How to Access Court Records Electronically

In order to understand what type of records you will need to look for, you must first understand how the judicial system is set up in the United States. There is a hierarchy of courts at the state and federal level, with overlaps in certain places. When deciding whether you need to search for state or federal court records, start by analyzing the documents you have in your possession. Different documents will have different information on them, so look for documents with the most identifying information about your case or situation. Typically, documents include information indicating the type of court (i.e., criminal or civil), the location of the court (i.e., federal, state, county, or municipal), and the specific designation of the court (i.e., California District Court of Appeals). Think about what you are looking for and decide what type of law it involves. This can be helpful because certain legal subjects are either predominantly state law or federal law, depending on the subject. For instance, contract law and family law are generally governed by state laws and not federal laws. If your research topic deals with one of these subjects, you will likely want to look in a state database. On the other hand, bankruptcy law, maritime law, and constitutional law are generally governed by federal laws and not state laws. If your research topic deals with one of these subjects, you will likely want to search in a federal database. Make your decision. Once you have analyzed the documents you have in your possession, and have determined what the subject matter of your issue is, you should be able to determine if you need to search a federal database or a state database. If you determine that you need to access federal court records electronically, you will use Part 2 of 3 below. If you determine that you need to access state court records electronically, you will use Part 3 of 3 below. If you can not determine what type of court records you will need to access, try looking at both types of databases.