Find a Case
Explore the various options for locating federal court case records electronically, including logging into PACER.
Frequently Asked Questions
If there is a discrepancy found with case information, notify the court where the document or case is filed.
PACER provides access to millions of case file documents and docket information for all district, bankruptcy, and appellate courts. These are available immediately after they have been electronically filed.
Some case information is not available. Certain personal identifiers are removed or redacted before the record becomes public, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, the name of a minor, date of birth, and home addresses in a criminal case.
In addition, some documents may be unavailable to the general public, including:
- Documents from pre-2003 bankruptcy cases.
- Documents filed before Nov. 1, 2004 in criminal cases.
- Documents in social security and immigration cases.
If you are unable to locate the information you are seeking, contact the local court or the PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or by email at pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.
No. PACER access is for federal courts only.
Documents are provided as “PDF” or “html.” Select File and then Save As in the browser toolbar. For docket sheets or reports make sure the file is saved with the extension ".html." Court documents are provided as PDF files.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Search by case number, party name, Social Security number, or tax identification number.
U.S. District Courts
Search by case number, party name, or filing date range.
U.S. Courts of Appeals
Search by case number or party name.
PACER Case Locator
Search by case number, party name, social security, employer identification number, nature of suit, date filed, or date closed. A search returns basic case information, including the case number, court where the case is filed, date filed, date closed, and various other information depending on the search type. These results will also link to more detailed information stored within CM/ECF.