The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is now providing access to court records exclusively by online ordering or by mail or fax. NARA will no longer provide on-site court case review services to the public at its Federal Records Centers.
This change applies to all closed bankruptcy, civil, criminal, and court of appeals case files that remain in the legal custody of the courts but are physically stored at NARA's Federal Records Centers.
The National Archives is making this change because records can now easily be ordered electronically. It is no longer cost-effective to operate satellite research rooms to provide access to these records.
Access to court cases is now available only via online ordering or by mail or fax at these facilities:
Customers wishing to access these records in person can do so at the appropriate Federal Court office.
Please note that fees to obtain copies of court records from NARA's Federal Records Centers have not changed under this new policy.
For ordering bankruptcy files which are more than 15 years old, see the Bankruptcy case files page.
This page was last reviewed on June 11, 2021.
Contact us with questions or comments.