How Do I Look Up a Court Case?

There are countless reasons as to why you may need to look into a court case, whether it’s a chase that has been filed against you or you’re unsure of a case’s current status. Regardless, you want answers, and they’re not all that easy to get.  

Typically, most states will offer up information online regarding civil cases and family law. These can be anything from evictions or custody battles to medical malpractice and domestic violence. Some states will have traffic citations easily accessible, while in other states, you will probably have to do a little more digging.

Although information about many of these cases will be posted online, not everybody has full access to this information. Occasionally, they are privatized so that only those who have the case number on hand can access information. Other times, data is only granted to those directly involved in the case, or even further, only the lawyers immediately involved. It can be tricky, but finding the case number may be doable.

If you are searching for a federal court case, the easiest way to do so is by using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records, otherwise known as PACER. By taking advantage of this easy-to-use search engine, you will find the information you’ve been searching for faster than ever before. PACER is a docket for all federal cases in the US. It is easily accessible to the general public. Accessing information on PACER does require a nominal fee, typically capping out at around $3.00. In fact, at the beginning of 2020, all fees under $15 will be waived, making this resource almost entirely free. However, you will need to create a PACER account. From here, you can look into your case of interest by the court’s location, or use the case locating feature through PACER.  

Of course, as with any legal practice, rules and regulations vary by state. For example, all the information gathered on the site for the Maryland judiciary case search is considered public knowledge. However, there are certain situations where the case material is considered more sensitive, and this information may become more protected, requiring you to have specific credentials or permissions.

In the event the search engine or database you are using requires you to have the case number, you may have to do a little extra detective work before you can view any pertinent information. Some websites can help you in this exact situation. You will need to know the correct spelling for the first and last name of the person whose case you are researching. If they’ve got a name common for your area, you’ll need a little more identifying information to confirm you’ve got the right person.

Initially, their basic information, name, age, current city, and other demographics will pop up. Upon confirming that this is, indeed, the person you were searching for, the site will compile their criminal history. In order to gain full access to the details of their court case, you may have to pay a few dollars. Paying the small fee will grant you the ability to view any details that may be important to the case or research you are conducting.

Whether you are looking for a person’s sexual offenses, address history, misdemeanors, or licenses, utilizing one of these lookup sites will significantly increase your chances of finding the accurate information you are looking for in a timely and costly manner. Hopefully, with this knowledge and these resources, you will be well-armed to enter into the complicated, unwelcoming world of court cases and legal battles.