Official Links Policy
How we choose and label official links so readers can move from helpful guidance to the correct court, clerk, judiciary or federal record source without confusion.
Why official links matter
Court-record searches can involve names, case numbers, sensitive allegations, family issues, fees, document requests and legal deadlines. Users should not be pushed toward unclear paid pages or unrelated third-party data when an official source exists. Our link policy is designed to protect users and improve trust.
Link labels and meaning
| Link label | Meaning | User should verify |
|---|---|---|
| Official court link | A court, clerk, judiciary, county, city, state or federal page that appears to control the relevant information. | Correct court, case type and current page instructions. |
| Official case search | A court-operated or officially linked search portal. | Coverage limits, search fields, fees and account requirements. |
| PACER/federal source | Federal case access or federal court information route. | Whether the case is actually federal and which court maintains it. |
| Official clerk contact | Clerk office, records department, courthouse or public counter information. | Hours, fees, appointment rules and certified-copy process. |
| Visual guide source | Screenshots or notes used to explain navigation. | Whether the current official page still matches the visual guide. |
Link review checklist
We check that important links open and land on a relevant official or source-backed page.
We match the link to the user action: case search, clerk contact, court calendar, payment, certified copy or record request.
We do not label a third-party or advertising page as official.
If a link breaks or redirects to the wrong place, we review and replace it when a better source is confirmed.
Third-party and vendor links
Some official courts use vendors for online payments, e-filing, records search, scheduling or document access. If a vendor is linked from an official court or clerk site, we may mention it as part of the user pathway. We do not own or control vendor fees, privacy practices, support quality, availability or account requirements.
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.