How to Access Court Information

Since most court records are open to the public, they are easily accessed if you have the right information.

Thanks to federal freedom of information laws as well as state public record laws, the majority of court records are open to public inspection and can easily be accessed if you have the right information. While access laws will vary by state, generally the information in most criminal and civil cases is public information unless it is specifically ordered sealed by the judge. In some cases, you may be allowed to look through the actual file, while in others you will need to specify what documents you are looking for and wait for copies.

Things You'll Need

• Name of person or business listed in the case

Instructions

1. Gather information, including the name of at least one person or business involved in the case. While a name is usually enough for court staff to locate a case, the more information you can provide the better. Make a list of all the information you have available, such as what type of case it is, approximately when it was filed, names of other individuals that might be involved in the case and any additional information about the persons involved in the case, including middle names, birth dates and addresses.

2. Contact the court where you believe the case is filed to learn their search procedure. While most courts will search for the case for free, charging only for copies of records, some do charge a search fee. Ask whether you can actually look at the records in person, what the charges are, what type of payments are accepted and, if you don't plan to travel to the courthouse, whether records can be mailed or faxed. Also ask whether there are any required forms, or exactly how your request should be submitted. Most courts accept verbal requests, but a few require formal written requests.

3. Submit your request. This is best done in person, if possible, since you may be allowed to look at the actual court file and decide which documents you want copied. If you need to request copies in advance, or without viewing the file, be specific about which documents you want. Court files can easily include hundreds of pages, and copying fees can add up quick. If you are unsure what documents you want, ask for a list of the filings so you can choose which ones you want.

4. Pay the search and copy fees. Many courts accept only certain forms of payment, such as checks or money orders, and do not accept cash. Typically, only larger courts accept credit or debit cards. Be prepared with whatever form of payment is accepted.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with neighboring courts if you're unable to find the case. Also, don't forget to check appellate and federal courts.

• Don't assume the court will accept checks or cash. Most courts have specific rules about what forms of payment they will accept.

References

• Courtreference.com - searching court records