how to search cases by attorney in pacer

Log in to the PACER Case Locator. If you are a registered PACER user, you automatically have access to the PACER Case Locator with your username and password. A search will return the party name, the court where the case is filed, the case number, date filed, and date closed.

Full Answer

How do I run a PACER search?

Log in to the PACER Case Locator. If you are a registered PACER user, you automatically have access to the PACER Case Locator with your username and password. A search will return the party name, the court where the case is filed, the case number, date filed, and date closed.

How do I enable search privileges on PACER?

If the Case Search Status says "Inactive," you can still upgrade your account, but cannot search for case information. To activate your account contact the PACER Service Center for assistance at (800) 676-6856 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at [email protected].

What can you view and research on PACER?

PACER provides the public with instantaneous access to more than 1 billion documents filed at all federal courts. Registered users can: Search for a case in the federal court where the case was filed, or. Search a nationwide index of federal court cases.

Are PACER searches confidential?

We collect such information only to respond to your requests or improve the website. We do not share that information with others, and we do not collect information for commercial marketing.

Is there an alternative to PACER?

Justia Dockets & Filings: A Free Alternative to PACER for Docket Research. Justia Dockets & Filings (http://dockets.justia.com) is a free service that allows users to search and view select docket information from cases filed in U.S. District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal since 2004.

Can anyone use the PACER system?

Anyone can access PACER to view federal court records, but first you need to register for a PACER account. Case information is available through PACER 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.

What information is inaccessible on PACER?

Sealed documents, including sealed indictments, are not available to the public and cannot be found on PACER.

What is the difference between PACER and ECF?

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) is the service through which the public can view case dockets and documents. CM/ECF (Case Management Electronic Case Files) is the system that allows filing users to submit documents to the court electronically.

How can I use PACER for free?

Before You Request an Exemption There is no fee to register for a PACER account. There is no charge for accessing up to $30 in charges per quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December). Charges apply after users accrue more than $30 each quarterly billing cycle.

Why does PACER cost money?

Why does PACER charge a fee? In 1988, the Judiciary sought appropriations from the U.S. Congress to provide electronic public access to court records. However, Congress did not provide the funds and instead directed the Judiciary to fund the initiative through user fees.

How do you stop a PACER?

Yes. Users have the option to remove their account from a PACER Administrative Account (PAA)....To do so:Log into Manage My Account.Select Remove Your PACER Account from a PAA on the Settings tab.Enter a brief remark and click Submit.

What does ECF stand for legal?

Case Management/Electronic Case FilesCase Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) is the federal Judiciary's system that allows case documents, such as pleadings, motions, and petitions, to be filed with the court online. CM/ECF is most often used by attorneys in cases, U.S. Trustees, and bankruptcy trustees.

How can I use PACER for free?

Before You Request an Exemption There is no fee to register for a PACER account. There is no charge for accessing up to $30 in charges per quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December). Charges apply after users accrue more than $30 each quarterly billing cycle.

How do I download a document from PACER?

How do I view or download PACER documents?To view the document, click the blue hyperlinked document title.To download an individual document, check the check box next to the document title and click "download selected"More items...•

What is CourtListener com?

CourtListener is an open source aggregator of court opinions. It is a subproject of the Free Law Project. From their site: “We collect legal opinions from court websites and from data donations, and are aiming to have the best, most complete data on the open Web within the next couple years.

What is a PACER?

Definition of pacer 1 : one that paces specifically : a horse whose predominant gait is the pace. 2 : pacemaker.

How much does a file pacer cost?

There is a fee of 10 cents per page to access a file through PACER, with a maximum charge of $3.00 per document. Users are billed on a quarterly basis. Fees are waived for anyone accruing less than $30 in a quarter. Learn more about how PACER fees work .

What is a PACER account?

Federal case files are maintained electronically and are available through the internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. PACER allows anyone with an account to search and locate appellate, district, and bankruptcy court case and docket information. Register for a PACER account .

Where are court records transferred?

When court records and case files are eligible for permanent preservation, they are transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for storage and preservation.

Is there a fee for court opinions on PACER?

Court opinions are available for free on PACER to anyone with an account. Additionally, access to court opinions from many appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts are available for no fee in a text searchable format through a partnership with the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), consistent with the E-Government Act.

What is a PACER?

Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) provides electronic public access to federal court records. PACER can be a very handy tool for finding federal civil rights cases about police misconduct. Those interested in tracking police misconduct should consider systematically searching PACER at regular intervals (daily, weekly, or monthly) and downloading all cases filed against the police department and its’ officers. PACER can also be searched on an ad hoc basis for cases against a specific officer.

What extension is used to search PACER?

Tip : Consider using the Chrome extension RECAP when searching PACER and downloading documents. Once installed, every docket or PDF you purchase on PACER will be added to the RECAP Archive. Anything somebody else has added to the archive will be available to you for free — right in PACER itself.

What is the top of the docket report?

The top of the docket report will provide information on the plaintiff, defendants, and their attorneys.

What is the last document on the docket report?

If the case is closed, usually one of the last documents on the docket report will be the stipulation/order, verdict, or judgment, indicating the outcome of the case

How to look up a case on PACER?

To look up your case, go to the PACER Case Locator (PCL) and sign in using your Username and Password. You should arrive at a homepage that looks something like this:

What does PACER stand for in court?

PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It’s a system to access case information, the docket, and the documents filed in a particular case electronically.

How to send notices to someone who filed bankruptcy without an attorney?

The default method the court uses to send notices and important documents to a person who has filed bankruptcy without an attorney (“pro se”) is U.S. Mail. Additionally, many courts allow pro se filers to sign up for electronic notices through the Bankruptcy Noticing Center. But, unless you’re really good at keeping all of your mail or e-mail organized, PACER is the only way to get all of your case information in one spot and directly from the source: the bankruptcy court.

How long does it take to get a Pacer activation code?

If you choose not to enter payment information, you will receive an activation code for your account by U.S. Mail in about 7 - 10 business days. Whichever option you choose, click “next” at the bottom of the screen when ready. This will bring you to a screen outlining all terms and conditions (called policies and procedures) of signing up for a PACER account, just like when you install a new program or download an app. When you’ve completed your review of the information provided, click the checkbox at the bottom and hit submit.

How much is a PACER file?

However, if your total charges for the quarter do not exceed $30, you will not have to pay at all. In other words, as long as you view no more than 300 pages in any 3 month period, your PACER account is free. If you’re only using the account to track your own case, it’s highly unlikely that you would end up incurring more than $30 in charges at that rate.

Where is the Register Now button on Pacer?

Either click on “Register Now” in the navigation bar on the left of the general information page linked above, the hyperlinked “ online PACER Registration Form ” or the button to Register for a PACER Account Now at the bottom of the page.

Can you file documents with a Pacer account?

This means that while anyone with a PACER account can view documents, they can’t file documents for their case online .

What is a pacer pro?

PacerPro is a website that lets you access Pacer data in a much more efficient way. Most of their features are free, including the stuff that we need: (1) powerful searching and (2) free access to documents that have already been downloaded into Pacer (docs that haven’t already been downloaded are charged at the Pacer rate).

Can you refine a lawsuit search?

Most of these results won’t be useful to us. Luckily you can refine the search by type of court, location, if the case is open or closed, or the nature of suit. We captured a bunch of different types of lawsuits in our search:

Is PacerPro free?

You’ll see that the main document is labeled “now available” and “free”—that’s because I downloaded it last night. Any documents that are downloaded through PacerPro—whether by you or someone else—are available free to everyone. No one has downloaded the attachment , so I’d still have to pay Pacer fees to see that.