Guide
Overview
PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) is the official federal system for accessing documents and docket information from U.S. district courts, courts of appeals, and bankruptcy courts. Operated by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, PACER provides access to over 1 billion court documents from 94 federal district courts, 13 courts of appeals, the U.S. Court of International Trade, and U.S. bankruptcy courts. PACER asks users at login to set up multifactor authentication with an authenticator app or one time backup codes.
Guide
How to Register for PACER
Step 1. Open the PACER Case Search Only registration page. This is the account for searching and viewing records; lawyers and other filers register for CM/ECF filing access instead.
Step 2. Fill in the registration form with your name, address and email address. Registering is free; viewing records is billed by the page.
Step 3. Give a credit card during registration for prompt access. Without one, PACER mails an activation code to the address on the form; allow 7 to 10 business days.
Step 4. Set up multifactor authentication when PACER asks at login. Use an authentication app that makes time based codes, or save one time backup codes. PACER does not send codes by text message.
Guide
PACER Fees, 2026
PACER charges a fee of $0.10 per page for documents accessed or printed, with a maximum of $3.00 per document (30 pages). Fee exemptions and waivers are available:
Free at $30 or less a quarter: an account that spends $30 or less on court records in a quarter has its fees waived, so occasional users pay nothing.
Free court opinions: Written opinions are available at no charge.
Fee waiver for inability to pay: If you cannot afford PACER fees, you may apply for a fee exemption at your local federal courthouse. See PACER Fee Waiver Options.
Fee exemptions: courts may exempt people or groups, such as indigents, pro bono attorneys, academic researchers and nonprofit organizations, on request to the court. A party in a case also gets one free copy of each document through the court's electronic notice.
Guide
Searching Federal Court Records in PACER
Once logged in, you can search court records by court, case number, party name, attorney name, or document type:
- PACER Case LocatorSearch all federal courts at once by party name or case number
- Federal Court FinderFind a district, appeals or bankruptcy court by location
Court CM/ECF systems: each federal court has its own CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) system, reached through PACER. Open the court's docket to see filings, motions, hearing schedules and judgments.
Guide
Types of Federal Court Records in PACER
| Record Type | Court Level | What It Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Case Docket | District Court | Complaints, motions, orders, judgments, settlement notices |
| Criminal Case Docket | District Court | Indictments, plea agreements, sentencing, conviction records |
| Bankruptcy Case Docket | Bankruptcy Court | Petitions, schedules, Chapter 7/11/13 filings, discharge orders |
| Appellate Briefs & Opinions | Court of Appeals | Briefs, orders and panel decisions |
| Court Opinions | All levels | All court opinions, free to registered users |
Guide
Free Alternatives to PACER
Several services provide free access to some federal court documents:
- PACER court opinionsEvery court opinion is free to registered PACER users
- SupremeCourt.govFree Supreme Court opinions, dockets, and oral argument audio
- GovInfo.gov, U.S. CourtsFree access to published federal court opinions from the GPO digital repository
Related guides on this site
- Bankruptcy Records SearchFederal bankruptcy districts and courts for every state
- Judgments & Liens SearchCivil judgments and lien filings by state
- Legal Resources DirectoryStatutes, court rules and legal forms
- Attorney License SearchState bar license and discipline lookups
Official sources on this page were checked on October 19, 2026.