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To find a federal civil case, search PACER using the court and case number if you know them. If you do not, use the PACER Case Locator to identify the court and case number, then search that court’s PACER system for the latest docket activity. Read the docket as an index, not as a substitute for the actual filing or court order.
What PACER and a docket are
PACER—Public Access to Court Electronic Records—is the federal courts’ online system for viewing most case files. A case file contains a docket sheet and documents filed in the case. The docket is a chronological list of activity; its short descriptions help you find entries, but the underlying filing or order is the text to read before deciding what happened. The U.S. Courts’ explanation of court records describes what a case file contains.
Find the case and its latest activity
If you know the court and case number
Search the filing court through PACER and use the case number to go directly to the case when possible. PACER says this can reduce the number of search-result pages. The PACER Case Locator page also directs people seeking real-time filings to search the court where the case is filed.
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Start with the PACER Case Locator, which searches a nationwide index of district, bankruptcy, and appellate cases. Its data is transferred from courts nightly, so it may not show the latest activity. Once you identify the filing court and case number, search that court’s PACER system for current entries.
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If the case does not appear
- Check the spelling and try a party’s alternate or former name, if known.
- If the locator does not find a party, PACER advises contacting the federal court where you believe the case was filed.
- Do not assume that a failed search proves no case exists or that every case will appear in a public lookup.
Read a docket entry and the document behind it
- Find the entry by date and docket number. The entry number identifies its place in the case’s docket.
- Read the description to see what kind of activity is recorded and who filed it.
- Open the linked document, if available. Check its title, the relief a party requests, or the ruling the court makes.
- Read relevant exhibits and later orders or judgments that address the filing.
Distinguish a party’s submission from a court-issued document. For example, an entry for a motion means a party asked the court to take an action; it does not mean the court granted the request. Look for the court’s order or judgment to see what it decided. The meaning and effect of a particular filing depend on the record and applicable court rules.
What access costs—and ways to avoid or limit charges
PACER’s pricing page lists access at $0.10 per page. Most documents and case-specific reports, including docket reports, are capped at $3 per item. An account that accrues $30 or less in a calendar quarter has its fees waived. Name-search results, non-case-specific reports, and transcripts are exceptions to the cap. These are PACER’s listed charges; check its current pricing information before searching.
To keep charges down, use a case number rather than a broad party-name search when you can, and limit a docket report to the date range you need. PACER shows the page count and associated cost before you open a document for viewing.
- Court opinions: PACER lists opinions as free to access.
- Courthouse terminals: You can view case information at a federal courthouse public terminal. The filing court’s clerk’s office can explain local access procedures.
- Electronic filing notices: Parties and attorneys of record may receive one free electronic copy of a filing through a notice when the notice conditions apply.
- Fee exemption: You can ask the court for an exemption; the applicable court’s process governs.
Why a filing or document may not be available
Most federal case files can be viewed through PACER, but public access is not unlimited. Sealed documents are unavailable to the public on PACER, and some categories of cases have special limits on remote access by nonparties. A judge may also seal material or further restrict remote access by order. Personal information may be redacted before a document is filed. See the U.S. Courts’ access guidance, PACER’s FAQ, and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2.
A docket may show that an entry exists even when the document is sealed or otherwise restricted. If a document is missing, check the court-specific docket for an access notation and contact the clerk’s office about procedural access. The clerk can explain access procedures, but cannot advise you about what a filing means for a party’s rights.
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