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What is PACER and who runs it? |
Public Access to Court Electronic
Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service
that allows users to obtain case and docket information from
Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy courts, and from the
U.S. Party/Case Index.
Currently most courts are available on the Internet.
Links to these courts are
provided from this web site. However, a few systems are not available on the
Internet and must be dialed directly using communication software (such as
ProComm Plus, pcAnywhere, or Hyperterminal) and a modem.
Electronic access is available for most courts by
registering with the PACER Service
Center, the judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and
technical support center.
Each court maintains its own databases with case information. Because PACER
database systems are maintained within each court, each jurisdiction will have
a different URL or modem number. Accessing and querying information from each
service is comparable; however, the format and content of information provided
may differ slightly. Links and toll free
modem numbers are provided to most
jurisdictions.
PACER is a service of United States Judiciary. The PACER Service
Center is run by the Administrative Office of the United States
Courts.
For more information see the
PACER Description page.
How do I register? How long does it take to register? |
To register, fill out the online registration
form.
If you do not wish to complete the online form, you may contact the
PACER Service Center for a registration form at (800) 676-6856
or (210) 301-6440 for those in the San Antonio area. There is no cost for registration.
How often am I billed? How can I pay? |
The PACER Service Center mails quarterly statements unless you have signed up for automatic credit card billing. Each quarter a statement
will be generated and mailed for your account, if you have accrued charges
during the quarter and have a balance due greater than $10. If your balance due is less than $10, no statement will be mailed and payment will be deferred until the balance due is greater than $10. The statement will only include the total amount due. Tranaction detail is available through this web site or through a statement email service. Both are available in the Account
Information section of this web site.
The PACER Service Center will accept payment by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or check payable through a U.S. Bank. To make a payment by credit card, visit the
Account
Information section of this web site. When making a payment
by check, include the login on the check to ensure that payment is
posted to the correct account. Mail payment to:
PACER Service Center
P.O. Box 277773
Atlanta, GA 30384-7773.
Note: Balances for accounts that have signed up for automatic credit card billing will be charged on a quarterly basis automatically to the credit card on file at the PACER Service Center for account balances more than $10. Balances less than $10 are deferred. Electronic statements will be generated and sent via email. Paper statements will not be mailed for these accounts.
Can I receive my transaction details in a spread sheet format? |
Currently, we do not provide statement transactions in a spread sheet format. However, we provide an option to obtain details in pipe delimited text format. Login to the
Account Information section of this web site. Select "Review Transaction History." Under Display options, select "Write Transactions to a Text File." You should be able to import this file into any spread sheet program that offers this feature. For example, in Excel, the import feature can be found under the tool bar option "Data," then "Get External Data."
How do I keep track of PACER charges in order to bill my clients? |
PACER offers a client code option as you login to PACER. Client codes
are thirty-two character text fields provided for tracking charges. The quarterly statement will only include the total amount due. However, the detailed transactions with client codes are available on this web site or through a statement email service. A client code will not appear on the bill unless it is entered at the time of the transaction. Because the client code feature is optional, usage must be enforced within your office.
The Review Transaction History option on the
Account Information page at this site provides an option to sort
and total your transactions by client code. These transactions are
updated by the 15th of each month.
The PACER Service Center also offers a statement email service. You can sign up to receive an email notification with a copy of the statement each quarter. The email can be sent to multiple email addresses and will include transaction detail. The statement received by email will be in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the statement. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from www.adobe.com. You can use this service even if you have a balance less than $10. You will not receive an email if you do not have any PACER usage during the quarter. Sign up for this service in the
Account Information section of this web site.
What is the PACER Service Center's tax identification number? |
The PACER Service Center's tax identification number is
74-2747938.
How do I contact the PACER Service Center? |
In order to contact the PACER Service Center, call
(800) 676-6856, or (210) 301-6440 if residing in the
San Antonio area. Or write to:
PACER Service Center
P.O. Box 780549
San Antonio, TX 78278-0549
email:
pacer@psc.uscourts.gov 
How much does PACER cost? |
The United States Congress has given the Judicial Conference
of the United States, the judicial governing body of the U.S.
Federal Courts, authority to impose user fees for electronic
access to case information.
For a history of the electronic public access fee and a current
electronic public access fee schedule,
click here.
All registered agencies or individuals
will be charged a user fee. Access to web based PACER systems
will generate a $.07 per
page
charge. The per page charge applies to the number of pages that results from any search, including a search that yields no matches (one page for no matches.) The charge applies whether or not pages are printed, viewed, or downloaded. Access to dial-up PACER systems will generate a $.60
per minute charge. Users will NOT incur both per minute and per
page charges for a PACER session. You will be billed on a
quarterly basis for your transactions. You will be allowed to
enter a client code of your choosing each time you login to PACER
to help facilitate managing the costs.
A measure was approved by the Judicial Conference of the United
States in March 2001 stating that no fee is owed until a user
accrues more than $10 worth of charges in a calendar year.
Consequently, if an account does not accrue $10 worth of usage
between January 1st and December 31st each year, all balances
will be deleted from our records. This policy change will be
effective for the calendar year of 2001, and statements will
not be mailed to PACER users whose accounts do not have a balance
due of at least $10. Once the balance due exceeds $10, a user
will receive a statement by mail which includes the current and
previous charges in a calendar year. Please read the
announcement detailing this change.
The Judicial Conference, at its September 2003 session, amended the language of Section I of the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule for the appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (adopted by the Judicial Conference pursuant to sections 1913, 1914, 1926, 1930, and 1932 of title 28, United States Code). The previous schedule placed a cap on the seven cents per page charge for Internet access to data obtained electronically from the public records of individual cases in the courts, with a maximum $2.10, the equivalent of 30 pages, for electronic access to any single document. The amendment extends this cap to all case documents, including docket sheets and case-specific reports, with the exception of transcripts of federal court proceedings. The cap will apply to all PACER, RACER, or CM/ECF sites. For example: previously, a 50 page document cost $3.50
at 7 cents a page. This same document now only costs $2.10. Users
will receive the entire 50 page document but only be charged $2.10.
Each attachment in CM/ECF
sites is considered a separate document. Therefore, the cap will
apply to each attachment over 30 pages separately.
How long does it take to retrieve case information using the dial-up PACER systems? |
There is no set time for retrieving case information; however, an
average session will last 3-4 minutes. The time frame is dependent on
many variables such as: what court the information is retrieved from,
how many searches are run, how the search is run (i.e. case number,
party name, file date), and the software and modem used to dial in.
Suggestions:
In the Mirror PACER systems utilized in many bankruptcy courts,
run a less specific search such as
"Bowden" instead of "Bowden, K" or "Bowden, Katherine C." It will
take longer for the system to search for "Bowden, K" or "Bowden,
Katherine C." In the District Courts, run a specific search such as
"Bowden, K" or "Bowden, Katherine C."
Use the maximum
baud rate (modem speed) possible.
How do you determine what a page for billing purposes is? |
Generally, a page is defined as 54 lines of data. Our charges are not based on the pages you view, print, or download, but on the results of the search. When charges are accrued, a transaction receipt will appear at the bottom of each html
document. This will indicate the number of pages billed for that
particular transaction. Detailed descriptions on how document types
are counted are listed below:
| Dockets: |
Docket reports are generated with form feeds or page
breaks marking each page. The number of form feeds or page
breaks within each docket are counted and used to determine
the number of pages for a particular docket sheet before the
document is reformatted for display as a html document. A
docket sheet may contain pages with more or less than 54
lines. Note, form feeds and page breaks will not appear in
the html formatted document displayed on the screen. |
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| Search Results: |
Search results are also billed at the rate of 54 lines
per page. Each hit is considered one line. The lines are
counted from the raw data files before they are formatted
for display as a html document on the screen. |
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| Images: |
In the future, some PACER web sites will offer images of
documents filed in the court. These images will be billed
according to the number of pages scanned; therefore, each
scanned page equals one billable page. |
If information retrieved from a PACER web site is printed, the print
job will not always match the number of pages billed. The number of
pages printed is dependent on individual printer and browser settings.
All users are equally charged for the same information regardless of
the browser settings or printer configurations. A transaction receipt
and the Review Billing History option are provided in each court site
for reviewing charges.
To assess these charges, cookies are used to uniquely identify users
while running a webPACER application. For more information about
cookies, refer to
http://www.cookiecentral.com.
Why are there user fees for PACER? |
In 1988, the Judiciary sought funding through the appropriation
process to establish the capability to provide electronic public
access services. Rather than appropriating additional funds for
this purpose, Congress specifically directed the Judiciary to
fund that initiative through the collection of user fees. As a
result, the program relies exclusively on fee revenue.
Are all government agencies exempt from charges? |
Government agencies are not exempt from PACER fees. The fees
are the same for all users of the system.
Is the charge $.60 per minute PLUS $.07 per page? |
The charge is either $.60 per minute OR $.07 per
page. Case
information retrieved at a PACER web site is charged the per
page
fee. Case information retrieved at a dial-up PACER system is
charged the per minute fee. Under no circumstances will both
per page and per minute fees apply at the same time. They are
separate fees for different types of access.
Submit a written request accompanied by a copy of the portion
of the statement that contains the questionable transactions. You
may fax your request to (210) 301-6441 or mail to PACER
Service Center, P.O. Box 780549, San Antonio, TX 78278-0549.
Credit can not be issued until you have been billed.
How do I sort my statement by client code? |
At this site:
- Click on Account
Information
- Enter login & password. Submit.
- Click on Review Transaction History.
- Select Client Code/Date.
- Specify date range.
Can I download a list of the court addresses and phone numbers? |
The PACER Service Center does not maintain a list of court
addresses and phone numbers. In most courts, address and
phone number information can be found on the court's home
page. For a complete listing of court home pages see:
http://www.uscourts.gov/links.html.
Can the user fees be waived? |
A court may, for good cause, exempt persons or classes of
persons from the electronic public access fees, in order to
avoid unreasonable burdens and to promote public access to
such information. This language is intended to provide a
mechanism by which a court may, upon appropriate demonstration
of need, grant an exemption from fees for the use of electronic
access to court data.
The appropriate procedure by which a court may consider the grant
of an exemption from the fee is upon motion by the party seeking
exemption from the fee. The motion should demonstrate the basis
upon which the party claims such exemption. The standards
established by Congress are: to avoid unreasonable burdens and to
promote public access to such information. A party must demonstrate
that both standards have been met in order for a court to grant an
exemption from payment of this fee. Procedurally, upon granting a
motion for exemption from fees a copy of such order should be
provided to the PACER Service Center in San Antonio so that the
party will not be billed for use of the electronic access service.
How do I access the website to receive the details of my statement? |
Using your firm's assigned login and password, you may obtain details under the
Account Information section of this web site. Click on Review Quarterly Statement.
How do I register to have quarterly statements emailed to me? |
Using your firm's assigned login and password, you may register to receive emailed quarterly statements under the
Account Information section of this web site. Click on Quarterly Statement Email Service.
The Judicial Conference recently adopted policies governing the electronic availability of federal court case file information. How will this impact the electronic public access (EPA) program? |
Electronic access to docket sheets through PACER and court opinions through court websites will not be affected by these policies, although changes may be necessary in some of the reports, queries and screen displays. (see http://www.privacy.uscourts.gov)
What are the changes as a result of the new policy? |
In Civil and Bankruptcy files, "personal data identifiers" (Social Security numbers, dates of birth, financial account numbers and names of minor children) will be modified or partially redacted by the litigants. In Criminal cases, electronic public access to documents will not be available to the public. A court may allow electronic public access to counsel, the U.S. Marshal and other court units. Appellate case files will be treated at the appellate level the same way in which they were treated at the lower level.
What about the Bankruptcy Rules requiring Social Security numbers on court documents? |
In September 2002 session, the Judicial Conference approved proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedures and the Official Bankruptcy Forms. The proposed amendments will implement the Conference policy on privacy and public access to electronic case files. Barring Congressional action these amendments will take effect at all courts by December 1, 2003.
As a result of this decision only the last four digits of the SSN will be displayed on all reports. However, the full SSN can still be used to perform searches to identify debtors.
Will the courts redact information in existing case files? |
The policy will not be retroactive, so the courts will not be required to redact previous filings. It will be the attorneys' responsibility to inform their clients that case files may be obtained electronically and to ensure private information is not included in the case files. The clerk's office will not review filings for compliance with the policy.
Is PACER available on the Internet? |
Yes, PACER is available on the Internet but not in every
jurisdiction. This site contains
links to the courts which currently offer
PACER service on the Internet. Most jurisdictions are
available on the Internet but a few are only
available through the traditional dial up service. Moving
PACER to the Internet is currently a high priority for the
Judiciary's electronic public access program.
I forgot/lost my password. How can I obtain it? |
Use this link to request a copy of a lost or forgotten password. If you enter a valid email address and have password security information on file with the PACER Service Center, you will receive a link to retrieve your password online, otherwise your account information will be sent via U.S. mail to the address on record for the specified account. If you have problems, contact the PACER Service Center by telephone or email. The PACER Service Center security policy prohibits the divulging of account information by telephone, fax, or email. Your login and password will be sent by U.S. mail unless the security information is already on file.
Why can’t I view a document in a case? Or, why do I receive a blank page when I view a document? |
One possible solution may be to adjust some settings in your Adobe Reader. A few suggestions are listed below. Open a new broswer session after making the changes below. Check the version of Adobe Reader you are using, then try the following:
- Settings for Adobe Acrobat 4.0
- On the toolbar
- Select File, Preference, General, Options
- Remove the check mark under “Web Browser Integration"
- Settings for Adobe Reader 5.0
- On the toolbar
- Select Edit, Preference, General, Options
- On the right hand side of the screen, uncheck the following features:
- ‘Display PDF in Browser’ and ‘Allow Fast Web View’
- Settings for Adobe Reader 6.0
- On the toolbar
- Select Edit, Preference, Internet
- On the right hand side of the screen, uncheck the following features:
- ‘Display PDF in Browser’ and ‘Allow Fast Web View’
Why do I receive the message "Invalid PACER User" when I enter my login and password? |
If the PACER login was established today, it will not be active at all PACER sites until tomorrow. If you used the instant registration process to establish the account today, click here to login now. For others that are unable to login, your login and password are not being recognized by the system. Make sure of the following:
- You are entering the password associated with your PACER login, and not the password associated with your CM/ECF filer login.
- You are entering your PACER login and password in lower case
letters.
- When entering your login, the first 2 characters are alphabetic, [a-z],
and the last 4 characters are numeric, [0-9].
All PACER logins follow the format aa####, where
- a is an alphabetic character [a-z]
- # is a number [0-9]
- You are using a cookie enabled browser. Your browser should be set to accept cookies.
If you have successfully entered a PACER web site before and are
still receiving an "Invalid user" message, you may have a corrupt cookie stored on your system. A corrupt cookie will prevent access to the site. The easiest solution to the problem would be to delete all cookies stored on your system. Check with your local system administrator
for instructions on deleting cookies stored on your system.
How often is the case information updated on PACER? |
For older systems, case filings and updates to the docket will typically not appear on the PACER system until the day after they are entered on the
court's live case management computer. New systems such as CM/ECF provide real time access to case information.
How far back does the case information go back on PACER? |
Each court maintains its own case information database; therefore,
there will be some variations among jurisdictions as to the date
ranges of information offered. You will need to contact the court
directly to find out how far back case information is available on
PACER in a particular jurisdiction.
Why aren't all courts' Internet sites listed on the Links page at this site? |
Only courts that are running nationally supported Web PACER
products are currently listed on our site. Locally developed
systems will be added sometime in the future.
There is no login prompt at a PACER web site. Where do I login? |
If you do not see "Login to PACER," enable the Java script in
your browser settings. If your browser does not support Java
script, you will need to upgrade your browser.
Do you offer access to state/county courts? |
No, PACER does not offer information on state/county courts. PACER
access is for federal courts only.
Why am I timed out when I try to get an image? |
There are a several factors that can cause the system to time
out - Internet traffic, type of processor in your PC, not having
the most current version of your web browser loaded.
Can I use a Macintosh computer to access PACER? |
PACER is accessible either by dial up (modem) or Internet
connection. To access PACER by dial up, use Macintosh compatible
terminal emulation software (i.e. ZTerm). Note: Some courts
require specific software such as pcAnywhere or Citrix. In
those cases, use the Mac version. To access PACER by Internet,
use an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Using a MAC computer may cause other PC related issues with the PACER application.
Can I access the Central District of California Bankruptcy court on the Internet? |
Yes. The 5 Divisions of the California Central Bankruptcy Court (Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Riverside, Northern Division, and San Fernando) are now available on the Internet. See Links page: http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/links.pl
How do I log out from a PACER web site? |
You are automatically logged out when you close your browser.
Can I view a list of courts that provide PACER on the Internet? |
For a complete list of the PACER web sites see the PACER
Service Center links page at:
http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/links.pl
How do I change or add an email address for electronic noticing? |
- Login into the system as a CM/ECF filer.
- Select the Utilities menu item.
- Select “Maintain your account.”
- Scroll down and select “Email Information.”
- Add Primary and any additional email addresses.
- Scroll down and click on “Return to Account Screen.”
- Scroll down and click on “Submit.”
How do I change my attorney information for Electronic Filing? |
- Login into the system as a CM/ECF filer.
- Select the Utilities menu item.
- Select “Maintain your account.”
- Make your changes on this screen, and
- Scroll down and click on “Submit.”
Why am I unable to access documents in Criminal cases? |
PACER users do not have access to documents in a criminal cases. However, if you are the attorney of record, you may view documents in a criminal case by using your ECF filing login/password. Try the following steps:
- Login into the ECF application as an electronic filer.
- Open your mail server and view the email with the notification.
- Click on the document number.
- If the system requests your PACER login, enter it.
- The document should be displayed.
What information is available on PACER? |
PACER provides access to federal case information nationwide. The
PACER system offers quick, accurate information about current federal
cases. You can obtain:
A listing of all parties
and participants including judges, attorneys and trustees
A compilation of case
related information such as cause of action, nature of suit and
dollar demand
A chronology of dates of case events entered in the case record
A claims registry
A listing of new cases each day in the bankruptcy courts
Appellate court opinions
Judgments or case status
Types of documents filed for certain districts for certain cases
How can I search a PACER database? |
You may search by case number, party name, social security number, or tax identification number in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. You may search by case number, party name or filing date range in the U.S. District Courts. You may search by case number or party name in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
What if I want more information about a case than is available through PACER? |
PACER provides access to the case summary, the docket entries, and in many jurisdictions copies of documents filed in federal cases. If more information is needed, the federal court should be contacted for instructions on obtaining more case information. Click here
for links to federal court home pages.
What if I cannot find the case I'm looking for? |
If a case cannot be located when searching by case number or party
name, the U.S. Party Case Index (USPCI
) should be the next source for locating a case. The
USPCI serves as a locator and
can be searched by party name. This program will search nationwide
and generate a listing of court location and case number where a
party is involved in federal litigation. However, if the party in
question was not located through the
USPCI, then contact the jurisdiction where you think the case
was filed.
What if the information I retrieve on PACER is incorrect? |
If there is a discrepancy found with case information, notify the
PACER Service Center. PACER will contact the court administrator
so the problem can be pinpointed and corrected.
Can I get a copy of actual documents? |
In the standard release of PACER, you are able to access the docket and party information and in bankruptcy cases the claims and mailing matrix information as well. Many courts offer images or electronic copies of filed documents. See Links for courts that provide images. These courts are annotated with an "IMG" or "ECF" icon. If the court you are accessing does not provide images, please contact the court to request documents. NOTE: Images of documents, when available, are links within the Docket.
All courts on the new CM/ECF system have copies of filed documents available. For more information about CM/ECF click here.
What do the codes COR, LD, and NTC stand for? |
- COR - Counsel of Record
- LD - Lead Counsel
- NTC - To receive notice
How soon after a document is filed will it be in PACER? |
For older systems, case filings and updates to the docket will typically not appear on the PACER system until the day after they are entered on the
court's live case management computer. New systems such as CM/ECF provide real time access to case information.
Am I able to retrieve docket entries for a specified date range? |
It is possible to enter a specific date range for a particular case docket to limit the number of pages in all PACER systems on the web. In dial-up PACER systems, it is possible to specify the number of docket entries, but not a particular date range.
Can I search by attorney name in PACER? |
It is possible to search by attorney at many of the bankruptcy
PACER web sites. However, it not possible in the district court
PACER web sites.
What is the U.S. Party/Case Index? |
The U.S. Party/Case Index is a
national locator index for PACER systems in the United States
appellate, district and bankruptcy courts. Subsets of data are
collected from each court and transferred to the PACER Service
Center nightly. The U.S. Party/Case
Index allows searches by party name or social security number in
the bankruptcy index, party name or nature of
suit in the civil index, defendant name in the criminal index,
and party name in the appellate index. The information provided by
the search will include the party name, the court where the case is
filed, the case number and the filing date.
How do I access the U.S. Party/Case Index? |
The U.S. Party/Case Index is on the World Wide Web at
http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
If you are a subscriber to PACER, you will automatically
have access to the U.S. Party/Case
Index with your existing login and password.
How far back does the information go on the U.S. Party/Case Index? |
There is an option on the U.S.
Party/Case Index which provides the date ranges for the cases
in each court. From the main menu of the
U.S. Party/Case Index, choose
the option "Date Ranges." This option
provides how far back the search will go and the date the
U.S. Party/Case Index was last
updated for each court.
How do I get more information from a case I find on the U.S. Party/Case Index? |
To retrieve more information on a particular case found while
searching the U.S. Party/Case
Index, access the PACER system for the jurisdiction where
the case resides. This is indicated by the court abbreviation
provided with each hit on the U.S.
Party/Case Index. For most hits on U.S.
Party/Case Index, the Case
Number will be a link to the case summary information at that court's PACER site.
All you need to do is click the case number.
Links to courts with
PACER data available on the Internet and a the most current list
of PACER modem numbers to the
individual PACER systems is available at this site.
What is a nature of suit? |
A Nature of Suit code is a tool for categorizing the types of cases
filed in the federal courts. The Nature of
Suit codes are the basis
of all federal caseload statistics produced by the federal judiciary.
Are all courts available on the U.S. Party/Case Index? |
Not all federal courts participate in the
U.S. Party/Case Index. The
non-participating courts
are listed under the "Courts not on Index" option on the web main menu.
Those courts do not have data
available on the U.S. Party/Case Index. For a complete nationwide
search, those courts need to be searched individually. The
list of non-participating courts
found on this site is updated nightly.
What kind of software do I need to access PACER? Where can I get it? |
For Internet access to PACER you will need Internet access and a Javascript enabled web browser.
For dial-up access to PACER you will need a modem with a phone line along with communication software (such as ProComm Plus, pcAnywhere, or Hyperterminal) with vt100 emulation. This type of software can be purchased at any software store. Windows 95/98 includes Hyperterminal (found in Accessories). Note: pcAnyhwere software is required for some PACER systems. The PACER Service Center does not provide communication software.
How do I use the dial-up PACER service? |
The PACER Service Center recommends using the Internet version of PACER. Links are available to the various PACER sites from this web site. However, once you have registered for service, you will receive a package from the PACER Service Center with a login and password that will allow dial-up access to most PACER sites.
The first step to dialing a court is to become familiar with your
communication software package. Most communication software packages
have two dialing options. You may manually dial a court by using
your communication software's manual dial option. This will require
the court's modem number and settings to be entered each time you
dial. The PACER Service Center recommends establishing a dialing
directory with each court's modem number and settings. This will
provide an efficient way to utilize the PACER system.
Most dial-up PACER systems are set for 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and
no parity with vt100 terminal emulation. Flow control should be set
to RTS/CTS or none. Your software must be set to these parameters.
However, a few PACER systems require pcAnywhere software. For those
courts that require the use of pcAnywhere, use a terminal emulation
of pcAnywhere. These courts will be noted on the directory of modem numbers.
If you need help manually dialing a court or setting up a dialing
directory, refer to your communications software manual for
instructions.
What are the modem settings to access PACER? |
Most dial-up PACER systems are set for 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and
no parity with vt100 terminal emulation. Flow control should be set
to RTS/CTS or none. Your software must be set to these parameters.
However, a few PACER systems require pcAnywhere software. For those
courts that require the use of pcAnywhere, use a terminal emulation
of pcAnywhere. Set the baud rate (modem speed) to the maximum speed
available; however, the minimum baud rate for accessing PACER is
9600.
If I experience trouble accessing PACER, what should I do? |
If you experience problems or have questions regarding PACER access,
contact the PACER Service Center by phone at (800) 676-6856
or email
pacer@psc.uscourts.gov.
Why does my modem try to negotiate a connection with PACER, then just hang up? |
If you are using a 56K modem, you may experience problems
connecting to some PACER systems. New 56K modems are pre-configured
to use v.90 modulation. Some courts' modems have trouble
establishing connections with modems using the v.90 modulation.
The courts' system personnel are currently implementing solutions
for this problem. If you experience this problem, contact the
PACER Service Center at (800) 676-6856 or email
pacer@psc.uscourts.gov
to report the court where this is occurring.
What does no dial tone mean? |
"No dial tone" is a message from your communications package which
signifies there is a problem dialing out on your end. Usually, this
occurs when businesses that are required to dial a "9" for use of an
outside line are missing the "9" when the modem tries to dial the
court.
Printing is a function of the communications software you are using,
so it is important to become familiar with the print features within
your software such as screen prints or print capture. There is no
print option in dial-up PACER. The best way to print the information
on your screen is to set your communication software to capture the
information as it scrolls. Most communication software packages
offer two options, continuous saving of the information to a printer
or continuous saving of the information to a file. The latter will
allow you to save, edit and print the information.
When accessing dial-up PACER with the need to perform screen prints,
view the information in paginated format, page by page. When
capturing the information directly to a printer or a file, choose
to list the information nonstop. Note: Make sure the flow control
setting in your software setup is set to Hardware or RTS/CTS,
otherwise data may be lost.
To print the information retrieved from a PACER web site, click on
the Print button of your browser. If there is a "frame," click on
the "frame" you wish to print before clicking the print button. If
there is not a frame, click in the body of the document before
clicking the print button.
When viewing a case docket or search results, some PACER systems
will offer a download option. To use this option, select the
download option provided by the court. The court will have one
or two protocols available, usually Kermit or Zmodem. You will
need to select the same protocol in your communication software
as the court is using to send to you. Once download is selected,
initiate the receive file command in your communication software
to complete the download. Downloading is available only in certain
dial-up PACER systems. It is important to become familiar with
your software's downloading/transfer features and protocols.
How do I dial into a court that requires pcAnywhere? |
When calling a court requiring the use of pcAnywhere, set up an
entry by Adding a Remote Control item or Calling a Host PC (depending
on your version of pcAnywhere). The courts which require pcAnywhere
are expecting you to dial into their systems this way.
pcAnywhere may be used to call courts which do not require the use
of pcAnywhere, but the Call an Online Service option will need to
be used to make a connection with these courts. Make sure to set
your terminal emulation to vt100 for these courts.
How do I save a file from a PACER web site? |
Select Save As... under the browser tool bar option,
File. Then
open the file in your word processing software. If you save the
formatted report, the file will be in HTML format; plain text,
ascii DOS text.
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