Register for an Account
Begin searching for or filing federal court records electronically online by first registering for a PACER account. Learn more about the types of accounts.
Not Sure?
If you’re unsure which type of account to register for, use the registration wizard!
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone can access PACER to view federal court records, but first you need to register for a PACER account.
Case information is available through PACER 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
Each court maintains its own case information. If you know the district or circuit in which the case is filed, search that court directly. If you do not know where the case is filed, use the PACER Case Locator.
The PACER Service Center is open to assist you at (800) 676-6856 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.
While we do not recommend setting up accounts for others, we understand this is a common practice at many firms. Create a new account for an attorney.
When setting up an account for a user, it is important to use the correct date of birth (DOB) for the individual, as the DOB is permanent to the account.
An attorney must be admitted to practice in a specific court and registered to e-file with that same court in order to file court documents electronically and to receive email notices of documents that are filed.
For district and bankruptcy courts:
Each district/bankruptcy court has its own requirements and procedures for registering. Visit the court's website for more information.
For appellate courts:
Register to become an e-filer in appellate courts and bankruptcy appellate panels. Check the court rules to find out who is permitted. Learn more about the registration procedures.
All attorneys must register for PACER in addition to requesting e-filing privileges in order to fully use the NextGen CM/ECF system.
Find out if your court has transitioned to NextGen.
A tax ID may be used in the event that federal debt collection is necessary. It is not used for other purposes.
For CurrentGen courts, you must register through the court, and the court must approve you as a filer. For NextGen courts, you must register through Manage My Account, and the court must approve you as a filer. You need to register for each court in which you wish to file.