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Use PACER, the federal courts’ official public-access service. If you know the court and case number, search that court’s records directly. If you do not know which court handled the case or lack the case number, start with the nationwide PACER Case Locator and search by party name or other case details.
Choose the right PACER search
| Your situation | Where to search | Coverage and update timing |
|---|---|---|
| You know the federal court and case number | Search the court’s case records through PACER. | That court’s information is updated immediately, according to PACER’s Find a Case guidance. |
| You do not know the court or case number | Search the PACER Case Locator. | It indexes federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate cases and typically updates nightly. |
The locator is a nationwide index, not a replacement for the court’s case system. Its results include the party name, court, case number, filing date, and closure date. Select a case-number link to reach more detailed information in that court’s CM/ECF system.
Look up a case by case number
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Register for a PACER account if you do not already have one. Use the official PACER registration page.
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Open the relevant federal court’s case records through PACER. If you are unsure which court handled the matter, use the PACER Case Locator first.
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Enter the case number in the court’s search. Confirm the court and case details in the results before opening a docket report or document.
PACER recommends case-number searches over party-name searches when the number is known: “Search by case number rather than by party name so you will go directly to the case without a charge.” This is PACER’s cost-saving guidance; charges can still depend on the pages and records you access under its fee schedule.
Find a case by party name
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Open the PACER Case Locator if you do not know the court or case number.
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Search the party name, adding any available distinguishing details. The locator also supports searches by case number, nature of suit, and filing or closing date.
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Where you have a likely state or court, narrow the search accordingly. A common name can return many pages of results.
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Review the court, case number, filing date, and party name to identify the case. Follow the case-number link to its court system for more detailed records.
Search by the name of a party to the case, not merely a person mentioned in a document. A name search may return no match even when related information exists in records that are sealed or otherwise unavailable through PACER.
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Once you have the case open in the court’s CM/ECF system, choose the docket report to view entries or select an available document. PACER charges for pages accessed, so use report filters—such as a date range or party/counsel information—to limit results to what you need. Its guidance also recommends case-number searches and filters to avoid unnecessary pages.
PACER is not a way to access sealed records. Its search guidance says sealed documents, including sealed indictments, cannot be found there. For information beyond the case summary, docket entries, and copies available online, contact the court where the case was filed.
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Understand PACER fees before searching
As of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ PACER Pricing FAQ, accessed October 4, 2026, case information costs $0.10 per page. Most individual documents and case-specific reports are capped at $3 per item. The cap does not apply to name-search results, reports that are not case-specific, or transcripts. PACER waives fees when a user’s charges total $30 or less in a quarter.
The fee schedule applies to search-result pages even when a search returns no matches. A name search that produces many pages can therefore cost more than a targeted case-number search. Check PACER’s current pricing guidance before making multiple searches or requesting records, since service terms can change.
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If PACER does not find the case
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If you searched the court directly, try the PACER Case Locator; if you used the locator, try the court’s system when you know where the case was filed.
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Check the spelling and identifying details in a party-name search, and narrow by court or state if possible.
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If the locator still does not find the party, contact the federal court where you believe the case was filed, as PACER recommends in its no-match guidance.
A missing result is not proof that no case exists: the locator typically refreshes nightly, and sealed documents are not searchable through PACER. The court can advise what information is available when an online search is insufficient.
Quick Recap
Official PACER guidance
- Find a Case
- PACER Case Locator
- Search by Case Number Instead of Party Name
- PACER Pricing FAQ
- What to Do If You Cannot Find a Party in the PACER Case Locator
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