Magistrate courts are lower-level civil or criminal courts in most European and North American countries. Court records can be obtained online, by mail, or in person. Certified copies may require a fee and completing a request. Magistrates have the same jurisdiction as judges.
The exact function and jurisdiction that a trial court has will differ greatly around the world. In most European and North American countries, including the United States, magistrate courts are lower-level civil or criminal courts. Copies of judicial court records can usually be obtained online, by mail, or in person. Case summaries are often freely accessible online; however, requests for certified copies or copies of specific documents filed in a case may require completing a request by mail or in person and paying a fee.
Magistrates are often appointed by judges elected or appointed within the judicial system. A magistrate has the same jurisdiction and authority as an ordinary judge to hear and decide legal matters. A civil court often hears cases such as landlord-tenant disputes, small claims lawsuits, and uncontested divorce or probate issues. Criminal magistrates can handle initial hearings, set bail, and preside over pretrial matters or trials for defendants charged with misdemeanor crimes. Due to the variety of cases that a court may hear, court records may include a number of different types of records.
In most court systems, the clerk is responsible for keeping court records. Therefore, when searching for court records, the best place to start is an internet search for the Court Registry for the system in which the court is located. From the registrar’s website, if you have located one, look for a “search documents” option or something similar. Online records can typically be searched by party name, case type, or case number. If the record is online, you can often simply print the record directly from the website.
In the event that it is not possible to find the documents necessary for the judiciary online, or if the online documents are incomplete, it is advisable to contact the court registry directly. While most judicial court records are public information, detailed records or specific copies of documents may require the applicant to fill out an information form stating who they are and why the records are being requested. In most cases, this can be done in person or by mail.
Certified copies of judicial court records may be needed for a variety of reasons, including marriage or divorce, family history research, or to clear a criminal record. A certified copy is a copy of a court document that has been certified with a seal and signature by the clerk as a true and accurate copy. A fee is almost always charged when a certified copy is requested.
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