How to Look Up Court Records by State for Free

How state courts are organized

Most states have trial courts of general jurisdiction, often called superior, district, circuit or supreme courts depending on the state, plus limited jurisdiction courts such as municipal, justice of the peace, magistrate or small claims courts. Appeals go to an intermediate appellate court and a state supreme court. Felonies and larger lawsuits are in the general jurisdiction court. Traffic, misdemeanors, evictions and small claims are often in the limited courts.

States with a statewide case search

Several states put most trial court cases into one free public search. Examples include Pennsylvania's UJS Portal, Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, New York's eCourts and the Arizona Judicial Branch public access case lookup. Even in these states, some courts or case types are missing, and a few large counties run their own systems too.

States that search county by county

In other states you search the court or clerk for each county. California's 58 superior courts each run their own case portal. In Texas, district and county clerks run separate searches, and in Florida each county Clerk of Court has its own records search. Start with the county where the person lives, then the counties where they lived or worked before.

How to search a state court portal

• Search by last name and first name, then filter by case type and filing year.
• Note the case number. It is the fastest way to find the case again or request copies.
• Read the docket for the outcome, such as a dismissal, judgment, plea or sentence.
• Confirm identity with a date of birth or middle name when the portal shows it.

When records are not online

Older cases, sealed cases, juvenile matters and many family cases are not online. Courthouse public access terminals are usually free, and the clerk can tell you how to request copies. Our Resources by State pages link the official court portals for every state, for example Arizona, California, Texas, Florida and New York. For federal cases, see Nationwide Tools.

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