Guide to searching
Search civil files (eCourts) - Civil
Note: eSearching is not available for all Queensland Courts. See available files for courts that can be accessed by eSearching and the commencement date for this information.
To print your search results or file summary information, click 
then the print button in your browser.
To view information on a particular file, click 
in your search results.
You can also add the file summary information list to your web browser Favourites by clicking on 
.
Search results options:
- eSearch will automatically search for a partial match on the beginning of the Last/Company Name field. For example if you search for Smith you will receive matches for anything that starts with Smith e.g. Smith, Smithers, Smith & Sons etc.
- To narrow the search results to show only matches for "Smith" click on the
button.
- To widen the search to return matches that contain "smith" anywhere in the Last/Company Name field (for example Fred Smith Pty Ltd) click on the
button.
- To add extra parameters to your search (for example year or a court jurisdiction), click the
button. This will take you back to the party search page containing your original search parameters.
Search tips:
- Search by party name:
- In the Party Search screen, type the party name in the Last/Company Name field.
- Tip: If known, also select the Court and/or Originating Location and/or File Type)
- Search by file number:
- If you know the File Number, type the File Number in the File Number field:
- AND if known, select Supreme or District from the drop-down list in the Court field
- AND if known, select the Location from the drop-down list in the Currently in Field or the Originated in Field.
- Note: For Brisbane matters prior to 1 January 1996 click here for additional search instructions.
- Note: For Brisbane matters prior to 1 January 1996 click here for additional search instructions.
- For example, if you wanted to search for Brisbane District Court File number 234 of 2002, type 234/02 in the File Number field, and select District from the drop-down list in the Court field, and select Brisbane from the drop-down list in the Currently In field.
- If you know the file number and court, all other fields are optional.
- If you know a name, all other fields are optional.
- The search results screen will only return 500 records (listed in ascending chronological order). For a more successful result try date-limiting your search.
- Limiting your search by the Location will help to return only the file you are seeking. The Originated in location refers to the Registry at which the file was initially lodged.
- If performing a date-based search, enter the date in the format dd/mm/yy. For example, if you want to search for files entered after 1st June 2002, enter 1/6/02 in the date from field.
- Files of the same number and court may appear in your search. These files will have originated in different registries. For example, there may be a file 100/02 in Brisbane Supreme Court as well as in Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton Supreme courts.
- If searching for Brisbane City Council, try date-limiting your search, as the Council may appear as any of the following:
- Brisbane City Council. The Council of the City of Brisbane, BCC, B.C.C.
- Brisbane City Council. The Council of the City of Brisbane, BCC, B.C.C.
- If you are unsuccessful in searching for the State of Queensland, or any other statutory body that begins with "The", do not type "The" as part of your search text. Simply type State of Queensland. NB: Please note that file commenced prior to the year 2000 may require that you type "The" at the beginning of the Last/Company Name.
- Don’t type spaces where they would normally appear in a name. Type % signs instead. For example, if you are searching for G James Glass & Aluminum Pty Ltd, type G
- Don't use the & character. For example, if searching for Smith & Reid Pty Ltd, you would need to type smith.