How to Use PACER
How to Use PACER
Find user documentation, learning aids, and how to videos on finding federal court records online using PACER.
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Still can't find what you're looking for? Contact the PACER Service Center.
Contact Us
Contact Us
Contact the PACER Service Center for assistance.
By Phone
San Antonio: 210-301-6440
Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday
By Email
By Mail
Inquiries and other correspondence
PACER Service Center
P.O. Box 780549
San Antonio, TX 78278
Send payments to:
U.S. Courts: PACER
P.O. Box 5208
Portland, OR 97208-5208
Send Us a Message:
Send us a message by filling out the form below.
Is there anyone I can call for help with developing software that will automate the filing process from within a desktop application?
Support for external software development efforts isn’t available beyond the listed technical information.
Suggestions for additional content or comments about developer resources may be emailed.
Is there a test CM/ECF system that I can use for testing my application?
Each court customizes their version of CM/ECF. Contact the court directly to request permission to test your application against their database.
What are the recommended scanner or file settings for documents submitted as PDF image files, rather than PDF text files?
It’s recommended an image be scanned with a 300 dots per square inch (DPI) resolution, and in black and white so the file size will be as small as possible. For additional guidance, visit a specific court's website.
Is there a limit on the size of the PDF files which CM/ECF will accept?
Each court sets a limit on the size of PDF files submitted for electronic filing. If a document exceeds the limit, the recommendation is to break the document into separate, smaller documents. Use the Court CM/ECF Lookup to find the file size limit for each court.
Search by a Specific Court vs. Using the PACER Case Locator
If you know what court the case was filed in and you know the case number, login to PACER to search directly using the Query option.
The PACER Case Locator is a nationwide index that searches all federal court case records in one central location. If you are unsure where the case was filed and/or you do not have a case number, you can use the PACER Case Locator to find it. You can search nationwide or you can limit your search criteria to a specific state to locate your case.
Use Docket Report Filters
You may limit the amount of information listed on the Docket Report by using the filters provided. Depending on the options made available by the court, you may have the ability to toggle the inclusion of “Parties and Counsel” and/or “Terminated Parties,” if that information is not necessary to you. Typically, these options are enabled by default. You also have the option to filter the docket to include filings/entries by date range. Entering a date range prior to running the docket report will display filings or entries within that range.
Search by Case Number instead of Party Name
Search by case number rather than by party name so you will go directly to the case without a charge. Otherwise, if you search for a case by a party name that is fairly common, that may yield a high number of pages.