Court Records Search
Access civil filings, criminal cases, judgments, and case outcomes on anyone. Search 32 billion+ court documents across local, state, and federal jurisdictions. 100% confidential — results in 60 seconds.
Commonly Asked Questions About Court Records Online
Where Does Court Record Data Come From?
Each court creates and maintains its own records. County clerks hold trial court files, state court administrators operate unified case indexes in many states, and the federal judiciary publishes through PACER. There is no single national court index, which is why searching by name across jurisdictions requires collecting from a large number of separate systems.
What Types of Cases Are Public?
Civil suits, criminal prosecutions, probate matters, small claims, and most judgments are public in the majority of states. Juvenile proceedings, adoption records, and cases sealed by court order are restricted. Family law files are frequently public as to their existence but redacted as to financial and custody detail.
How Can I Use Court Records?
Common personal uses include researching someone before a business dealing, understanding a dispute involving a family member, or confirming the outcome of a case you heard about. Public records searches of this kind are not consumer reports, and they cannot lawfully be used for employment screening, tenant screening, or credit decisions.
What Is the Difference Between a Docket and a Case File?
A docket is the chronological list of everything filed in a case, showing dates and document titles. The case file is the documents themselves. Online systems commonly publish the docket while requiring a courthouse visit or a fee for the underlying documents.
Are Court Records Searches Free?
Many county and state court portals allow free docket searching, and federal PACER charges a modest per-page fee with an exemption below a quarterly threshold. The limitation is that each system covers only its own jurisdiction. Searches that span counties and states at once are generally paid.
Will the Parties Know I Looked at a Case?
No. Court dockets are public documents and viewing one creates no notice to anyone involved in the case.
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Court records are organized by the court that heard the case rather than by the person involved, so the county and the type of case both matter when tracking one down.
What Shows Up in a Court Records Search
Case Identification
The case number, the court and county hearing the matter, the names of the parties, the filing date, and the case type.
Docket Entries
The chronological list of everything filed in a case, showing dates and document titles, along with attorneys of record and the presiding judge.
Disposition and Judgment
Where a case has concluded, the outcome and any judgment amount are usually part of the record.
What Is Restricted
Family law matters, juvenile cases, and sealed proceedings are limited or omitted in most states. An absence of results does not always mean an absence of cases.
Why People Search Court Records
Look Up Civil Case History
Civil suits and judgments naming a person or company are searchable through the public court index.
Understand a Family Dispute
People look up court records to understand a case involving someone close to them.
Confirm a Case Outcome
The disposition field tells you how a case actually resolved rather than how it started.
Check Your Own Record
Reviewing what is publicly filed under your name is a common reason to search a county docket.
Locate Related Filings
One case often points to others, since parties, attorneys, and case numbers cross-reference.
Verify a Judgment
Recorded judgments carry the amount, the creditor, and whether the judgment was later satisfied.
Best Court Records Sites of 2026
We spent hours comparing multiple Court Records sites on data quality, usability, and cost, and our top pick for 2026 is Instant Checkmate. Our goal is to help you find comprehensive results at a fair price, without wasting time on services that overpromise or overcharge.
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Simple search with quick and comprehensive results. One of the more expensive services but worth every penny if you're looking for a top notch Court Records service.
One of the longest-running background check services, founded in 2003. Solid on basic biographical data, phone, and address lookups. Criminal & traffic records can be inconsistent.
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