Understanding the Federal Agency System
The federal agency system handles cases involving federal law, constitutional questions, diversity jurisdiction, and certain specialized matters. Understanding its structure helps you find the right records.
PACER Overview
PACER (Public Access to Agency Electronic Records) is the centralized system for accessing federal case documents online.
What PACER Provides
- Case dockets and filing history
- Pleadings, motions, and orders
- Judgments and opinions
- Party and attorney information
- Case status updates
PACER Registration
Registration is free through the official federal records portal. You'll receive a login that works across all federal agencies.
PACER Search Strategies
Case Search
Search by:
- Party name
- Case number
- Date filed range
- Nature of suit
- Judge
PACER Case Locator
Searches across all federal agencies simultaneously when you don't know which agency has your case.
PACER Access
PACER charges fees for accessing documents, though small quarterly bills are often waived. Free alternatives include the RECAP Archive and agency website opinion databases.
Types of Federal Agencies and Their Records
U.S. District Agencies
Trial agencies for federal civil and criminal cases.
U.S. Bankruptcy Agencies
Bankruptcy petitions, schedules, and discharge orders.
U.S. Agencies of Appeals
Appellate briefs, oral argument recordings, and opinions.
U.S. Supreme Agency
Petitions, briefs, and opinions (available free through the official agency website).
Requesting Certified Copies
PACER provides informational copies only. For certified copies:
- Contact the clerk's office directly
- Submit a written request with case information
- Pay certification fees (typically $11 per document)
- Allow 1-2 weeks processing time
How 1DocRetrieval Assists
We handle federal case document needs:
- Certified copy retrieval
- Multi-district document collection
- Bankruptcy record searches
- Appeals case documents
- Historical case file reconstruction
