisdiction and Court Before Entering a Name
The same person can appear in city, county, state and federal courts. A no-result message from one court does not mean that no case exists elsewhere.
Commonly handles felony, misdemeanor, civil, family, probate, juvenile and traffic cases, depending on the state.
Often handles city citations, misdemeanors, traffic matters, evictions and small claims.
Reviews trial-court decisions and may publish dockets, briefs, orders and opinions separately.
Uses PACER and individual federal court websites rather than state or county portals.
Use this jurisdiction test
- Identify where the event or dispute occurred. Start with the state and county where the arrest, lawsuit, divorce, probate matter, citation or filing occurred.
- Determine whether the matter is state or federal. Bankruptcy is federal. Most divorces, ordinary crimes, probate cases, evictions and local lawsuits are state or local.
- Identify the trial-court level. Court names differ by state. “District Court” can mean a state trial court in one jurisdiction and a federal court in another.
- Check whether the case was appealed. Trial and appellate cases normally have different numbers and separate docket systems.
- Locate the official court website. Use a judiciary, government or court domain rather than relying only on a private search directory.
- Confirm which clerk holds the file. Some counties divide felony, misdemeanor, civil, family and probate records between different elected clerks.
How to Search Public Court Records by Name
Name searches work best when you start broadly and narrow carefully. Adding an incorrect middle name, birth date, county or filing range can hide a valid case.
- Use the person’s legal first and last name. Avoid nicknames during the first search unless the court paperwork uses the nickname.
- Leave optional fields blank initially. Do not add a date of birth, filing year, status or court location unless the information is reliable.
- Repeat without the middle name. Some court systems store a full middle name, some use an initial and others leave it blank.
- Try former and alternate names. Search maiden names, former surnames, hyphenated versions, initials and common spelling variations separately.
- Search the business name independently. Try the registered legal name with and without punctuation or endings such as LLC, Inc., LP or Corporation.
- Add the likely court or county. Narrow only after the broad name search returns too many results.
- Open every plausible case. Compare the filing date, party role, court, case type, attorney and disposition.
- Verify the result with the court. A same-name match is a lead, not proof that the record concerns the person you intended to search.
The three-pass search method
Search only the first and last name in the most likely jurisdiction.
Try middle-name, initial, former-surname, hyphenation and spelling variations.
Add the court, case type, filing year or status one field at a time.
How to verify a same-name result
Confirm whether the person is a plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, debtor, creditor or another participant.
Compare the city, county and state with the event or dispute being researched.
Check whether the year matches the arrest, lawsuit, divorce, probate event or citation.
A person may appear in unrelated criminal, civil, family, traffic or probate cases.
Known attorneys, businesses, co-defendants or family members can help distinguish similar names.
Read the outcome. A charge, petition, complaint or claim does not prove guilt, liability or relief granted.
Use a Case Number for the Most Precise Search
A complete case number is usually more useful than a name. It may identify the court, filing year, case type or sequence, but the format differs by jurisdiction.
| Case-number issue | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hyphens or spaces | Some portals require punctuation; others remove it automatically. | Try the number exactly as printed, then test without spaces or hyphens. |
| Two-digit filing year | Many courts include the year, but not always in the same position. | Do not assume the year code without checking the court’s instructions. |
| Letters such as CR, CV, DR or PR | They often identify criminal, civil, domestic or probate cases. | Use the local court’s case-number guide because abbreviations vary. |
| Location or county code | Some numbers identify the filing county, division or courthouse. | Use the code to find the clerk that holds the file. |
| Appellate number | The appeal normally receives a new number separate from the trial case. | Search both numbers when you need the complete procedural history. |
| Legacy or converted number | An older case may predate the current electronic system. | Ask the clerk whether the number was converted or archived. |
Where to find a case number
- Citation, summons or notice to appear
- Complaint, petition or charging document
- Hearing notice or calendar entry
- Court order, judgment or decree
- Payment-plan or fine statement
- Attorney correspondence
- Appellate notice or mandate
How to Find State, County and Municipal Court Records
State and local records are decentralized. Some states provide a statewide portal; others require separate county-clerk, trial-court or municipal searches.
Use when the state provides a unified name, case-number, docket or court-calendar search.
Find the state court systemUse for full dockets, local filings, older records, certified copies and case-specific questions.
Find local government officesUse for local citations, ordinance cases, traffic matters, evictions and some small claims.
Locate the relevant courtState and local lookup workflow
- Find the state judiciary website. Look for an official court, judiciary or government domain.
- Open the case-search or public-access page. Read its coverage statement before assuming that all counties and court types are included.
- Search the person or case number. Record the exact court, county, division and case number.
- Open the local clerk’s website. Use it for documents, copy forms, fees, office hours and archive instructions.
- Check for separate municipal or justice courts. City citations and limited-jurisdiction cases may not appear in the county portal.
- Check the appellate system separately. State appeals commonly use a different search portal and case number.
- Confirm current information with the clerk. Important hearing dates, balances, warrants and deadlines should not be trusted solely from a delayed public index.
How to Search Federal Court Records Through PACER
PACER provides electronic access to federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court records. It does not contain ordinary state, county or municipal cases.
Federal civil and criminal cases filed in one of the federal judicial districts.
Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13 and other federal bankruptcy cases.
Appeals from district courts and certain federal agencies.
Searches district, bankruptcy and appellate courts when the specific federal court is unknown.
Choose the correct PACER search
| What you know | Best PACER route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Specific federal court | Search that court directly. | Court-specific PACER data is updated in real time as new records are filed. |
| Person or business, but not the court | PACER Case Locator. | The nationwide index identifies federal court locations and case numbers and is updated daily. |
| Complete case number | Specific court or Case Locator. | A full number reduces same-name matches and unnecessary search fees. |
| Bankruptcy filer’s name | Bankruptcy court or nationwide locator. | Bankruptcy courts are federal and do not appear in state court searches. |
| Older closed federal case | PACER first, then the federal clerk or National Archives. | Older files may have been transferred to archival storage. |
PACER search steps
- Create a PACER case-search account. Registration itself is free.
- Choose a specific court when known. This gives the most current court-level data.
- Use the Case Locator when the court is unknown. Search a nationwide index of district, bankruptcy and appellate cases.
- Review the result before opening documents. Compare party names, court, filing date and case type.
- Check the displayed document cost. PACER shows the billable pages and charge before the document opens.
- Save the docket number and court. These details are needed for clerk questions, archived records and certified copies.
Some Cases Use Specialized Federal or National Systems
Not every federal proceeding appears through an ordinary district-court search. Use the system connected with the specific tribunal.
| Case or proceeding | Correct system | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration court or Board of Immigration Appeals | EOIR Automated Case Information. | Not every case or every detail is shown; the official hearing notice controls. |
| U.S. Supreme Court case | Supreme Court docket search and opinions. | The Supreme Court docket is separate from lower federal PACER records. |
| Federal tax case | U.S. Tax Court DAWSON system. | Sealed and protected documents remain restricted. |
| Federal administrative matter | The hearing agency or tribunal. | Agency adjudications may not be filed in a federal district court unless reviewed or appealed. |
| Tribal court matter | The individual tribal court. | Tribal courts are separate sovereign systems with their own access rules. |
How to Read a Court Docket Without Misreading the Case
A docket is a timeline of court activity. It can show that a document was filed or a hearing occurred, but it may not explain the full facts or provide every document.
| Docket field | What it may show | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Case caption | The primary party names and broad case title. | The caption may omit additional parties or later name changes. |
| Party role | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, debtor or creditor. | A person’s involvement does not establish fault, guilt or liability. |
| Case type | Civil, criminal, family, probate, bankruptcy or appeal. | Local category codes may be broader than the actual issues. |
| Filed charge or claim | The original allegation, count or requested relief. | Check later amendments, dismissals, pleas, verdicts and judgments. |
| Event entry | A motion, notice, order, hearing or document number. | A listed event does not guarantee that the document is publicly downloadable. |
| Disposition | Dismissed, convicted, acquitted, settled, granted, denied or closed. | Read the final order or judgment for the exact outcome. |
| Hearing date | Past or scheduled court activity. | Confirm important appearances directly because calendars can change. |
| Financial entry | Fees, fines, restitution, payments or balances. | Contact the clerk before paying or relying on an online balance. |
What to Do When the Court Search Finds No Case
A blank result does not always mean the case does not exist. The court, name format, filing date, access level or archive location may be wrong.
The wrong jurisdiction was searched
Check another county, city, state, federal district, appellate court or tribal court connected with the matter.
The name is stored differently
Try no middle name, a middle initial, former surname, hyphenation change, alternate spelling or business legal name.
The case is too new
Public indexes may update daily rather than immediately. Contact the clerk when a fresh filing or hearing matters.
The case is too old
The record may predate the electronic system or may have been transferred to off-site storage or an archive.
The case number was entered incorrectly
Check leading zeroes, court prefixes, suffixes, hyphens and similar-looking letters or numbers.
The portal does not cover that court
Some statewide searches exclude municipal, justice, probate or local courts that use separate systems.
The record is sealed or confidential
Adoption, juvenile, mental-health, sealed and other protected cases may not appear publicly.
The matter is not a court record
Police reports, jail rosters, vital records, criminal histories and property records use different agencies.
Run this recovery sequence
- Remove every optional filter.
- Search the first and last name only.
- Try middle-name and former-name variations.
- Enter the complete case number exactly as printed.
- Search the city, county and state court systems separately.
- Check the appellate system for a later appeal.
- Use PACER for federal or bankruptcy cases.
- Check a specialized tribunal when applicable.
- Ask the clerk about old, converted or archived case numbers.
- Ask whether the record is restricted from public access.
Which Court Records May Be Sealed, Redacted or Restricted?
Public-access rules differ by jurisdiction, but courts commonly protect records involving children, adoption, mental health, confidential identifiers, protected witnesses and sealed proceedings.
| Record category | Common public-access treatment | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary civil and criminal docket | Often public | Search online, then confirm documents and disposition with the court. |
| Juvenile case | Limited or confidential | Ask the juvenile or family clerk about authorized access. |
| Adoption record | Usually confidential | Follow the state’s court-order or statutory access procedure. |
| Mental-health or commitment case | Commonly restricted | Contact the court about legally authorized access. |
| Family financial or medical document | Often protected | The public docket may remain visible while the filing is withheld or redacted. |
| Sealed or expunged case | Not publicly available | Access generally requires legal authority or a new court order. |
| Redacted public document | Public version only | Protected identifiers and confidential material will not appear. |
| Grand-jury material or protected criminal filing | Restricted | Ask the criminal clerk whether any public order or docket entry exists. |
How to Request a Plain or Certified Court Copy
The court holding the case controls document access and certification. A statewide index, PACER result or third-party page cannot certify a state or local court record.
Prepare these details before contacting the clerk
- Complete case number
- Exact court name
- County, city, state or federal district
- Full party names
- Approximate filing year
- Exact document title
- Plain, certified or exemplified copy
- Electronic, mail or in-person delivery preference
Useful for reading, research and personal files when no formal certification is required.
Includes clerk authentication and is commonly required for official, legal or administrative use.
Provides an additional authentication format when specifically required by another court or authority.
Use this copy-request process
- Locate the official case. Record the complete number and court from the public search.
- Open the court or clerk website. Look for Records, Case Files, Copy Request, Certified Copies or Public Access.
- Check whether the document is already available. Download the public copy when certification is not required.
- Request the exact document. Specify the judgment, decree, order, complaint, sentencing document or docket entry.
- State the required certification level. Do not assume that a downloaded watermark or electronic signature is equivalent to certification.
- Confirm all fees. Page, search, certification, mailing, payment-processing and archive fees can differ.
- Ask about processing and retrieval. Older files may be stored off-site and may not be available for same-day pickup.
How to Find Older or Archived Court Cases
Older files may predate electronic case management, use a legacy number or have been transferred to an archive or records center.
| Older-record problem | Likely reason | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| No online case result | The case predates the electronic database. | Contact the filing clerk with names and approximate year. |
| Case found but no documents | Only the index or docket was converted. | Request document retrieval from the clerk. |
| Legacy case number rejected | The number was converted or uses an obsolete format. | Ask the court for the current cross-reference number. |
| File moved from courthouse | The court transferred the record to off-site storage or archives. | Ask the clerk which repository holds the file and how to order it. |
| Federal case closed long ago | The file may have been transferred to the National Archives. | Obtain the court, case number and transfer details from the federal clerk before contacting NARA. |
| Record was destroyed | A retention schedule authorized destruction. | Ask whether a docket, judgment index or substitute certification remains. |
Avoid Court-Record Scams and Search Mistakes
Check the domain and agency identity before entering payment details or personal information.
Do not send gift cards, cryptocurrency or instant transfers because a caller claims a court warrant exists.
A court-name search is not the same as an identity-verified criminal-history or consumer report.
Verify the court, date, party role, case type and final disposition before identifying anyone.
Ask which exact document and certification level is required before ordering the entire file.
Never rely only on a public search page for a hearing date, filing deadline or appearance instruction.
Use Public Court Information Responsibly
A public docket can contain allegations, dismissed cases, amended charges, duplicate names, incomplete online documents and outdated status information.
- Do not assume a filed charge resulted in conviction.
- Do not assume a civil complaint proved liability.
- Do not assume an open case has reached a final outcome.
- Do not assume a same-name case belongs to the intended person.
- Do not publish protected personal information found in a filing.
- Do not use this website as a consumer-reporting or eligibility-screening service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Court Records
Is there one free website for every U.S. court case?
No. State, county, municipal, federal, bankruptcy, appellate, immigration, tax and tribal courts use separate systems. Begin by identifying the jurisdiction and court level.
Can I search court records by a person’s name?
Many official court portals allow name searches. Start with the legal first and last name, then test middle-name, former-name and spelling variations. Verify every result with the filing court.
Why can’t I find a case that I know exists?
The case may be in another court, too new, too old, entered under another name, excluded from the portal, archived, sealed or confidential. Remove filters and follow the recovery sequence in this guide.
Does a court search show whether someone was convicted?
Not always. A case index or docket may show the original charge without clearly displaying the final outcome. Read the disposition, judgment or sentencing order and confirm it with the clerk.
Are federal court records searched through county websites?
No. Federal district, bankruptcy and appellate cases use PACER and individual federal court websites. State and county portals do not include federal cases.
Is a downloaded court PDF a certified copy?
Usually not. A downloaded document may be an official electronic filing but still lack the clerk certification required by another court, agency, bank or licensing authority.
Are juvenile and adoption court records public?
They are commonly confidential or heavily restricted. Access rules vary by state and may require proof of eligibility, consent or a court order.
How do I find an old court case that is not online?
Contact the filing court with the party names, approximate year and case type. Ask whether the case has a converted number, is stored off-site or was transferred to a state or federal archive.
Can I use a court-record website for a background check?
A name-based court lookup is not an identity-verified background report and can produce false matches or incomplete outcomes. Regulated screening requires a legally compliant process.
How do I verify a court date or warrant?
Use the official court portal as a starting point, then contact the court through the phone number published on its official website. Do not pay a caller using gift cards, cryptocurrency or instant-transfer services.
How This Public Case-Lookup Guide Was Verified
- USA.gov — Federal, State, County and Municipal Courts
- U.S. Courts — Comparing Federal and State Courts
- U.S. Courts — Federal Court Finder
- PACER — Find a Federal Case
- PACER Case Locator
- PACER — Pricing and Fees
- EOIR — Immigration Case Status
- U.S. Supreme Court — Docket Search
- National Archives — Federal Court Records
- USA.gov — Libraries and Archives
Federal and state court routing, PACER searches and pricing, federal court locations, specialized immigration access and archived federal-record procedures were reviewed against current official government and judiciary sources.
Court portals, fees, retention schedules and public-access rules change. The current filing court, clerk, judiciary or federal source controls when it differs from this guide.