Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
You are automatically logged out when you close your browser. You can also log out by clicking log out on the main menu.
Most bankruptcy courts offer limited information through the Multi-court Voice Case Information System. Access to the system is currently offered at no cost and can be accessed by calling (866) 222-8029.
Learn more about this system and participating bankruptcy courts.
Contact the federal court where the case is filed to obtain information beyond the case summary, docket entries, and copies of documents.
If you cannot locate a case when searching a federal court’s case records by case number or party name, try using the PACER Case Locator. This will generate a listing of nationwide court locations and case numbers where a party is involved in federal litigation. If you cannot find the case party through the PACER Case Locator, then contact the federal court where you think the case was filed for assistance.
The PACER Case Locator is a national case locator index for all federal court records in district, bankruptcy, and appellate courts. Every 24 hours, typically nightly, the PACER Case Locator is updated with new case information.
Log in to the PACER Case Locator. If you are a registered PACER user, you automatically have access to the PACER Case Locator with your username and password.
A search will return the party name, the court where the case is filed, the case number, date filed, and date closed. You can access more detailed case information stored within CM/ECF from the case number in the PACER Case Locator.
Case information is available once it has been filed or entered in the court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system. Login to the National PACER Login to view documents.
Newly filed cases typically appear in the PACER Case Locator within 24 hours.
To see more detailed information about a case, access the court's CM/ECF site. You can access that site and other detailed case information from the PACER Case Locator by clicking on the case number.
Yes. Access privileges are suspended for any account that causes an unacceptable level of congestion or disruption to the operations of the PACER Service Center, a federal court, or another PACER user. Any attempt to collect data from PACER in a manner that avoids billing is strictly prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution or civil action.
It is the filer’s responsibility to redact and ensure private information is not included in the case files. Attorney’s must inform their clients that case files may be obtained electronically and to ensure private information is not included in the case files.