Anyone can obtain a PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) account. PACER is an online service provided by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts that allows public access to federal court records, documents, and case information. It covers various federal courts, including district courts, bankruptcy courts, appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
To obtain a PACER account, you need to follow these steps:
- Visit the PACER website: Go to the PACER website at www.pacer.gov.
- Register for an account: Click the “Register” link on the PACER homepage. Fill out the required information, including your details, contact information, and billing information. You will need to provide a valid email address.
- Agree to the terms and conditions: Review and agree to the terms and conditions for using the PACER service.
- Verify your email address: PACER will send a verification email to the email address you provided during registration. Click on the verification link in the email to complete the registration process.
- Set up a payment method: Once your email is verified, you must set up a payment method for PACER usage. This usually involves adding a credit/debit card or establishing a pre-authorized billing account.
- Log in to PACER: Once your account is registered and payment information is set up, you can log in to PACER using your username and password.
- Access court records: You can search for and access court records, case documents, and other information available on PACER. Note that fees may be associated with accessing certain documents or performing searches, and the costs can vary depending on the court and the type of document requested.
The PACER system pertains to accessing federal court records in the United States. If you seek access to court records in a different jurisdiction, you must consult the court or government agency responsible for providing such access.
