Guide
How to Get a Certified Copy of a Federal Court Document
How to get a clerk-certified copy of a federal judgment, order or bankruptcy record — which court, what to ask for, and why PACER printouts can't be apostilled.
Quick answer
Request a certified copy from the clerk’s office of the federal district or bankruptcy court that issued the record. Give the case number and the exact documents you need, and pay the court’s certification fee. A PACER printout or docket sheet won’t be accepted for apostille.
On this page
Find the right court
Certification must come from the court that issued the record. Your case number tells you the district. Our state pages list the federal districts in each state.
Step by step
Identify the documents
The judgment, order or discharge exactly as the foreign authority specified.
Contact the clerk’s office
Ask for certified copies for international use. Some courts accept requests online or by mail.
Pay the certification fee
Courts charge per document and per certification.
Check the certification
It should carry the clerk’s signature and the court seal.
State court records are different
When you’ll need it abroad
- Enforcing a U.S. judgment abroad
- Proving a bankruptcy discharge
- Recognizing a federal court name change
- Supporting foreign litigation or arbitration
Troubleshooting
The case is old and archived
Older records may be at a Federal Records Center — the clerk can tell you how to request them.
You need an exemplified copy
Some foreign courts require exemplification, a higher level of certification — ask the clerk.
The document is sealed
Sealed records need a court order to release.
It's a state court case
State records go through the state's apostille office.
Next: getting it apostilled
Once you have the document, it needs authentication before a foreign authority will accept it. See how to apostille it. Our price is $299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apostille a PACER printout?
No. You need a certified copy from the clerk of the issuing court.
Which court do I ask?
The federal district or bankruptcy court that issued the record.
Is a bankruptcy discharge federal?
Yes. Bankruptcy courts are federal courts.
What's the difference between certified and exemplified?
Exemplification adds certification by a judge as well as the clerk; some foreign courts require it.
How long does the clerk take?
Often days to a few weeks.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Hague Conference — Apostille Section · U.S. Courts — Court records. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.