Paper Case Files

• 1). Gather the necessary information to access a paper case file. This includes whether the case was carried out before 1999, in which state the case was carried out, and at which courthouse the case was carried out. If you are missing some of this information, call the clerk of the court and provide the full name of the parties involved and a general date range for the case.
  
  
• 2). Visit the courthouse where the case was carried out. Go to the clerk of the court's office and provide the information gathered in step one. The paper record of the case should be stored here and be open for public viewing free of charge. This is the same process in every state.
  
  
• 3). Go to the Federal Records Center nearest you if the paper file is no longer at the courthouse where the case was carried out. Use the Federal Records Center locator to find the FRC nearest you.
  
  

Electronic Case Files

• 1). Access the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) website.
  
  
• 2). Sign up for a PACER account using the online registration process at the PACER website.
  
  
• 3). Search the court where the case was carried out in the PACER online case locator.
  
  
• 4). Pay $0.08 per page read of case files. The charge for any document is capped at $2.40.