The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service provides electronic access to case records throughout the federal court system. Once registered, PACER users can search for records in a single federal court where a case was filed or across a nationwide index of federal court cases.
Parties in a case, including pro se litigants, and attorneys of record receive one free copy of all documents filed electronically into their case. This is commonly referred to as a "one free look."
For all other PACER users, and for parties who access an electronically filed document after the "one free look," PACER charges $0.10 per page for each document that is accessed as a result of a search. However, if user fees are limited to $30 or less over a 3-month period, those fees are waived by PACER automatically.
PACER Fee Exemptions
Indigent individuals, litigants, and others who cannot afford to pay PACER fees may request a fee exemption from individual courts upon a showing of cause. Eligibility for an exemption is determined on a case-by-case basis. To grant an exemption, the Court must find that the requesting party does not have the ability to pay the statutorily established access fee. The Court must also find that the exemption is necessary to avoid unreasonable burdens and promote public access to information.
If you believe you meet these criteria, you may request a PACER exemption by completing this form:
PACER Fee Exemption Request Form
Once you have filled out the form in full, email it to cod_cmecf@cod.uscourts.gov.
For more information regarding PACER registration, fees, and frequently asked questions, visit PACER's website at www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov.