PUBLIC RECORD GUIDE

How to Find Court Records

Federal and state dockets, PACER, CM/ECF, CourtListener, and GovInfo.

Where to look

PACER — $0.10/page, $3 cap per document. Quarterly fees under $30 are waived. https://pacer.uscourts.gov
CourtListener — Free opinions and RECAP-archived dockets. https://www.courtlistener.com
GovInfo — Published federal opinions and orders. https://www.govinfo.gov
State e-filing — Each state judicial branch hosts its own portal. Fees and coverage vary.

Steps

Identify the court: federal district/bankruptcy or state circuit/county.
Search by case number or party name.
Read the docket sheet before downloading anything.
Keep sealed and protected filings out of any public submission.
Save files as case-number + date + original title.

Questions

Is PACER free?

No. $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Under $30 in a quarter is waived. CourtListener and GovInfo are free for many opinions.

Are all filings public?

No. Sealed documents, protective orders, and some juvenile or medical filings are not public. Absence from PACER is not proof the document does not exist.

This guide is the hook. The door is same-origin.

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Independent public-records resource operated by Helm Legal Technologies. Not a law firm. Not legal advice. Topic-led, not anonymous. Methodology: /methodology. Corrections: /corrections.