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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To find a federal civil case, search PACER with the case number if you know the court; if you do not, use the PACER Case Locator to identify the court and case number. Then check that court’s PACER system for the latest docket activity. Read the docket as an index, and open the actual filing or court order before deciding what happened.
What PACER and a docket are
PACER is the federal courts’ public electronic access service for case information and court records. A case file includes a docket sheet—a chronological list of case activity—and documents filed in the case. The docket helps you find a filing; the filing itself is the text to read. The U.S. Courts describes the case file as containing “a docket sheet and all documents filed in a case.” U.S. Courts: Court Records.
How to find the case and the latest docket
If you know the court and case number
- Go to PACER and sign in or create an account.
- Search the federal court where the lawsuit was filed, using the case number. PACER recommends using the number when known to go directly to the case and reduce search-result pages.
- Open the case docket and locate the entries you need.
If you know a party’s name but not the court
- Use the PACER Case Locator to search the national index and identify possible court locations and case numbers.
- Check spelling and consider alternate party names if the first search returns no result.
- Once you identify the filing court, search that court’s PACER system for current activity.
The Case Locator covers district, bankruptcy, and appellate cases, and its data transfers from courts nightly. It is therefore useful for finding a case, but not the source to rely on for real-time filings. PACER says, “For real-time case filings, search by the court where the case is filed.” If you still cannot locate a case, PACER advises contacting the federal court where you believe it was filed. PACER Case Locator.
How to read a docket entry and its filing
- Find the date and entry number. These identify where the item sits in the case timeline.
- Read the docket description. It summarizes the activity and may identify the filer or document type, but it is not a substitute for the document.
- Open the linked document when available. Read its title, who filed it, and what relief the party requested—or, for a court-issued document, what the court ordered.
- Check exhibits and later orders. Exhibits may supply context, and a later order or judgment may show how the court acted on a request.
A motion is a party’s request for the court to do something; a docket entry saying a motion was filed does not mean the court granted it. Look for the court’s order or judgment. Docket wording and procedure can vary, so use the actual record and applicable court rules for the specific case rather than treating a short label as a ruling.
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What PACER costs—and how to 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. Fees are waived for an account that accrues $30 or less in a calendar quarter. Name-search results, non-case-specific reports, and transcripts are exceptions to the per-item cap. These are PACER’s listed U.S. access charges; check its current pricing page for the latest terms.
- Use a case number instead of a broad name search when possible.
- Limit a docket report to a date range if you do not need the complete docket.
- Check the displayed page count and cost before opening a document.
Other free access routes include court opinions on PACER, case information at federal courthouse public terminals, and one free electronic copy delivered through a filing notice to qualifying parties and attorneys of record when notice conditions apply. A fee exemption may also be requested from the court. The court’s process governs any exemption. PACER pricing and fees.
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Why a filing may not be publicly available
Most federal case files can be viewed through PACER, but public access is not universal. Sealed documents are unavailable to the public on PACER, and a docket may show an entry without allowing you to view its document. The U.S. Courts also notes that information may be redacted before filing and that a judge may seal documents. U.S. Courts: Court Records; PACER: What is PACER?.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 provides special remote-access limits for nonparties in Social Security and immigration cases, and permits a court to seal material or further limit remote access by order. If a document is missing, do not assume no filing occurred: check the court-specific docket for a sealed or restricted entry and contact the clerk’s office about access procedures. The clerk can explain process, not advise you on the legal effect of a filing. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2.
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Which access route should you use?
| Route | Best for | Timing and limits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| PACER Case Locator | Finding a federal case when you do not know the court | Data transfers nightly; use the filing court for real-time activity | Search results are billable; name searches are not covered by the document cap |
| Court-specific PACER search | Getting a docket or filing from a known court, especially current activity | Access restrictions still apply | $0.10 per page; most documents and case-specific reports capped at $3 |
| Courthouse public terminal | Viewing case information at the courthouse where the case was filed | Local entry rules may apply | PACER identifies courthouse access as free |
| Court opinions on PACER | Retrieving opinions | Opinion access is listed as free | Free |
Details on the locator and court-specific searches are on the PACER Case Locator page; fees and free access routes are listed by PACER.
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