How to Search Court Records Online: Free Tools, State Portals & Search Tips
Searching court records online is easier than most people realize - but the right approach depends on whether you're looking for federal or state records, criminal or civil cases, and how recent the case is. This guide covers the major tools and databases for searching court records, with step-by-step instructions for the most common search scenarios.
By Anthony WillEst. 2013Published May 27, 2026Read time: 10 min
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PACER is the federal judiciary's official public access system. It provides access to all federal district court, bankruptcy court, and appellate court records. Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.
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Go to pacer.gov and register. Accounts are free; you pay $0.10 per page when you access records (first $30 per quarter is free, which covers most individual searches). Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
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Use the PACER Case Locator
The PACER Case Locator (pcl.uscourts.gov) allows you to search across all federal courts by party name, SSN, or tax ID. This is the best starting point for a name-based search of federal cases.
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Review results
Click through to specific cases to view docket entries, parties, and associated filings. Filing fees apply per page viewed beyond the free tier.
CourtListener (Free Alternative)
CourtListener (courtlistener.com) provides free access to millions of federal court records sourced from PACER. Search by party name, case name, or keyword. Most useful for decisions and larger federal cases - may not have all minor cases.
Authoritative Court Record Search Tools in 2026
The two most important official tools for finding court records in 2026 are PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov) for federal records and your state's own court portal for state-level cases. PACER - Public Access to Court Electronic Records - is the federal judiciary's official system and provides access to all U.S. district court, bankruptcy court, and appellate court filings. The first $30 in PACER fees is waived each quarter, making it effectively free for most individual searches.
Federal records: PACER and US Courts PACER guide. State records: search "[your state] court records search." Free alternatives: CourtListener, Justia. If your own record appears online and you want it removed, see our removal guide.
How to Search State Court Records
Each state has its own court portal. General approach:
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Most people who reach out to us had no idea how many places their record had spread. Justia, Google Scholar, UniCourt, background check sites - each one a new place where employers, landlords, or dates might find you. A free scan shows you exactly where you stand, so you can do something about it.
Search '[State] court records search' or visit your state's court website (e.g., courts.michigan.gov, courts.state.va.us, nccourts.gov). Look for 'case search,' 'case lookup,' or 'public access.'
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Search by name
Most portals allow name-based searches. Enter the first and last name. Some portals are exact-match only; others use partial matching. Use variations if no results appear (middle name vs. no middle name, Jr./Sr. suffix).
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Filter by case type
Narrow results by selecting criminal, civil, traffic, or family court based on what you're looking for. Not all courts display all case types publicly.
Other Court Record Search Tools
Justia (justia.com): Free case law and federal docket search. Good for finding case summaries and court opinions.
FindLaw (findlaw.com): Case law search focusing on appellate decisions.
Google: Simply searching '[Name] court records [State]' often surfaces court portal pages, news coverage, and data broker profiles - providing a quick overview of online visibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I search court records for free?
For federal court records, create a free PACER account at pacer.gov - the first $30 per quarter is free (about 300 pages). CourtListener (courtlistener.com) provides free access to many federal court records. For state court records, each state has a public court portal - search '[your state] court records search' to find it. Most state portals are free to access. Data broker sites and commercial background check services aggregate court records but typically charge fees.
How do I search someone's court records?
Start with their state's court portal and enter their full name. For federal cases, use PACER Case Locator (pcl.uscourts.gov) or CourtListener (courtlistener.com). Also search Google for their name plus their state and any offense you suspect - court portal pages and data broker profiles often appear in results. If you know the approximate county, check the county court clerk's portal directly. Results vary by state - some have comprehensive online searches, others have limited online access.
Can I search court records without a case number?
Yes. Most state court portals and PACER's Case Locator allow name-based searches without a case number. You provide the person's name and optionally a date range or state. Some portals require partial matching - enter just the last name and first initial if exact name searches return no results. If you know the county, searching the specific county court portal often returns more detailed results than a statewide search.
How do I search court records in another state?
Visit the court portal for the specific state. Most states have a searchable online portal - search '[state] court records search' or visit the state's unified court system website. Some states have county-by-county portals rather than a statewide search. For federal cases in any state, PACER Case Locator searches all federal courts nationally. CourtListener also covers all federal districts.
Are court records searches free?
Most official court portals are free to access. PACER charges $0.10 per page with the first $30 per quarter free - adequate for most individual searches. CourtListener, Justia, and state court portals do not charge. Commercial background check services and data broker sites that compile and repackage court records may charge fees for comprehensive reports. You can often get the same information free by going directly to official court sources.
How do I use PACER to search for a specific person's federal court cases?
Go to pacer.uscourts.gov and log in (or create a free account). Use the PACER Case Locator at pcl.uscourts.gov to run a nationwide name search across all federal courts. Enter the person's last name and first name. You can filter by court type (district, bankruptcy, appellate) and date range. Results show matching party names with their court, case type, and case number. From there, click through to the specific court's PACER portal to view the full docket and documents. Fees apply at $0.10 per page, but the first $30 per quarter is waived.
What is the difference between PACER and CourtListener?
PACER is the federal judiciary's official system with comprehensive access to all federal court records - it is the authoritative source. CourtListener (run by the non-profit Free Law Project) aggregates a large portion of PACER data and makes it freely available without per-page fees. For most common searches, CourtListener is a good free starting point. However, for complete access to all filings, sealed case information, and very recent filings, PACER is more comprehensive. CourtListener is particularly strong for appellate decisions and well-publicized cases.
Can I search for sealed court records?
No - sealed court records are not accessible through public portals like PACER or state court websites. When a court seals a record, it is removed from public-facing search results and accessible only to authorized parties (typically law enforcement, the parties to the case, and their attorneys). If you believe you are a party to a sealed case, contact the court clerk directly for access instructions. The existence of a sealed case may not be visible even in case number searches.