District of Columbia's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained by D.C. government agencies. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.
- Courts: The D.C. Court of Appeals sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
- Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
- Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the DC Health Vital Records Division. Marriage records are filed with the Marriage Bureau of the D.C. Superior Court.
- Property & recorded documents: Maintained by the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (Real Property) and the D.C. Recorder of Deeds.
- Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
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Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.dccourts.gov — District of Columbia Courts — Main judicial-branch portal for District of Columbia
- District of Columbia case access — Public case-search portal
- District of Columbia court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- District of Columbia annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- District of Columbia Criminal Records →
- District of Columbia Property Records →
- District of Columbia Vital Records →
- District of Columbia Voter Records →
- District of Columbia Wants & Warrants →
- District of Columbia Licenses →
- District of Columbia Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
4 official District of Columbia court records sources.
Court Records
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search District of Columbia court cases online?▼
District of Columbia's trial courts publish case lookups through the District of Columbia Courts. Start at www.dccourts.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in District of Columbia?▼
The District of Columbia Courts operates District of Columbia's official statewide judicial portal at www.dccourts.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for District of Columbia residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in District of Columbia?▼
Trial courts in District of Columbia handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The District of Columbia Courts publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.dccourts.gov.
How far back do District of Columbia court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most District of Columbia county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the District of Columbia Courts portal at www.dccourts.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged District of Columbia cases visible in the online search?▼
No. District of Columbia courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the District of Columbia Courts portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.