Court records: where to search and request copies
Court records belong to the court that handled the case. To get a copy, you usually contact that court's clerk. Each state's judicial branch website explains which courts exist, whether there is an online case search, and how to request copies.
What to know
- State courts and federal courts are separate. Federal cases are searched through the federal judiciary (uscourts.gov and PACER), not state sites.
- Many trial courts are run at the county level, so the record may sit with a county clerk of court.
- Online case indexes are not always complete or official. A certified copy comes from the clerk.
- Some records are sealed or restricted by law.
We don't search or retrieve court records, and nothing here is legal advice.
Directory: state judicial branch websites
Links checked November 12, 2026. * = the site blocks automated checks.
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